Jamie Henry has signed a new contract with the club. Jamie, who turned 19 in February, has been with the club since he was 14 and was a product of the AFC Glasgow Centre. The midfielder, who was part of the squad which won the Development League last season, has played predominantly at right back this season and has captained Paul Sheerin’s side on a number of occasions. He has played for the U20s on 37 occasions and recently had a spell on loan at League Two side Arbroath.

After signing his new one year deal he spoke to afc.co.uk:

“I am very pleased to have signed another contract.

“It is a nervous period for any player who is out of contract, whatever age you are. It was even more nerve wracking for me because I have been injured for the last couple of months.

“I am just pleased to get another deal so I can focus on my football and kick on next year.

“Next season will be my last year at U20 level so it will be a big season for me. It is really important that I kick on and try and get in the first team squad. Although for all the U20s players, regardless of what stage you are at, you have to keep improving year on year. You have to keep impressing all the coaches.

“The loan spell I had this season was good experience. Obviously it was a shame my time at Arbroath had to get cut short because of injury. It was really good experience and all the Arbroath lads were brilliant with me. I want to thank everyone at Arbroath for giving me the chance to play at that level for the first time.

“The biggest difference between League Two and the Development League is the physicality. It was also a different style of football. In the U20 league there is a lot of passing and keeping the ball. Every team tries to play football. In League Two understandably where the need to get a result is more important, the football was more direct. Although it is was different it was really good.

“They also gave me the chance to play my preferred position of centre midfield.

“I have played right back a lot at U20 level. Last season was my first year so it was difficult to force my way into midfield with guys like Kieran Gibbons and Nicky Low in there. This season I had to fill in at the back at the start of the season due to injuries. I did enjoy playing in defence but I would prefer to get back into the middle of the park. That is my aim next season, to force my way into a midfield starting spot and to get a run in that position. It is up to me to prove I am good enough to do that.

“The injury is very frustrating. It is a pelvic injury so it means there is very little work I can do at the moment. I just have to rest. I am now concentrating on getting myself fit again and to be ready for the start of the new season.

“This season with the U20s has been very different to last year. Last year we had some really good experienced boys stepping down to play at that level like Nicky Low, Jamie Masson, Clark Robertson and Joe Shaughnessy. This season we have had to rely on U17 and even some U15 players making the step up. Guys like Joe MacPherson, Lewis Hutchison, Seb Ross, David Dangana and more recently Sam Robertson. They have all acquitted themselves really well.

“Although we maybe have not retained our league title, there are still a lot of very talented players in that U20 dressing room. Also with players like young Dean Campbell and Terry Taylor also likely to be involved at stages during the season, I think we will have a strong squad next year.

“This part of the season is always a sad time as players are getting released. I was good friends with all the boys. I feel really sorry for Liam Lambert. He came up from England and got injured in pre-season in Austria. He is a really good player and was brilliant in pre-season but he has been very unfortunate his injury has lasted this long. He has not had a chance to show what he can do. It is a shame, he is really good guy. These things sadly happen in football. I hope he can get over his injury and do well somewhere else next season. I hope all the boys go on and find clubs elsewhere.

“With Kalvin away it means that the only boys from the Glasgow Centre left are Daniel Harvie, Craig Storie and myself. Hopefully the three of us can carry on the proud tradition of players from the centre who have gone on to play for the first team.

“Although the summer break is now approaching, because of the frustrating injury, I have had a break from playing for a little while now. I am really looking forward to getting back into it next season.”