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Paul McElroy and Connor Brennan
YOUTH footballers from Dungannon are proving popular with teams across the water with two young Swifts players being snapped up by English sides in recent weeks.
Dungannon Swifts youth team player 15-year-old Paul McElroy has signed forms for English Premiership Club Hull City and Conor Brennan putting pen to paper with Championship side Leicester City.
Paul, a former Dungannon United Youth left sided midfield player, will join Hull City on a full-time basis in July of this year.
He is a current schoolboy international and it was when playing for Northern Ireland that he was spotted by Hull City's Northern Ireland scout Stefan Seaton.
In his first year at Hull City he will complete his studies as well as train on a daily basis with the English club. Dungannon United Youth Chairman Joe McAree said that the coaches at Dungannon had always believed that Paul had the ability to get himself a contract in the professional game and we are delighted that he has now got that opportunity and everyone wishes him a very successful future.
Swifts first team manager Dixie Robinson said that it was no surprise that Paul had been signed up. "I have known Paul McElroy since he was very young," he said. "He has come right through and played under Joe McAree and Davy Tate for Dungannon United Youth and got his call up for the schoolboy international team.
“We always knew that he had great natural ability but his progress has been tremendous. Hull City were really keen to sign him. He has been over there a couple of times and it rarely happens that somebody would get signed up so quickly so they obviously think very highly of him."
Meanwhile, Conor Brennan will join Leicester City in June after impressing with Dungannon Swifts U16s and at international level.
Said Dixie: "Connor Brennan was a player who guested for us in 2008 in Barcelona. We were struggling for a goalkeeper and he was recommended to us by the schoolboy international manager.
“He has been the schoolboy international 'keeper for two years and has been involved with the U17s.
“When I got the manager's job at the Swifts, he was one of the first players I wanted to sign so I'm a big admirer.
“He's been going across to several clubs but it was Leicester City that impressed him the most."
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