BURY'S impressive youth side were given a major vote of confidence this week when five of their ranks were signed up by the club on professional contracts.

Jack Ruddy, who has displaced Rob Lainton and Shwan Jalal as the Shakers' number two goalkeeper, heads the list of new recruits, celebrating his first pro deal by taking a place on the bench for the first team at Burton today.

The 17-year-old has been joined by 16-year-old centre-back Matty Foulds and second-year youth teamers Marcus Poscha, Anthony Dudley and Scott Burgess.

All five will graduate into the first team at the end of the current season, following their campaign to win the Football League Youth Alliance North West title.

Bury's Under-18s , who are currently second in the table, made a name for themselves in December in a battling 1-0 defeat at Manchester United in the third round of the FA Youth Cup.