AFC Sudbury has announced that Academy Student and Men’s First Team Player Josh Stokes has signed as a Professional Footballer for Aldershot Town, whose Men’s First Team plays in the Vanarama National League. The sum has not been disclosed.

Head of Football Danny Laws is thrilled by the news “Josh is a shining example of exactly what our Academy Centre of Excellence is designed to deliver. He joined us as a youngster having been let go by his previous club and has worked tirelessly with our coaches on his technique, our personal trainers, and physios to develop his physique, resilience and fitness, and with our teachers to graduate with better academic qualifications than expected.”

Stokes is delighted too, “I have dreamed of becoming a Professional Footballer for as long as I can remember. Now that it has come true, I realise that the work really begins! I completely have AFC Sudbury to thank. Being at the Academy and getting into the Men’s First Team here has been the best time of my life. Thank you so much to all the staff, the volunteers and the supporters who have made this my second home. I will never turn my back on this club and will do all I can to support it as my career develops.”

During the past season he has been a regular starter and popular member of the Men’s First Team that won promotion and was voted Supporters Player of the Year.

Stokes is the latest in a string of AFC Sudbury Academy Students who have graduated from the Centre of Excellence to become Professional Footballers, with one of the latest being Liam Bennett, who joined Cambridge United at the start of last season and was named Player of the Month in January of this year.

Academy Manager Craig Power concludes, “Josh is a great lad who has earned every opportunity given to him from coming on against AFC Wimbledon in the FA Youth Cup Second Round as a first-year scholar to then starting in two consecutive age group county finals as a first and second year academy student. Last year he worked extremely hard with our sports science department and credit must be given to Ben Tracey and Paige Fleming for his athletic development. His new situation is ideally suited to help him take what he has achieved here to continue to learn and grow as a player."