HEREFORD FC have promoted five members of their under-18 team into their first team squad.

Ryan Price, Harley Morris, Freddie Fox, Mark Derricott and Jack Jones have all impressed manager Josh Gowling enough to be signed for next season.

All five have featured for the club's community under-18 side this season and in Herefordshire County Cup matches.

They join contracted players Ryan McLean, Harry Pinchard and Yan Klukowski in next season's squad.

Gowling said: "The youth set-up has grown so much over the last year and we have some talent at the football club that the club can use to bolster the squad.

"I look forward to seeing these boys pre-season and if they impress then they have a real chance of being in the matchday squad when the season starts.”

The under-18 squad, coached by Jonathan Nash play in the Midland Junior Premier League Cup final this weekend against Newcastle Town Juniors.

“I am so pleased for the under-18s players and the work they have done to earn an opportunity to be promoted to the first-team squad," added Nash.

"It's been really positive having a first team manager who believes in the youth team and who wants to sign local talent within Herefordshire.

"The season for both the first team and the community under-18s has been really positive and the future looks bright at the football club moving forward.”