Fleetwood Town are delighted to announce full-back Ollie Leggett has signed his first professional contract with the club after impressing in the Under-18s.
Leggett, who was originally part of the Academy before getting released at the end of the Under-13s season, joined the Elite Football Programme at Rossall School and has been there for the last four years.
The left-back rejoined the Cods on trial from the Rossall School programme earlier on in the year and has now featured in the side’s FA Youth Cup run, playing against Premier League Liverpool and others, as well as featuring out on loan at Barnoldswick Town in his time back at the club.
Ollie has recently been with the club on extended schoolboy forms and has now signed a professional contract, keeping him at the club until the end of the season, with the club holding a further year.
Jack Higgins, Head of Academy at Fleetwood Town, said: “Ollie deserves a huge well done for the way he’s conducted himself whilst he’s been with us this season. The one thing he has done is take the opportunity that presented itself - Which is something we ask all of our players to do.
“It’s a fantastic story, he was released by us at 13 and joined Rossall’s football programme - which we now support in delivering. For Ollie to go full circle and gain a contract with us highlights the fantastic work the Rossall staff and coaches do in offering an elite football programme for boys like Ollie to continue their development. We look forward to working more closely with Ollie next year.”
Steve Curwood, CEO at Fleetwood Town, added: “It's great to see that our long-established relationship with Rossall School is supporting both the school and also the football club, and it's great to see Ollie being given the opportunity due to that partnership.”
Joey Newson, Director of Football at Rossall School, also said: “I couldn’t be happier for Ollie, he has worked so hard over the last few years to keep developing his game and deserves this opportunity. I know how hard he found it being released by Fleetwood four years ago, but it just shows that everyone’s journey is different.
“By being around our full-time training model at school, has ensured that he continually developed his game and was provided with the opportunity to be seen by Fleetwood on a regular basis. This is a testament to Ollie and the incredible coaching/school staff that support him every day as well as his teammates at school who strive for the highest standards in all sessions and games.
“He knows that this is just the beginning of his journey, and he needs to keep working hard every day, but we are proud of this achievement and look forward to continually watching him develop and get better.”
Well done on the professional contract, Ollie!