The club is delighted to formally announce that one of our top young prospects – Aaron Wightman – has signed his first professional contract with the club.
Midfielder Aaron – who has just turned seventeen and lives in Newtownards – has been with the club since he was six years old. He has been a member of our all-conquering Year 2004 “Dream Team.
Glentoran Assistant Head Coach Paul Millar welcomed Aaron to the senior ranks: “Aaron is yet another exciting product of the hugely successful Glentoran Academy system. Although Aaron has been at the Glens since he was 6, there was an incredible amount of interest in him, and we had to beat off a host of other Irish League clubs for his signature.
Aaron has been training with the first team squad for a few weeks now and has fitted in and performed very well. He is also enrolled on the Glentoran Youth Football Academy at our training campus in Ashfield Boys’ High School so will also be furthering his education at the same time as developing his football career. All of our coaches and management have high hopes for Aaron with Glentoran.”
Aaron with Mick McDermott and Paul Millar
Aaron said on signing: “I’m so happy to have signed my first professional contract with Glentoran. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, and I’d like to thank the Glens for giving me the opportunity. I’ve already been at the club eleven years and had some great times here and I’m looking forward to a lot more of them as I get older.”
Glentoran Academy Manager Stephen Lowry said of Aaron: “Aaron has progressed right through our Academy ranks under the guidance of former coach Jason Lindsay and as a member of that highly successful 2004s team he won many honours in Glentoran colours. It is fantastic to see Aaron graduate to professional status with our club having joined at such a young age. It proves the system works and that hard work and dedication pay off, both of which Aaron has shown in abundance”.
Aaron's proud parents David and Kathy join Aaron, Mick and Paul at the contract signing
Finally Aaron’s former Glentoran Academy Coach Jason Lindsay: “Aaron is a lovely lad from a lovely and very supportive family but a fierce competitor on the pitch. He picked up an injury at the wrong time leading up to the Victory Shield or his name would be even more familiar. I’m really proud that he's getting just rewards at Glentoran,”
Congratulations Aaron!
Glentoran Academy Manager Stephen Lowry (left) welcomes Aaron's move up to professional status