Norwich City Academy goalkeeper Jayden St Paul described his first professional contract in football as ‘a really proud moment’.
St Paul put pen to paper on the new deal after joining the club in March 2021 off the back of a series of successful trials.
“The feeling is amazing,” he told canaries.co.uk. “Even being invited on the trial was a surreal experience. I remember the phone call when my dad told me I got signed and it was a very proud moment!
“I didn’t have any words. I was really excited and thankful to all my family for all the years and all the nos from other clubs, to finally get a yes meant a lot to me.”
St Paul joined Norwich from grassroots football as he’d spent the majority of his career at Uxbridge FC, so the move represented a big step up.
“It was a bit nerve-wracking at first - category one at a really big academy - but all the coaches and players were really welcoming so I settled quite well,” he said.
“I trialled earlier on in the year and started off in March. Things went really fast and I was playing games straight away which I really enjoyed.
“I started off with a few friendly games and then got injured for about two weeks which was a bit frustrating, but once I got back I was playing straight away again which was a great experience.
“I haven’t been signed before as a youth player from nine to 16, so to be given a professional contract is a really proud moment.”
The pathway from academy to first-team is one well trodden by Canaries down the years, something St Paul and his family took into consideration earlier this year.
“Something me and my parents talked about is that it’s a really good club to go to and we’d heard it was one of the better clubs for progressing players,” he said. “Seeing them go up into the first-team is really encouraging.
“I’d only known one player previously outside of the club, but everyone was really welcoming as soon as I came in. They gave me encouragement to do well and kept giving me advice. It was a very relaxing environment and I didn’t feel stressed at all, every day coming in and working hard.
“Our goalkeepers like Sam (Blair) and Reece (Trueman) and all the others are really supportive of me, so it helps coming into a big club like this.”
So what are Jayden’s targets for the season ahead?
“I’ll start off with the Under-18s and hopefully finish strong in the league,” he said. “We’ll have the FA Youth Cup as well, which is a big competition so hopefully we can go far in that.
“I trained a few times with the U23s last season so hopefully I can start to train with them more and the aim is to get a game or two with them this year.”