CLYDEBANK have handed first-team contracts to Ben Cameron and Jamie Stevenson, who step up from the club’s development squad.

The duo made appearances for the senior side last season, with Cameron turning out on four occasions and goalkeeper Stevenson providing back-up and competition to the number one jersey.

Former St Mirren youngster Cameron, who has also trained with Manchester United and captained Scotland’s schoolboys, hopes that his experiences can help make the transition into the first-team squad seamless.

Speaking to the club’s Twitter page, he said: “I enjoyed the brief spell that I had [last season].

“I think I was in the team for four or five games then unfortunately picked up a suspension against Hurlford.

“I enjoyed the experience and the higher intensity of football and playing grown mens football.

“I was full-time at St Mirren last year playing in the reserve league so you’re playing against seasoned professionals week in week out with the reserves, whether they’re coming back from injury or needing game time.

“I’ll enjoy playing against some ex-pros this season, and hopefully alongside some experienced players as well.”

Stevenson, meanwhile, hopes that he can provide competition to number one Jamie Donnelly, who joined the club from Rossvale this summer.

“I think it’s important to work with senior goalies,” he said, “especially when you’re younger because you can learn little things here and there from their experiences and you can relate to each other more than maybe I can to the outfielders.

“I spend a lot of time with the goalies and learned a good bit last year so I’m looking forward to working with Jamie this year and hopefully I can just learn plenty more and give him a good challenge and enjoy it.”

Matt McLean is one of the real success stories of the Bankies academy in recent years, with the defender making 66 appearances in the past three seasons after coming through the ranks, and development squad manager Scott Carson is confident the duo will follow suit.

He said: “Matt has been very successful in stepping up to the first-team and I’m pretty sure Ben and Jamie will do likewise.”