Youth Team Profiles
All the information about North End's youth lads.
Name: Chris "Thommo" Thompson
Date of Birth: 26/02/1990
Position: Goalkeeper
Birth place: Rochdale
Appearances (sub): 12 (0)
Clean Sheets: 3
Thommo started to play football at a young age for local team Rossendale United. He signed for Preston as an U16 having played for his home town club and Bolton. This is his fourth season and after a little shaky start Thommo has played brilliantly keeping a clean sheet in the 5-0 victory over reigning champions Oldham. He has improved his talking a lot this season and reacts quickly, as well as being capable of taking a powerful goal kick. Thommo supports Blackburn Rovers and thinks that Brad Friedel is a good stopper.
Name: Jack "Cuddie" Cudworth
Date of Birth: 11/09/1990
Position: Goalkeeper
Birth place: Preston
Appearances (sub): 2 (0)
Clean Sheets: 2
Jack joined Preston in 2003 and is a great talker with plenty of enthusiasm. He started playing for Chorley St Gregorys when he was four and then moved onto Aspull Juniors. Although being a keeper, his favourite players are Christiano Ronaldo and Nemanja Vidic - it goes with out saying he supports Man United! Besides football, he enjoys watching other sports like cricket and rugby as well as playing computer games.
Name: Ray "Shearo" Shearwood
Date of Birth: 16/10/1989
Position: Left Back
Birth place: Bootle
Appearances (sub): 9 (2)
Goals: 2
This is Ray's fifth season at Preston. He started to play for Liverpool when he was seven and then went to Sefton District as a 14-year-old before being picked up by North End. He also played with Merseyside Boys, at the age of 15, a district team that features the best players in the city of Liverpool. Ray is a good tackler and has a very powerful shot having already scored two long range super goals during the 2007/08 season. He has a great attitude and always wants to improve, but doesn't like being beaten. "Shearo" supports Liverpool and Steven Gerrard is his number one.
Name: Dominic "Dom" Collins
Date of Birth: 15/04/1991
Position: Centre Half
Birth place: Blackpool
Appearances (sub): 12 (0)
Goals: 1
Dominic began playing football at the age of seven for Kirkham Juniors and joined Preston as an U12 player. The summer proved to be very adventurous as he joined the first team on their tour in America. He is one of the youngest players in the youth team and features regularly in the reserves where he is picking up the tactical side of the game every match. The tall defender poses a real threat in the air and rarely finds himself beaten in one-on-ones. Favourite player is Ronaldinho.
Name: Mike "Aspino" Aspin
Date of Birth: 20/10/1989
Position: Right Back
Birth place: Blackburn
Appearances (sub): 11 (2)
Goals: 2
Mike had a long spell at Blackburn Rovers early in his career. He started there at eight but went straight to North End when he was released at 16. He is enjoying his second season with the Lilywhites and is doing his best to push himself into the reserves. "Aspino" loves to go forward as a full back and very often delivers brilliant shots and crosses. He is fast, neat and tidy and has a very positive attitude. He rates Brazilian Cafu very highly.
Name: Mark "Blox" Bloxam
Date of Birth: 30/12/1989
Position: Centre Half
Birth place: Liverpool
Appearances (sub): 14 (0)
Goals: 0
Mark started out with Halewood Juniors at seven and went to Crewe Alexandra as a 15-year-old. He signed for Preston the following year and is working his way into the reserve team. "Blox" is a very good talker and a dominant centre-half winning his headers. He is always a threat at attacking set pieces, and is good at defending those awarded against his side. The Liverpudlian thinks Jamie Carragher is a cracking player and supports the Reds.
Name: Ciaron "Kee" Barton
Date of Birth: 04/10/1990
Position: Centre Half
Birth place: Blackburn
Appearances (sub): 1 (2)
Goals: 0
Ciaron was eight when he began playing football for Clitheroe Wolves and then he went to Oswaldtwistle Rangers six years later. This is his third season with the Lilywhites and the aggressive centre-half is getting better at his distribution and still learning the tactical side of the game. "Kee" thinks John Terry is a brilliant centre half and is interested in general sport outside of football.
Name: Chris "Rodge" Rogers
Date of Birth: 15/08/1990
Position: Left Back
Birth place: Warrington
Appearances (sub): 3 (2)
Goals: 0
Chris kicked his first football for Rope & Anchor as a four-year-old and made his debut for PNE last season. Prior to Preston he played for four other highly-respected clubs; Bolton, Wigan, Blackburn and Crewe Alexandra. The left-back from Warrington played in most of the youth games last season and is hoping for another bright campaign. His stubbornness and pace are two of his best attributes. Rogers listens to RNB, Dance, Hip Hop and Indie and watches a lot of Rugby League among other sports.
Name: Phil "Quirky" Quirk
Date of Birth: 24/02/1991
Position: Left Back
Birth place: Ormskirk
Appearances (sub): 0 (0)
Goals: 0
Phil's fourth season at Preston has started unfortunately and he is battling with a broken bone in his foot. Hopefully he will be back training again in the new year. He is very quick and uses the ball well. He is a good defender who likes to go forward. "Quirky" began playing football at the age of eight for local team Ormskirk Cross Hall and then went to Town Green before becoming a PNE scholar when he was 14 years old. He supports Liverpool with Steven Gerrard being his favourite player.
Name: Nathan "Nath" Fairhurst
Date of Birth: 16/10/1989
Position: Centre Midfield
Birth place: Sharoe Green
Appearances (sub): 12 (0)
Goals: 2
Nathan is one of the longest serving players and has been with the club for roughly nine years. He came to Preston straight from Paul McKenna's home village of Eccleston, where he first started to play the game at the age of eight. He is the team captain and is a cornerstone in the youth team. Local lad Nathan has a good eye for the game, is very unselfish and knows when to pass the ball. The skipper is a real threat at set pieces and moves well without the ball. Steven Gerrard is his favourite although he supports Everton.
Name: Matty Mainwaring
Date of Birth: 28/03/1990
Position: Left Midfield
Birth place: Salford
Appearances (sub): 12 (0)
Goals: 3
Matty started out as a schoolboy at Manchester United before making a move to Preston two-and-a-half years ago. The tall midfielder has played football ever since he could walk and his first teams were Alberts FC and Deans Sports. He also played for Salford when he was 14-15 and captained Greater Manchester at county level, hence the nickname, "Captain Mainwaring" from Dad's Army on the BBC. Besides his speciality, set pieces, the Salfordian is a good passer with quick feet and a great technique. Argentinian star Juan Riquelme is his favourite player, but apart from football he likes watching boxing.
Name: Danny "Brett" Mayor
Date of Birth: 18/10/1990
Position: Right Midfield
Birth place: Preston
Appearances (sub): 14 (0)
Goals: 1
Danny began his career at Leyland Albion as a nine-year-old before being picked up by North End. He is an exciting talent who makes good forward runs, has great balance and likes to take his opponents on. He has a special role on the right flank of the midfield and is working on his end product to score more goals. Danny's team mates call him "Brett" after PNE's first team player Brett Ormerod but he doesn't know why. Apart from football, he is interested in golf.
Name: Phil Appiah
Date of Birth: 25/10/1989
Position: Centre Midfield
Birth place: Toronto, Canada
Appearances (sub): 9 (1)
Goals: 1
Phil left Fulham for North End last season and before that he was with Sunday League team Pinnacle, near London. He started to play football when he was 11 and is really looking to flourish this season. Unfortunately he had to watch three games from the sidelines due to an early ban but once on the pitch he is a good tackler with a very brave playing style. Phil's terrific work ethic and technique is second to none. When he is not playing football he likes to play on the computer.
Name: Adam "Spid" Barton
Date of Birth: 07/01/1991
Position: Centre Midfield
Birth place: Blackburn
Appearances (sub): 2 (4)
Goals: 1
Adam is in his debut season for PNE this season after signing from Blackburn Rovers. He played in local team Clitheroe Wolves from the age of six and went to Rovers three years later. The lads call him "Spid" which has no actual meaning, it was just a very strange name that his dad came up with! "Spid" is an excellent technical player - a good passer and finisher - but best of all, he never panics. Steven Gerrard is his hero and he supports Liverpool, but he also thinks Kaka is a quality player.
Name: Tom "Macca" McMahon
Date of Birth: 15/01/1990
Position: Centre Midfield
Birth place: Liverpool
Appearances (sub): 12 (1)
Goals: 1
"Macca" began playing football as a four-year-old at Halewood Juniors. Since then he has played for Tranmere and Blackpool before signing for Preston. This is his second season with North End and after coming on as a sub the first couple of games he earned his place in the line up. This stubborn and somewhat fiery player is best used in midfield but can also fill in at the back whenever necessary. One of his biggest triumphs this season is his wonder goal in the 1-1 draw away against Shrewsbury. Macca supports Everton and his favourite players are Mikel Arteta and Kaka.
Name: Ashley "Higgi" Higgins
Date of Birth: 24/10/1989
Position: Centre Forward
Birth place: Rishton
Appearances (sub): 10 (3)
Goals: 12
Ash began playing for a local team at the age of eight and joined Preston's U16s, having played most of his football at Blackburn apart from a short spell at Bolton. "Higgi" is a great finisher who already has scored a hat-trick at this level and he hopes to retain his position as the top goalscorer during his third season at North End. He is a very cool finisher and always finds a space behind the opposition's defence. Unfortunately, he is too fast for his own good and assistant referees often think he is offside when he isn't! Star striker Wayne Rooney is his favourite footballer although he doesn't support Man United.
Name: Arran "Dud" McCarthy
Date of Birth: 17/09/1989
Position: Centre Forward
Birth place: Ingolstadt, Germany
Appearances (sub): 7 (1)
Goals: 4
Arran started to play for local team Huncoat United as a four-year-old and then had a spell at Baxenden Villa. He had trials at Manchester City and Oldham but signed for PNE when he was still at high school. His work rate and technical skills are excellent and he is becoming a better finisher during his third North End season. Arran works very hard to progress to get as many chances as he can in the reserves. Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldinho are two players he looks up to but his team is Blackburn Rovers. When not training or playing he usually watches football.
Name: Michael "Conch" Conchie
Date of Birth: 24/10/1990
Position: Centre Forward
Birth place: Liverpool
Appearances (sub): 5 (4)
Goals: 2
"Conch" began his career with Crosby Stuart in the Bootle League and also represented Liverpool Schoolboys before joining Preston at the age of 14. This is his fourth season and he features regularly. The only time he has been out has been because of injuries but when he is playing he shows good movement with and without the ball. He supports Liverpool and Steven Gerrard is his favourite footballer. The gaffer says his nickname is Scholesy but he is not very pleased with that for obvious reasons! Outside football he likes playing on the computer and going to the gym.
Name: Tom Smyth
Date of Birth: 18/03/1991
Position: Centre Forward
Birth place: Southport
Appearances (sub): 5 (6)
Goals: 2
Tom is Preston's second and last signing of the season. The 16-year-old played for Penwortham Town on Sundays and Southport Trinity on Saturdays when PNE realised his potential. He has gelled in well, working his way into the team and fully enjoys his debut season as a scholar. The centre-forward reacts quickly when it comes to picking up a lost cause but sometimes he needs to be a bit more selfish in front of goal. Tom supports Liverpool and thinks Gerrard is a top player. Apart from football, he likes playing cricket and golf where he's got a handicap of 12.
Profiles by Frida Larsson.
