Walsall have confirmed that young defender Stan Straw has put pen to paper on his first professional contract with the club.Joining the academy setup in December 2022, Straw has impressed throughout his journey at WS1 and gained experience in men’s football with loan spells at Alvechurch and Halesowen Town over the course of the current campaign.
Along with training with the first team on a number of occasions, Straw has featured in several Vertu Trophy matchday squads, where he was named on the substitutes bench for the Saddlers' opening group game against Shrewsbury Town, making his first professional appearance.
The teenager would then go on to feature off the bench once again in our group games against Northampton Town and Chelsea U21s before making his first professional start for the club in the Round of 32 triumph against League One Stevenage, where he was named Man of the Match by supporters for his efforts at the Lamex Stadium.
Straw was rewarded with another start for the club not long after in the Round of 16 clash with Northampton Town at Sixfields, where the Saddlers would go on to exit this year's competition.
Speaking via the club's official website, Walsall FC Academy Manager Martyn Bowles is delighted to see the defender rewarded for his hard work and is looking forward to seeing him progress in the next chapter of his playing career. He said, "I am delighted that Stan has signed his first professional contract at Walsall Football Club.
"He’s worked extremely hard throughout his time with us since he joined in the U15s, and he fully deserves this opportunity.
"I’d like to thank all the coaches prior to Walsall Football Club, the past and present staff at the club who have played their part in his development to this point, and of course, his parents Neil & Alison, who have been fantastic throughout his time with us—we all look forward to seeing him thrive and continue his journey in his career at our club."