WE are delighted to announce three Student Athletes from our Scholarship programme have been awarded their first professional contracts at the club.
Ethan Simpson, Rian Brown and Kye Livingstone have all put pen to paper to remain at the club in a professional capacity.
Kye Livingstone is a under-21 international with Gibraltar, while goalkeeper Rian Brown has also enjoyed international honours for Northern Ireland.
Ethan Simpson made his competitive debut for the senior side at the end of the 2021/22 campaign in a 0-0 draw against Glentoran at the Oval.
Scholarship Head Coach Keith O’Hara spoke of his joy at seeing another trio of young players at the club make the next step.
“I am delighted for the three lads, Ethan, Kye and Rian, to be rewarded their first professional contracts,” he said.
“They have all displayed their talented attributes and strong mentalities over the course of their two-year Scholarship process.
“They have also been three great young men to work with. We create a challenging and caring environment, and they are now well equipped to take on the challenges that they’ll face both on and off the pitch.
Senior boss Tiernan Lynch believes the new contracts are further evidence of the club’s growing structures at underage level.
“From being established a few short years ago, the Scholarship programme is really taking off,” he said.
“The Student Athletes and senior squad both work side-by-side at the Larne Academy of Sport every day and that gives the young players an incentive and an example of what it takes to get to where they’re aiming for.
“It also allows us to see their progress first hand and we’re delighted to see Kye, Rian and Ethan make the next step in their careers.”
