Danny Bate misses out on professional football contract (From St Helens Star)

Danny Bate misses out on professional football contract

10:12am Friday 18th January 2013 in Sport

ST HELENS amateur footballer Danny Bate has not been selected for the next stage of Samsung’s Win A Pro Contract competition, which offers two pro deals at League One clubs Leyton Orient and Swindon Town.

The defender, 19, of Jubits Lane, St Helens, reached the last 11 of the competition, after beating off more than 5,000 other entrants.

Danny played in the Final at Leyton Orient’s Matchroom Stadium on Wednesday January 16, but was not picked to train with Swindon or Orient.

O’s boss Russell Slade said: “The final was a really good standard, very competitive right from the start. All of the players showed terrific commitment and effort.

“Although it hasn’t worked out for Danny this time, he shouldn’t give up. He obviously loves the game otherwise he wouldn’t have put himself through this process.

“He should keep working hard and aim to play at the highest level he possibly can.”

Midfielder Jack Sherratt, 19, of Stoke-on-Trent and strikers Claudio Hoban, 21, of Northampton and Kayden Jackson, 18, of Bradford will now spend a week training with both clubs before two are offered one-year professional contracts.