SOCCER
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Shellharbour junior Josh Bingham's star continues to rise after signing his first professional contract with the Central Coast Mariners this week.
The 20-year-old former South Coast Wolves and Dapto Dandaloo striker was upgraded after impressing with the Mariners' youth team this season.
It caps off a remarkable progression for Bingham, who played in the Illawarra Premier League's youth league competition in 2012.
"A lot of things can happen quickly in football if you keep your head down and keep working hard," Bingham said.
"This is definitely one of my long-term goals and now that I have achieved that, I will definitely be setting a few more for myself over the next couple of years.
"[Coach Phil Moss] has always had a bit of time for me and definitely believed in me since I have been at the club. I am glad he has been able to see that I want to play for the club.
"Over the past two years I have clearly done enough to show him that and I am extremely happy to sign my first contract with the Mariners."
The contract was made more timely for Bingham after the Central Coast Mariners joined forces with the English Premier League side Everton on Wednesday. The deal provides Everton's under-21 development players a chance to play more first-team football and gives the Mariners a pathway to the Merseyside outfit.
'To have any overseas exposure is great and will only do good for a young person's career," Bingham said.
"I am only on a one-year deal, so obviously I have to impress throughout next season and try to win myself another contract."
Bingham wanted a full-time contract as the current campaign must be his final year in the youth league competition due to age restrictions.
He has made two appearances for the Mariners in 2013-14 and sees it as a key factor in helping earn a contract.
"I think being around the boys, travelling away and playing some A-League fixtures have sort of helped me out and made me a lot hungrier for it," Bingham said.
"Mossy might have seen that on the pitch in the youth games and I am just glad I have been rewarded for the hard work."
Bingham will head to Brisbane this weekend to continue his duties as captain of the youth team.
He is also a member of the club's Asian Champions League squad should they pass the play-off round of qualifying on February 17.
Their opponent is yet to be decided.