Academy defender Harry Baker was delighted to sign on the dotted line for his first professional contract, coming just seven months into his two-year scholarship.
The 17-year-old put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half year deal which acknowledges the existing time remaining on his time with the youth team.
Speaking to iFollow Iron, he said: “I’m delighted to get it. I’ve been at the club for a long time, since I was eight-years-old, so it feels good to get it done and hopefully I can kick on.
“I was very surprised. I didn’t expect to be offered a deal this early. I’ve just worked hard and thankfully I was offered the opportunity. I’m a local lad, so it’s my boyhood team, so it feels good to play in front of all the people I know and it feels good to have made the journey through.
“I’m a tough-tackling right-back, a no-nonsense defender who will run up and down to support the attack as well.
“There are a lot of local lads who have made it. It’s an inspiration and they’re people that you can try and be like.”
The academy side currently sit second in the Youth Alliance League, two points behind Doncaster Rovers, but with three games in hand over the Yorkshire side. Baker reflected on the season so far, with the team aspiration to continue that high-flying form.
He’s also had opportunities to captain the side this season, something he says he thrives on.
“The season has been going really well,” he continued.
“As a team, we’re up there in the league, which is different to how it was last year. As a team and also individually, there have been some good performances. We’re doing well, with a few games in hand, so we need to take each game as it comes, keep working hard in training and hopefully the results will come.
“As a local lad, it’s nice to captain the team. I feel like it’s something I’m good at and I can be a natural leader. I’m a lot more vocal on the pitch and off the pitch as well.”
Baker’s first start for the Under-23s in midweek coincided with his first goal too, as the Iron beat Peterborough United 3-1 in the Central League cup.
Speaking about the goal, he added: “It was a bit of a fluke. I just hit it, aimed for the goal and hoped. The deflection took it in, but I worked hard and I’m happy to have made my first start for Russ and hopefully that will be the first of many.
“I need to keep working hard to improve all aspects of my game and hopefully kick on from there. I want to hopefully try and get in and around the Under-23s set-up, with more starts and play at as high a standard as possible.”