Tuesday 5th July, 2022 at 5:36pm
We are pleased to announce that Ji Stevenson has become the latest modern apprentice who will step up from the Thistle Weir Youth Academy to join the Club.
Ji follows in the footsteps of Ben Stanway and Zander MacKenzie to join the club in 2022, taking the total of youngsters to graduate from the Academy into red and yellow to 29.
The 16-year-old has signed a two year modern apprentice contract and has joined up with Ian McCall’s squad with the season start just days away. Signing for the Academy in 2017 from Pollok United, Ji has progressed through the pathway from under 12s level through to the under 18s squad, earning his modern apprenticeship.
Last season Ji spent time on loan with Petershill FC, alongside teammate Zander MacKenzie, helping the Glasgow side to win the West of Scotland Football League Conference C title on the final day of the campaign.
Everyone at Partick Thistle welcomes Ji to the Club and looks forward to seeing how he develops over the course of his apprenticeship.
Partick Thistle manager, Ian McCall, said:
“It’s a testament to the hard work that Ji has put in over his years within the Thistle Weir Youth Academy that he has earned this modern apprenticeship. He has been around the first team squad over recent months and from the games I have watched him play with the Academy, he has a very big future in the game.
“The hard work doesn’t stop here though. Like I always tell the young players who progress from the Academy into the first team environment, you need to continue to push to be the very best that you can be and become a first team player at Thistle. The opportunities are there for young players to flourish in our team and it is up to them to go out and grasp them.”
Thistle Weir Youth Academy Director, Paul McDonald, said:
“Ji is the third Academy player to graduate into the football club in 2022 and we couldn’t be prouder of each of them. The player pathway here at Firhill is strong and that has been showcased by the first team manager actively bringing in modern apprentices into the first team environment.
“We’ve had a number of Academy players featuring for the club during pre-season and it has given them all a taste of what the next step is. By continuing the work we are doing with the young players and the close link we have with the first team we hope this will ensure more young players get opportunities as the club continues to move forward.”
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