Two more for under 20s

Brandon Luke, a midfielder, and Callum Smith a striker, sign for Dunfermline

John Potter signed up two youth players on Friday. Brandon Luke, a midfielder, and Callum Smith a striker, are players that featured in the Dunfermline Athletic Under 20s last season and boys that Potts has worked with for a few years, he said:-

"The two of them have had a good season with the Fife Elite under 17s this year. Brandon left school early and he has been in the last year helping out and doing bits and pieces. This is him starting properly so he has a year's head start.

"He knows what we want from him, he knows what to expect and hopefully he hits the ground running because he finished the season very well.

"Callum Smith came into the system a wee bit later than most of the others and was really raw but he has continually improved especially over the last year. He has still a lot to learn but I think there is a player in there. Hopefully he can come in, do well and hit the ground running straight away.

"He is strong, he is quick and towards the end of the season I was always at him to score more goals - shoot and be greedy in front of goal. He was a bit unselfish at times but with the Fife Elite he scored some goals. Watching the games he was a bit more selfish and a bit more ruthless.

"Hopefully he can take that into under 20s football. It is a big step for a sixteen year old. It can be difficult but I believe he has the strength to go and do it."

Brandon and Callum join Stuart Morrison who was signed earlier this month, as the three to move up from the Fife Elite Academy. Stephen Wright as head of Fife Elite was delighted for the youngsters.

"They are fantastic players. Brandon is a good midfielder and I can remember him from the under 11s at Dunfermline and it is satisfying to see him at the end of the journey and getting a contract at Dunfermline.

"Callum Smith came into Dunfermline at the start of the under 15 season. He had one full season with Dunfermline and did really well as a striker. He scored lots of goals and then at the end of that season there was the amalgamation. He had a few injuries in his first full season at under 16 and had to be patient but we knew last season that we were going to get a good player at the start of under 17s.

"He is strong, athletic with a never say die attitude. Again we are really chuffed to see him get a contract because he deserves it and has worked really hard for it.

"In terms of both of them, Brandon and Callum - what they both have got is an attitude. That is what you need to be a professional footballer. They are different types of players but hopefully they are now going to kick on and work really hard to get a future in the game."

Stephen Wright says that his job is to create an environment for young players to come in. "We try and do the best for them and their families. We try and show them the ropes on what it takes to be a footballer albeit at academy level. When they get to this stage hopefully they find that we have educated them along the way.

"It is really satisfying and gives everybody at the academy a real shot in the arm when they see these players getting contracts. It proves that Fife Elite is working."

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