Stoke City Football Club are delighted to announce that four Academy stars have today been handed their first professional contracts at the Britannia Stadium.

Danzelle St. Louis-Hamilton, Jimmy Phillips, Tom Thorley and Marc Grocott have all signed one year deals with the Potters after impressing in both the Academy and reserve sides this season.

The quartet are just the latest of a number of players to have successfully graduated from the Academy over the past few years.

Speaking exclusively to the official website neither of the four could hide their delight after receiving the good news.

"I'm so happy its untrue, and to think I will be a Premier League player is unbelievable," grinned St. Louis-Hamilton.

"It's my 18^th birthday tomorrow and what a present for me this is.

"All I want to do is play football, so to be handed a pro contract with such an illustrious club like Stoke makes me so, so happy.

"This is without doubt the greatest day of my life."

Phillips added: "I am overwhelmed to be honest with you, and I need to say a special thank you to the Sir Stanley Matthews Foundation who have played a massive part in my career so far.

"Today is a day none of us lads will ever forget and for Stoke to have got promoted on Sunday makes it even more special.

"I'm a local lad so for me to be a professional in the Premier League with the club I love is a dream come true."

Academy coach Adrian Pennock admits he is delighted for the four and says it is a proud moment not just for them but also for himself.

"It's a very proud moment, these lads have played for me all year so to see them awarded with a contract with a Premier League club is fantastic news.

"It speaks wonders about our Academy too, because Tony Pulis knows the standard required for next season, and he has decided he wants to take four lads in to his first team squad."