POOLS SIGN TEENAGE STRIKER ALFIE ON TWO-YEAR DEAL...

Hartlepool United have snapped up strapping 17-year-old striker Alfie Steel on a two-year apprenticeship.

Steel was spotted playing for Middlesbrough-based T6 Football Academy in the National Football Youth League North East Premier Division, where he was last season’s top scorer with 17 goals.

Pools’ head of recruitment Jonathan Constantine scouted Alfie and, after a successful trial, Academy manager Andy Lowe offered Alfie a two-year apprenticeship.

T6 manager Dave McTiernan predicts a bright future for the 6ft 3ins centre-forward, who he says has all the attributes needed to carve out a career in the game.

“Alfie's had a fantastic year and a lot of credit goes to our strength and conditioning team for implementing diets and a conditioning programme to help him fulfil his potential and we had a lot of interest in him.”

Alfie attended All Saints Catholic Primary in Thirsk and then All Saints Catholic School in York before joining T6 Football Academy as one of its first cohort of players................

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