IT IS another marker that will resonate right through to the tiniest of Bradford City footballers.

Finn Cousin-Dawson last week followed Reece Staunton into committing his long-term future to Valley Parade.

From once in a blue moon, City have now tied down two young prospects in the same season.

Two teenage talents have secured their own position in the club’s plans for years to come – while also protecting City’s interests should outside interest come knocking.

Signs of the academy conveyor belt picking up momentum.

That is something that fans and those who work within the lower tiers of the system have been waiting for.

Four-year contracts awarded to players who have been reared through the ranks will encourage all those unsung coaches to keep at it.

The impact should be felt all the way down to the pre-academy when City scour for the brightest players as young as five and six.

Interim bosses Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars are particularly invested in giving youth a chance from their background with the under-18s.

They see the message that the progress being made by the likes of Cousin-Dawson and Staunton will send out within the whole football region.

It should strengthen City’s position in the fight with Leeds, Burnley, Huddersfield and the other clubs eyeing the same pool of young footballers.

The return of highly-respected Alan Nevison for his third spell at the club as the new head of foundation phase coaching and recruitment has further bolstered their chances in an area where for too long they have been muscled out.

Sellars said: “You’ve got clubs sniffing from the Premier League and Championship and around the country. It is tough when you are trying to sign these young lads.

“You’ve got to have an attractive academy where people want to develop and you’ve got the right environment.

“The appointment of Alan is tremendous. He’s a great person and very good at what he does.

“I think the hard work that people do in the academy potentially goes unnoticed.

“It’s fantastic to give young people an opportunity to not only be footballers, because that’s the hardest thing and it doesn’t really happen as often, but to teach them like schools.

“We try to make sure they are respectful and on time and they are learning about life not just football.”

Cousin-Dawson and Staunton are the flagbearers among five first-year professionals who have made the jump this season.

It is five more than last year – and their involvement proves this is not just a case of the club paying lip service or merely a cost-cutting exercise.

“Mark and I have been at the club for a lot of years and potentially we’ve not seen players be given as long a contract,” added Sellars.

“They’ll maybe get a year or two maximum really and that’s it.

“To see Reece and Finn being offered quite long-term contracts is fantastic and there are also other talented lads from the first-year pro group who need to keep pushing.

“They’ve got examples to follow in front of them – and the same goes for the younger age groups as well when it comes to recruitment.

“Why come to Bradford City? Well, we’ve got this amount of players in the first team from the academy and they are getting these kind of contracts.

“You can see the faith being put into these young players.

“So from a recruitment point of view with the younger ones, people will hopefully see that being attached to Bradford City is being part of a club that gives youth opportunities.”

Cousin-Dawson only turned 18 in July and was one of the youngest in his age group.

He has featured 12 times before landing a new deal – Staunton, who made his debut as a 15-year-old in 2017, had played just eight games when he got his improved contract.

But City are sure of the long-term investment potential in both.

Sellars said: “People in the academy have worked hard with Finn as well as Mark and I. Everybody has left a print on the player.

“We’ve got to back those players through the ups and downs. People develop in different ways.

“Some are very good at a young age and then sometimes fall away through no fault of their own.

“It just shows the hard work, you can be in the pre-academy from under six and go all the way until you are 18. The commitment of everybody involved, including the parents, is huge.

“It’s a credit to those people who get that opportunity to be a professional because it’s not an easy road.”