Three more Academy players have signed their first professional contracts to get the chance to forge the next stage of their careers with Wanderers.
Goalkeeper Luke Lomax, defender Sam O’Neill and midfielder Jack Mawditt have all been rewarded with professional deals to step up to the U21s next season.
The trio – all aged 18 – are staying on and moving into the professional ranks after completing their two-year scholarships with Wanderers and featuring for the Youth and B Teams.
All three were part of the Youth Team squad which reached the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup for the first time in six years earlier this season and will have the chance to try and help the Whites retain the Lancashire FA Professional Youth Cup when they face Blackpool in the final at the start of next month.
They join attacking midfielder Toby Ritchie from Julian Darby’s squad in signing a professional contract with the Whites as Wanderers continue to try and develop a successful pathway through its Academy set-up.
Local lad and Wanderers’ fan O’Neill – captain of the Youth Team this season – has spent all his footballing education with the Whites after joining the club at the pre-Academy stage.
Lomax first joined the Whites as an under-11 after playing grassroots football in Leyland, while Mawditt signed at under-16 level to secure his scholarship at Bolton after previously playing for Blackburn Rovers and in his native Ireland.
Head of Academy, Dave Gardiner, said: “Congratulations to all three on being awarded their first professional contracts. They have deserved this recognition and the chance to progress further with what they have shown already in their time with us.
“This is another step on the way and a major achievement for any young player. Hopefully they will take the opportunity to develop and improve further and continue to show that the Academy is a proven pathway for bringing homegrown players through to potentially play for the first team in the future, which is everyone’s aim.”
Picture (left to right): Sam O’Neill, Luke Lomax and Jack Mawditt.