Best wishes to Academy duo

Shining a light on the magnificent work that is ongoing within the Club’s Academy, all at Cliftonville FC today offers very best wishes to another two graduates who have completed moves to English sides in recent weeks.

Striker Shay Reid has joined Preston North End on a two-year scholarship, which will be followed by a one-year professional contract, after impressing in the Reds youth ranks since his arrival from Glendowan.

A scorer of more than 50 goals for our Academy sides during the 2024/25 season, Cliftonville fan Shay – a regular face in the stands both at Solitude and on away days – never made a senior competitive appearance for the Club but did mark a pre-season outing against Dundela with a well-taken goal back in June.

Another young player who has moved on from our Academy this summer is Coran Madden, who has joined Brentford.

After becoming the youngest ever player to make an appearance for the Reds when he was handed his debut at the age of just 15 in November 2024, his goal in the BetMcLean Cup quarter-final victory over Armagh City saw him achieve the rare distinction of finding the net for our Under-16s, Under-18s, Under-20s and first team all in the same season.

Coran (above) played a total of 12 senior matches and, following on from Emmett Morrison‘s move to Sheffield United and Shea Kearney‘s transfer to Dunfermline Athletic, he and Shay depart the Club with very best wishes for the future from all at Cliftonville, but especially their former coaches and team-mates in our Academy, who look forward to keenly tracking their progress in the years ahead.