Riley signs pro forms

COLERAINE FC is pleased to announce that Jay Riley has signed professional terms with the club…

The full-back has put pen-to-paper on a two-and-a-half-year deal and will spend the rest of the campaign on loan at Institute.

At 14-years-old, the Coleraine native was the youngest ever player to make a senior appearance for the club when he featured in a North-West Cup tie against Moyola Park.

The former Coleraine Grammar School pupil was an unused substitute throughout stages of the 2020/21 campaign and is set to benefit from senior football at Brian Donaghey’s side.

Coleraine boss Oran Kearney believes the move will help aid the 17-year-old’s development.

“Jay has made great strides and we brought him back to the club at the age of 12 or 13 from Linfield,” he said.

“He made his debut at the age of 14 and he was performing at a level slightly ahead of his years.

“I just feel at his age that he needs to be tested and Institute play at a good standard in the Championship and it will help him develop and kick on.

“It is great to see Jay follow in the footsteps of Patrick Kelly who signed pro forms recently and it shows that a conveyor belt is coming through.”