Tommo turns pro!

It was on 25th January when Danny Milosevic collapsed after a nasty collision with Oldham forward Wayne Andrews that Stuart Tomlinson made his first team bow. It was 0-0 and a must win game if promotion was going to be achieved.

Dario Gradi: Looking to youth

Tomlinson ran onto the pitch and took his place in front of the Alex fans and immediately became a crowd favourite, every kick resulted in clapping and every time he caught the ball the Crewe fans ironically cheered and gesticulated to the frustrated Latics fans.

Todays great news of Tomlinson signing professional papers shows the club is looking primarily to youth to take the club into the First Division. He impressed in the under-19's last year and has signed for two years.

Tomlinson, still only nineteen, will join the first-team squad and is seen as the long term successor to Trinidad number one Clayton Ince. Dario Gradi still doesn't want to blood the youngster for at least another season.

Seventeen-year old striker Kyle Wilson joins Tommo in being handed a profesional contract. Wilson had an outstanding season last year and was called up to the England under-18's.

The club have now secured the services of Richard Walker, Steve Foster, Steve Jones, Neil Sorvel, James Robinson, Mark Roberts and Matt Garner along with Tomlinson and Wilson.