Gorleston Football Club are delighted to announce that Connor Ingram has committed to the club for the next two seasons. The prolific goal scorer has managed to find the net 77 times in 151 appearances for the club, since breaking into the first team at 17 years old.

Ricci Butler First Team Manager said ‘In light of a difficult season, changes were necessary through different parts of the club and we feel that we have started to achieve those already in the close season, but to get a proven goal scorer at any level of football is extremely difficult so to get a player of Connor’s ability and still with more potential to show, to commit to the club for 2 years is a fantastic piece of business for the future of the club.

On speaking to Connor and going through our future plans expectations and changes we have made and are making at the club he was very excited to stay and commit to the club.

Connor Ingram is a name that goalkeepers fear and the lad is a natural born goal scorer and we can only see him going from strength to strength with the club. To fight off interest from several other clubs and capture the signature of a striker like this early on is only the beginning of us moving the club forward and our intent. We are absolutely delighted with this signing!’.

Scott Butler First Team Manager said we are delighted that Connor has committed to the club for the next two seasons, Connor is a great example of how a player can progress through the levels at the club, he is now one of the top strikers within the Thurlow Nunn league, a prolific goal scorer and boasts a fantastic record especially for someone of his age, he is hungry for success and has plenty more to give and achieve at Gorleston and it’s great for the club to be able to announce this.

I feel tying down this deal is a huge positive and shows the intent of where we are looking to take the football club, there’s been a lot of work going on behind the scenes to get the management and coaching staff in place ahead of the new season when it finally returns. We are very happy with the staff we have assembled and feel we have people in place to move the club forward.

Connor Ingram upon agreeing to the terms said ‘There are many different reasons that I committed for 2 years to the club but the main one is that I see the club going in the right direction and helping me grow as a football player in the next few seasons.

I do not see why we can’t go on and win trophies in the upcoming season. I don’t normally set any personal targets for myself before the season starts, I like to take each game as it comes and try the help the team win as many games as we can by scoring goals.

I’m most looking forward to just getting back at it. The plans being put in place by the management are really exciting, having had this long break away from football due to the circumstances. It will be good to get around my teammates again and start putting in the hard graft to have a good season’.

Jamie Humphries Gorleston Football Club Chairman said ‘Signing Connor to a contract is part of our plan as a club to commit to our local talent as a football club. Having played for Gorleston as a youth player, this shows to all our footballers within the club that a clear pathway for progression is available. This signing shows the intent of the club to drive forward and establish ourselves with in the Thurlow Premier Division.

Along with this key signing is a number of changes to the Football Management Team at Emerald Park, UFEA B Coach Lewis Plowman has been brought in as 1st Team Coach to increase the knowledge and skill base with the senior setup.

Changes within the U18’s were also necessary after Paul Case and Russel Barnes stepped down, we are really pleased that Paul is staying on as a club coach and we wish Russell all the best in his new Role. The Club has moved quickly to bring in Craig Lewis as joint manager to work alongside Darren Cockrill and we have no doubt that their experiences and knowledge will be a key development area for our young greens.

We have also been successful in appointing an u18’s coach in Keehlan Panayiotou, Keehlan serves in the British Army and has moved close to the area and is currently finishing his Level 2 in football coaching, his previous role was with Swindon Town Women.

Adding depth and personnel with specialities to the club is a key area for us to develop so to officially announce Ryan Carter owner of 1st Sports Clinic as the Clubs Head Physio, who will be supported by Ross Langmead in our sports injury and rehab set up. With fitness playing a key role in modern day football, the Club have also added Leighton Crux of CruxBox as our strength and conditioning coach. All the current players at the club are working hard on fitness levels in this unprecedented time to be as ready as possible for when we return and we are all confident of giving the fans and everyone involved in the club an enjoyable 2020/21 season.

On a community front the club has been working really hard behind the scenes over the last 4 weeks to be ready for the return of football, whilst also supporting the local community and recognising the amazing work of our NHS through a just giving campaign that raised over £2,000.00 and offering free admission to all public service workers, Reserve’s Assistant Manager Arren Howarth should take enormous credit for being the driving force behind this initiative for the club.

We have many more exciting announcements to make in the near future as the work behind the scenes continues to aid us to be successful on the pitch. We hope that the fans can see the transformation of the club as we gear up to be ready for the return of football.