By Andrew McDonnell (@AndrewSJourno)
Morpeth Town are pleased to announce the signing of young goalkeeper Max Coombes for the 2017-18 season.
The 18-year-old, who has lived in Thailand for 14 years, is spending a year studying at the Park View Academy and has put pen to paper to sign for the Highwaymen.
Coombes will be spending pre-season with Dundee and will provide competition for first-choice ‘keeper Karl Dryden this season.
“With me being a younger player, I think it’s a brilliant opportunity,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to moving to England and exposing myself to the football scene here in the North of England.
“I just really want to expose myself in England as I’ve never lived over here. Morpeth’s a great club for me to start off at to see my skill level.”
The young shot-stopper impressed Scottish Premiership side Dundee when he played against them over in Thailand recently.
And Coombes is looking to build up his fitness during pre-season for the busy season ahead in the Northern League.
He added: “Dundee played in Bangkok in their world tour and they played a few matches over there against some professional teams.
“One of the goalkeepers was injured and I played against them. With our relations between my school and my academy in Bangkok, they invited me to play with them over there.
“That was a really good experience for me and after that they invited me to do pre-season with them.”
Co-manager Nick Gray is delighted to have brought Coombes to Craik Park, and believes he’ll be a great addition to the squad.
“It’s a great opportunity for the club and Max. I’m looking forward to working with him and he’ll bring competition for Karl (Dryden),” Gray said.
“He’s an athletic young lad that’s willing to listen and learn and work hard. He’ll get plenty of opportunities and lets hope he grasps them. Football is all about grasping those opportunities.”
The Highwaymen are in action against Berwick Rangers on Saturday, 8 July in, what will be, their first pre-season game this summer.
