After spending 10 years in Bristol Rovers’ academy, teenage striker Ollie Hulbert has penned his first professional deal.
The centre forward, who captained the club’s under-18s in the FA Youth Cup last season, joined the Gas as an eight-year-old – and a decade of hard work has been rewarded with a senior contract.
The 18-year-old scored six goals and registered five assists in 14 starts for the under-18s before the season was curtailed.
His performances caught the eye of Rovers boss Ben Garner, who has also been impressed with Hulbert’s showings when he has taken part in senior training.
"Ollie is a player that has come all the way through the academy system from a young age,” Garner told the club’s website on Tuesday.
“He is highly regarded by the academy staff and has shown his potential when training with the first team.
“Ollie will now be given the opportunity to develop further with the aim of progressing into the first team squad.”
Hulbert is the second academy-graduate to be rewarded with a pro deal this year, after striker Kieran Phillips committed to a senior deal in February.
Both he and Hulbert will hope to make an impact in the first-team over pre-season, with attacking spots vacant after the departures of Gavin Reilly, Tom Nichols, Josh Ginnelly, Jayden Mitchell-Lawson and Timmy Abraham.
Hulbert said: "I'm delighted to be signing a pro contract with Bristol Rovers and working hard to get my career started."
Chris Hargreaves, Rovers’ academy manager, added his delight that another youth team player is on the pathway to the first team.
“Ollie has worked extremely hard on his game and I am delighted he has been rewarded with a pro contract,” he said.
"He is one of many academy players who see a pathway towards the first team and who want to be part of the future of the club."
