Young trio who will be hoping to kick on in new term
HOPEFULS BEING KEPT ON WITH FIRST-TEAM SQUAD
WHILE Ben Radcliffe and Jakub Niemczyk will be signing their first professional deals with Burton Albion this summer, three other young Brewers will be continuing the first-team squad journey they started last season.
Goalkeeper Dan Moore and defender Thierry Latty-fairweather have accepted one-year extensions to their first contracts, while the club got midfielder Charlie Williams to put pen to paper on a deal in September and he remains under contract for next season.
There is a different story attached to each and academy manager Dan Robinson hopes all three might be able to catch manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s eye in the way that fellow academy graduate Ciaran Gilligan did before them.
Moore’s route to Burton is not typical, in that he has not come through the academy system, having arrived from Bedworth United last season.
As a former goalkeeper himself, Robinson likes what he sees of the 6ft 3in teenager, who ended the season early with an injury while playing on loan with Belper Town.
“Dan Moore is a fascinating one,” said Robinson.
“He came from Bedworth and volunteered with us for six months, although he had been scouted. “He did really well in training, got himself fit and we offered him a contract until the end of the season. “This season, we’re taking him up on his option, basically an extension of his contract.
“Dan has only just turned 18, he had that unfortunate injury at Belper and the plan will be to get him playing at about that level again next season when he’s fit. “Turning 18 as a goalkeeper, 6ft 3in, and can kick with both feet – they are like rocking horse poo, there are not many of them about! “He reminds me a little bit of Teddy Sharman-lowe but, unlike him, he’s not had years of elite training.
“He’s come out from the grassroots game, so he’s a little bit behind in that respect but we think he has a good future.” Moore was often to be seen warming up with the first-team squad goalkeepers on match days in the second half of the season. Latty-fairweather has been less conspicuous around the Pirelli Stadium but has had a busy season out on loan.
“Thierry has had a very good season,” said Robinson.
”He’s had two loans, the first under Carlton Palmer at Grantham. Unfortunately, Carlton left there and Thierry’s opportunities were changed under the new management.
“Then we had the chance to get him to National League North with
Guiseley. They didn’t have the greatest season and were relegated, with Marcus Bignot leaving at the end of that.
“But all the while that was happening, Thierry was playing regularly and doing his job on the left side of a back four or back three, which is good for someone who is left-footed.
“People were saying you couldn’t tell which foot was best, which is good. He’s an athlete.
“We are hopeful that this season will be an opportunity for him to break through. He has all the attributes – six foot three, quick, athletic. He should be in and around it and pushing.”
Latty-fairweather has made one first team appearance, replacing John Brayford at half-time against Fulham Under-21s in the Papa John’s Trophy in the 2020-21 season.
Williams made his first-team debut shortly before signing his contract, starting at home to MK Dons in the opening Papa John’s Trophy group match last season and playing 63 minutes.
He also had loans with Redditch United and Leamington.
“Charlie has been playing National League North for Leamington and played up at York in front of threeand-a-half-thousand,” said Robinson.
“The loan strategy has worked out really well for these boys, so, hopefully, he’s going to come back and really knock on the door in pre-season.
“The boys have been primed by their loans to get themselves ready to knock on the door, if not immediately, then with another loan opportunity to prepare them for later on in the season.”
The boys have been primed by their loans to get ready to knock on the door with the first team squad.
Dan Robinson