Everton FC Academy teenager Conor Grant signs two-year deal – Liverpool Echo

25 Jul 2013 07:31

Everton’s Conor Grant

Boyhood Blue Conor Grant has spoken of his delight at signing a contract with the club he supports.

The 18-year-old penned a two-year deal yesterday, after a summer which has already seen him make two first-team friendly appearances.

Midfielder Grant, who joined Everton’s Academy when he was aged 13, said: “I’m delighted to sign it.

“As a boy you dream of being a professional footballer and for the day to finally come, it is a dream come true.

“At a club like Everton, who I’ve grown up watching and supporting, it’s a dream.

“Pre-season has been very good. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it and I’m just trying to learn as much as I can from the new manager and his backroom staff.

“It was a great experience to be involved with such experienced international players and you can only learn from them.”

After their four-day training camp in the small town of Laa an der Thaya, the Blues journeyed to the capital, where they faced the domestic champions Austria Vienna.

Grant was included in the matchday squad for the fixture, making it onto the pitch as a substitute in the second half for a 20-minute cameo.

“It was a great experience with the crowd coming to watch you and to put on the shirt for the first team was another dream come true,” he added. “Hopefully there will be a few more (appearances for the first team).”

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Accrington Stanley v Everton FC. Pics Gareth Jones

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Another substitute appearance came in the Blues’ 4-1 defeat of Accrington three days later and Grant would welcome any further opportunities that come his way.

“It was a big confidence boost that the manager had the faith to put me in the team and, obviously, I was delighted to get more minutes,” he explained.

“It was nice with the fans coming to watch and I’d like to try to show what I can do again.

 “The manager and his coaching staff have been very good to me, they’ve been giving me a lot of feedback. It’s impossible not to learn from a manager like the one we’ve got and his backroom staff. They’re such nice people and they’re always giving me advice.”