Blyth Spartans defender Ryan Hutchinson has put pen to paper on a contract with the Croft Park club. The deal runs until the end of the season and also has an option of another year.
Hutchinson joined Spartans from Northern Alliance side Seaton Delaval towards the end of the 2013/14 season and made two appearances as a midfielder, debuting from the bench in the 1-1 draw at Matlock Town.
A suspension to centre back Danny Parker at the start of this season saw Hutchinson – who spent the early part of his career in Celtic’s academy – handed the chance to partner Nathan Buddle at the heart of the Spartans defence.
It was a chance that he grasped with both hands and he has impressed in his new role with several eye catching displays. He has also notched his first Spartans goal as he scored the winner in the league game at Halesowen Town in August and got a second with the opener in Saturday’s 7-1 demolition of Grantham Town.
Spartans manager Tom Wade said “Ryan, like the other young lads who have came to the club last season, has been rewarded with a contract for the rest of the season with an option for an extra season.
He has worked hard and he has shown he is a good player at this level. He has had a great season so far and I can only see him getting stronger in the second half of the season”
Wade also believes that the decision to tie down Hutchinson to a contract shows that the club’s change in policy at the start of the 2013/14 that saw a number of promising younger players join Spartans is starting to show it’s benefits.
“The policy of the club is to ringfence the young talent we have brought in to build for the future. The coaching staff and the senior players are working hard to develop these young lads and so far the hard work is paying off”
Hutchinson will be in the Spartans squad as they look to extend their winning sequence to seven games when Workington come to Croft Park on Boxing Day.