Source: FOOTYMAD
Shrimpers striker close to signing first pro contract
Blues striker Harry Crawford has been away with the Irish Under-19's in the Ukraine, however, in yet another week of bad news, he's close to signing a two year professional contract with the club. Well known Irishman Harrison Crawford looks likely to be a Shrimper who is staying!Whether his new contract will guarantee he actually gets paid on time only young Harry Crawford will know, but it will cheer the battered Shrimpers faithful that at least one player wants to stay at Roots Hall in what is shaping into a long, hot summer for the fans. Harry made his debut on March 23rd 2010 in Southend's 3-0 home win over Walsall in League One, replacing Scott Spencer as a sub in the 82nd minute. He got his first assist a month later on April 24th when it was his cross at Oldham Athletic that was headed home by Jean-Yves M'Voto in the 2-2 draw.While he grabbed his first full game on May 1st against Stockport County and ended up with his first goal in professional football, the 75th minute equaliser of what ended up a 2-1 win.Harry told www.echo-news.co.uk: "I haven't actually signed it yet but it's very close to being done. Hopefully I can stay involved with the first team and get a few more appearances to help the team try and get back in to League One." As for remaining an Irishman after appearing for their under-19 side in last week's Elite Qualifying Round of the European Championship in Ukraine, where they failed to qualify for the finals in France due to England topping their group, Harry's all for it!The Shrimpers striker continued: "I really enjoyed playing international football and would love to get another taste of it now. It was an excellent experience for me and my aim is to go on and try to get in the under 21 squad next season but there's a lot of hard work to be done if that's going to happen." Good luck mate.If you missed S24's extensive coverage of the summer tournament, the three relevant threads covering each of the group games where Harry played the first half in the first, a 1-0 defeat to England, and the second half in the third game, a 1-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, you can catch them here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/crawford_clutches_first_cap_shrimpers_striker_takes_on_england_youth_for_ireland_529011/index.shtml www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/harry_stays_on_the_subs_bench_as_irish_under19s_hang_on_in_euro_tourney_529490/index.shtml www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/harry_gets_another_half_in_irish_under19_victory_but_england_qualify_for_euro_finals_529875/index.shtml
