We’re delighted to announce that academy graduate midfielder Oli Metcalfe has signed first team forms.

Eighteen year-old midfielder Oli Metcalfe is the latest Guiseley Academy player to sign first team forms for The Lions writes Rachel O’Connor.

The youngster joined Guiseley’s first team for pre-season training and took part in a number of the pre-season games. He is now hoping to make further progress and get as many first team minutes as he can under his belt as, inspired by former teammate Nathan Newall’s signing for Sunderland, he hopes to attract the attention of a Football League club.

Metcalfe said: “Nathan’s journey has inspired all the Academy lads and I want to press on and follow in his footsteps. I got a good grounding in the Centre of Excellence under Dave Currie and I have a lot to thank him for. When I first became a scholar with the Academy I did not get to play much and got a bit down about it but Dave was holding me back to put me in at the right time. I fully respect that now and I know that the stage I have got to now is all down to him. He has been really influential on my game and I am thankful for that.”

A former pupil at St Aidan’s School in Harrogate the Pool-in-Wharfedale lad started out in junior football with Pannal Ash, Pannal Sports and Beckwithshaw. He also has experience of men’s football with Pool AFC.

He joined Guiseley AFC’s Centre of Excellence at Under-15 level and became an Academy Scholar at 16. Of signing Non Contract forms with the first team Metcalfe said: “I am looking to kick on from here. I have been training with the first team for a few months and I learned a lot from playing in the pre-season friendlies against the likes of Leeds United, Bradford City and Everton U-23s.”

He continued: “I am now looking to help the first team as much as I can. I hope to keep improving as I 100 per cent want to follow Nathan to a Football League club. That is what I want to work towards and I am determined to put all the hard work in. Covid was a blow to us, ending our season but it provided a learning curve and gave us time to question where we wanted to be and how much we wanted it. It was a time to see how much you could push yourself on your own to keep fit and develop without the aid of playing games.”

Metcalfe has enjoyed being involved in the first team squad and said: “Straight away everyone was really welcoming and made you feel part of the group. There are some great midfielders in the first team and I hope to learn a lot from them.”

Oli’s home, away and training kits are available to sponsor, contact our team on admin@guiseleyafc.co.uk to register your interest.