Pathway to Professional Football for QP Youth Academy
Queen’s Park can today confirm goalkeeper Jacques Heraghty has become the club’s first ever player to sign a 2-year Modern Apprenticeship professional contract.
The talented 17-year-old, who has dual British/French nationality and is a fluent French speaker, has already broken into the first team squad, having made his debut in a Challenge Cup tie against Celtic in August 2019. Jacques has also represented Scotland Schools for the last two years.
Queen’s Under 18s Coach Charley King said: “Jacques made a big impression when he first joined us two years ago and was quickly involved with the first team squad. He is a confident goalkeeper, communicates well and has a hunger to train and develop his skills”.
Patrick Harte, Director, Skills for Scotland commented “The Modern Apprenticeship programme is a milestone event for Queen’s Park FC. Skills for Scotland is proud to be working in partnership with the club as it offers professional apprenticeships for the first time in its distinguished history.
The apprenticeship programme has been developed to hone apprentice playing skills on the park as well as providing useful additional skills for the future. In recognising the limit of playing careers, the apprenticeship programme provides young players with additional skills that will give them the tools to go on to success in other jobs after their playing career has come to an end. The Queen’s Park initiative represents a significant additional investment in player development by the club and we are proud to be involved in this exciting initiative.”
After completing the formalities, Jacques Heraghty said “I am proud to have re-signed as the club’s first full-time modern apprentice. I have thoroughly enjoyed my football at Queen’s Park and am delighted and grateful for the opportunity to be involved with a club with such high ambitions for the future.”
In related news, the club has also offered part time professional contracts to a group of our youth prospects who have been with us for several years.
These moves further underline the club’s determination to provide players in our youth academy with a pathway to professional football at Queen’s Park.