Boost for Deveronvale as four youngsters commit their futures to the club
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DEVERONVALE may not have been in action at the weekend, but there has been plenty of good news coming out of Princess Royal Park.
After captain Harry Noble signed a new deal that will keep him at the club until at least 2026, Vale confirmed the retention of four further first team players.
23-year-old midfielder Mikey Watson, like Noble, has signed a two-year extension to his deal that will keep him with Deveronvale until the summer of 2026.
Three teenagers who have broken into the first team squad in recent years also extended their stays in Banff. Max Stewart, Toni Jam and Olek Dlugosz have also signed two-year extensions.
Stewart, a Banff boy, has been involved with the club since 2012, with Jam and Dlugosz also coming through the system.
Manager Craig Stewart said: “We are delighted to get the four boys signed up. They are central to our plans for next season and beyond.
“It’s really rewarding to see our young players make the big step up to SHFL football from the U18s and the juniors and the aim for us now is to progress.
“We lost some key players throughout last season and have had to replace them with youngsters and players coming through the system.
“The younger players will be a year older, a year wiser and will have more Highland League experience.”
Mikey Watson, based in Rothes, signed for Vale from Dufftown in 2021, while 19-year-old Max Stewart signed his first professional contract with the club in 2020.
18-year-old Toni Jam signed his first deal with Vale in 2022 and has made a number of substitute appearances this season, while Dlugosz has scored twice in 10 appearances.
Stewart added: “Securing Mikey is excellent news. He is a young, improving player who is very much part of our plans.
“He has an eye for goal and the speed and ability to cause opposition defences problems.
“Max’s appearances this season have been restricted by injury but he’s now back to full fitness.
“He offers us something different in midfield and also carries a goal threat, which he showed last season scoring seven, including a hat-trick against Inverurie.
“We tend to forget that Max is still a very young player with significantly development potential.”
Deveronvale are back in action on Saturday when they travel to North Lodge Park to take on Formartine United.
The Pitmedden side head into the match having won 11 of their last 12 Highland League matches, with Vale going into the game off the back of seven points in five games.
