Cameron Gregory signs his first professional deal
Young Goalkeeper Cameron Gregory has signed his first professional deal with Shrewsbury Town.
Cameron enjoyed a standout season for the club’s youth team and was offered a one-year deal with the option of a second back in April.
“I’m over the moon really”, admitted Cameron.
“Definitely pleased that I’ve signed it and I’m really looking forward to getting started in pre-season. It’s every boys dream really and only a few people get it, so I’m very lucky that it’s me.
“You never know in football what’s going to happen, manager’s change and all that kind of stuff, but I’m just lucky that I was able to get the chance to show what I can do and hopefully improve now and push on.
“Going from the Under-16s to the Youth Team was hard, but now it’s going to get even harder. From the first-year as a scholar I definitely improved coming into the second year and hopefully I’m going to keep on improving.”
Cameron featured on the bench for the first-team on a couple of occasions last season and regularly trained with Danny Coyne and the rest of the goalkeepers. He believes Coyne’s input will be vital over the next year.
“He’s probably been one of the best mentors I’ve had in football so far”, Gregory said.
“He’s open with you and lets you know what’s happening and where he personally thinks he’s going to see you in a couple of years. He really helps you to push on to get to those places.
“It was different being on the bench in cup games and a league game than playing as a youth team player because you’ve got the atmosphere around you that you don’t have in youth team games.
“It makes you want to be on that pitch and playing. When you are sitting there and watching everybody else and the fans, it just makes you feel like you need to be playing.”
Gregory now hopes to follow the likes of John McAtee and Ryan Sears by enjoying a productive loan-spell next season to get used to men’s football.
“Hopefully I will go on-loan to get men’s football in and to help me improve, because as soon as you get that men’s football you can push on then, and as soon as you get used to it there is nothing really stopping you”, said Cameron.
“Youth team players aren’t physical. You get the odd youth team player that will go shoulder to shoulder with you on the corners, but in the men’s game it’s every player and people will actually challenge you in the air.”