Young forward signs professional development contract.
Peterborough United are delighted to announce that youngster Reuben Marshall has signed a one-year professional development contract with the club, which will come into full effect on July 1st.
Marshall, who joined the club in 2019 at under 16s level, has been in outstanding form for the under 18s this season, netting an impressive 24 goals in all competitions and helping them to a third-place finish in the league while also lifting the Professional Development League Cup.
The forward, who signed the contract at the idverde Training Ground earlier this month, was delighted to have put pen to paper and discussed his goalscoring form for the under 18s this season and falling just short of the club’s golden boot award.
“I’m buzzing to have signed a contract with the club”, Marshall said. “All the coaches have been brilliant with me, especially Jamal [Campbell-Ryce]. The support has been brilliant even when things haven’t been going particularly well for me, Jamal has been there to keep my morale up high and that’s ultimately what got me to this position.
“Last season was tough, I was in and out of the team for various reasons, but this campaign I have found a good run of form and my goals have come with that as well. To have pushed Jonson Clarke-Harris was great and kept me motivated, people say you don’t look at numbers but as a goalscorer you do, so I kept an eye on his numbers and tried to keep up with him because ultimately that’s where I want to be.”
Marshall had a short loan spell at local non-league side Wisbech Town over the festive period, where he made five appearances and netted two goals, and was full of praise for his short time at The Fenmen.
“It was a brilliant experience at Wisbech. I would like to thank the manager Leon Mettam as he gave me the opportunity because at that level they might look at more senior players, but he gave me plenty of chances as a youngster. So, I would like to say thank you to him for his part in my development.”
Academy Director Kieran Scarff said: “We are delighted that Reuben has signed. He has scored around 30 goals if you include his loan spell at Wisbech Town, which I want to say a big thank you for giving him that opportunity. It’s some achievement for any goalscorer to get around that goal-tally in a season, especially with some of those in a few under 21s games and the majority of those in a successful under 18s campaign. His character is superb and the way he applies himself is a real model for us to follow. He deserves this opportunity and I know he will give it everything to continue his development."
