Brentford FC winger Josh Clarke has signed a new one-year contract.
The speedy right sided attacker was promoted to Brentford’s First Team Squad from the Development Squad towards the end of the 2013/14 season.
He made his Football League debut against Colchester United in Brentford’s penultimate game of the season and late last week agreed a new one-year contract.
The 19-year-old has had a meteoric rise since joining The Bees in 2011.
Prior to signing a two-year scholarship at the age of 17 he was effectively playing park football.
He completed his scholarship last summer and signed a professional contract, as part of the Development Squad.
Josh made his First Team debut in the Capital One Cup defeat to Derby County last August and also featured in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie against Peterborough United in October before making his league debut in April.
He has been an unused substitute on two more occasions.
Josh, who will be 20 in in July, played 17 games for Brentford’s Development Squad in the Under-21 Professional Development League in 2012/13, scoring once.
He was involved in 16 games for The Bees in the Under-21 Professional Development League in 2013/14 and had loan spells at Skrill South Maidenhead United and Skrill Premier Braintree to add to a spell at Carshalton Athletic the year before.
Mark Warburton, Brentford FC Manager, said: “Josh has made significant progress in a short period of time.
“Not having the benefit of an early Academy education, Josh has had to work exceptionally hard to adapt to this level of football, to broaden his knowledge and understanding of the game and most importantly, to learn how best to maximise the outstanding natural attributes that he possesses.
“The fact that Josh has now fully joined our First Team squad is testament indeed to his work ethic, desire and determination to make a career in the game.
“In addition, it is testament to the many hours of coaching work undertaken by Academy Director Ose Aibangee, Development Squad Manager Jon de Souza and the Academy staff in preparing Josh to make the very significant step from Development Squad football to the First Team group.
“I would like to congratulate Josh on his achievements to date and look forward to him continuing his progress in the months ahead.”
Josh spoke to Bees Player after signing his contract; subscribers can see an interview with the winger soon.