History-maker Hugo Aiston hailed after remarkable Shrewsbury Town breakthrough

Academy bosses expressed their immense pride after Hugo Aiston became the latest youth product to represent Shrewsbury Town.

Aiston made history during Town’s final game of the season, coming on as a late substitute to become the club’s youngest-ever player at just 15 years and 248 days old.

The milestone came after he helped Salop’s under-18s secure league success this season and saw the teenager follow in the footsteps of his father, Sam Aiston, who made almost 200 appearances for the club and became a firm fans’ favourite during his time at Shrewsbury.

Aiston joined fellow academy products and local players Will Gray and Isaac England in being involved with the first-team squad.

Academy manager Charlie Musselwhite has watched Aiston develop through the ranks and hopes this is only the beginning of his journey.

He said: “It was an unbelievable feeling. The referee stopped the game too soon at the end where he was about to go through on goal!

“It was a tremendous feeling and a very proud moment for him, his family and the rest of the academy and the club to see him become the club's youngest-ever player and one of the youngest-ever in League Two.

“It’s a remarkable achievement and another one who's come through who joined us at a very young age. Hugo joined us at under-nines when he was eight-years-old.

“He’s another local boy, he's Shrewsbury based, which is a brilliant story coming off the back of Isaac England and Will Gray. It's a tremendous moment which hopefully he can back up with having a career now, that's the goal.

“We always talk about arriving, they've got to arrive, but it can't just be a flash in the pan.

“He's a very humble boy anyway and his family are very supportive and keep him grounded in a very good way, so it's just making sure that he does what he needs to do now to push on.”

While Aiston broke the record to become Salop’s youngest-ever player, Gray and England are not far behind and have also impressed first-team boss Gavin Cowan.

England has battled niggling injuries and illness in recent months but returned to action towards the end of the campaign, while midfielder Gray started the final four games of the season.

The 17-year-old looked comfortable at senior level, impressing with his composure on the ball, his willingness to compete physically and his ability to help Town move up the pitch.

The trio’s involvement highlights the promising talent emerging from the academy, and following the under-18s’ title-winning campaign, there is hope more youngsters will soon push for opportunities in the senior squad.

Asked whether the academy takes pride in producing talent for the first team, Musselwhite added: “Very much so.

“Those lads have obviously been with us right the way through, and it's been fantastic to see them grow as not just football players, but as people.

“They're three very funny people as well, they've got their own different ways and personalities.

“Their styles of play are completely different, which showcases how much the academy accommodates for different players and different people.

“It's been tremendous to see their growth through that time ,and what a fabulous moment for all the fans, the club, to be able to say we've got three of our own in and around it right now - and they're properly our own as well.”