AFC Fylde are delighted to announce that midfielder Taelor O’Kane has today signed a contract extension, keeping him at Mil Farm until 2026.
The academy graduate has impressed in his first year of senior football after signing his first professional deal just over a year ago.
After making the step up to first-team football last year, Taelor featured in 19 National League games last season, scoring four goals including a brace against FC Halifax Town which saw the teenager score a 96th minute equaliser.
Taelor initially started training with the first team around 18 months ago, whilst still featuring for the academy side in matches on a regular basis.
He then got more and more game time in and around the first team and has since made himself a regular sight in the Coasters’ first-team set-up.
The young midfielder, who loves to drive forward, has impressed this pre-season, scoring against Longridge Town and Curzon Ashton and he will be looking to add to that tally before the season kicks off against Solihull Moors on August 10.
Speaking to the club website fresh from signing his new deal, Taelor said: “I’m delighted to extend my stay. This club feels like home to me so I’m really happy to have everything sorted.
“I’ve had a good first year as a professional with plenty of ups and downs but the down moments will make into a better player overall.
“The first six months, being in the team week-in, week-out was some of the best times I’ve had in football. The results were obviously disappointing but I’ve definitely learnt a lot whilst being here and I’m ready to kick on when the season starts.”
Head Coach Chris Beech added: “Taelor is a brilliant asset for AFC Fylde. Ever since he started training with the first team, you could see his potential and talent whilst it’s important to keep young players grounded and progressing, we all know the talent that Taelor possesses.
“He deserves his new deal for what he has achieved over a short period of time, and it’s crucial for the club to keep ourselves in strong positions as far as our assets are concerned.
“His driving runs and tenacity within the midfielder areas are very important to the way we play and the fact he can chip in with goals too which shouldn’t be underestimated, I’m very keen for Taelor to stamp his authority on both the team and games and I think we’re seeing that.
“He’s done well in pre-season, scoring twice in six games and we’ll be looking to help him add to that before the first game of the season. You can already see the improvement in his game; now he is playing with a settled mind, and his future is sorted.
“Taelor is a brilliant player and a brilliant person. He’s a testament to his family but also to our academy set up which helped support his progress as he established himself in the first team.”
Everyone at the club congratulates Taelor on his new deal and wishes him all the best ahead of the new campaign.
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