Finn Cousin-Dawson contract underlines Bradford City's commitment to homegrown players

The 18-year-old has signed a new-and-improved three-and-a-half-year deal only months after signing his first professional contract. It follows the new deal for Reece Staunton last month.Then-manager Stuart McCall made a push this season to promote youth, making Staunton a key figure, and handing Cousin-Dawson his debut. Although McCall was sacked after a poor run of form, the club have continued down that line by appointing academy coaches Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars as interim managers.

With two league starts to his name when they came in, right-back Cousin-Dawson has played every minute of the duo's five matches in charge.

Of his new contract, Dawson said: “It is a massive achievement for myself and a very proud moment for me and my family.

“It shows all young players coming through our academy now that there is a pathway at the football club. Five of us signed professional contracts this year and a few of us have enjoyed quite a lot of game time, too.”

Trueman highlighted the importance of the Bantams producing their own players in the week they signed 29-year-old Niall Canavan, who was released by the academy before he played for the first team.

“I know this means an awful lot to Finn and his family, and it is testament to the way he has performed since Conor and I have come in and shown faith in him to play at right-back,” he said.

“He is a player we obviously know very well, having worked with him for over two years in the academy, and we have no doubts about his character, personality and ability.

“It is great to see yet another product of our academy putting performances in for the first team, and this new contract is very much deserved with that in mind.

“The importance of breeding youngsters through the club is huge, and this news on Finn will hopefully be the latest of much more to come over the years ahead.

“We are looking forward to seeing him continue to develop and perform as well as we know he can, as we aim to continue picking up positive results.”

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