Ben Extends, Nathan Stays

ARGYLE'S teenage left-back Ben Purrington has been rewarded for a magnificent breakthrough season by signing an extension to his current contract...

...which will tie him to the club until at least the summer of 2016.

Ben, who turned 18 in May, made his senior debut in Argyle's 3-2 Boxing Day win over Oxford United to much acclaim from the Green Army and, importantly, manager John Sheridan.

Purrington would go on to make 12 starts in an impressive debut season, as well as making two substitutes appearances. From one of those cameos from the bench, Ben notched his first goal for the club; a vital equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Port Vale, with Argyle having been 2-0 down to the League 1 outfit.

Ben's rise to prominence has seen him accumulate various honours from many quarters. He was named on the shortlist for the Football League Apprentice of the Year - following in the footsteps of team-mate Tyler Harvey - and be named in 'The 11', which is a Football League initiative to recognise the achievements of burgeoning young players on and off the football field.

Ben was also awarded the Richard Phillips Trophy, awarded each year to the player aged under 19 at the beginning of the season whose ability, sportsmanship, work-rate, dedication and improvement are considered to be the best by the club’s youth management.

Also putting pen to paper is Nathan Thomas, who has accepted Argyle's offer of a one-year deal to remain at Home Park. The winger, who learned his trade with Newcastle and Sunderland, made 12 appearances in 2013-14 - 10 from the bench - involving several valuable contributions to goals.