Eastleigh Football Club are delighted to announce that Oscar Rutherford has signed his first professional contract with the club.

Initially joining in the summer to enter the Elite Development Squad setup, after completing his scholarship at Plymouth Argyle, Rutherford impressed during pre-season and earned a first team squad number for the 2022/23 season.

The news presents yet another first for our Elite Development Squad programme, with Oscar signing professional terms before the U19 season even starts. With the first team pathways that are on offer in the EDS setup, he grasped the opportunities with both hands to catch the eye of the first team staff.

Having already made three appearances of the bench in the Vanarama National League, Oscar becomes the fourth player under Lee Bradbury to sign pro terms with the Spitfires under his tenure.

Upon signing his first deal at Eastleigh, Oscar Rutherford said:

“I’m over the moon, I’m really enjoying it here and I’m grateful for the experience and that the gaffer has put his trust in me so early.

“It’s been a good challenge going into the first team setup but the lads have been really welcoming, and I’m thankful they’ve given me the opportunity to progress.

“My aim now is just to kick on and make an impact. I want to keep getting on as much as I can and carry on improving.”

Impressed with his newest professional signing, Lee Bradbury added:

“Oscar made an impact from the first time we saw him at Abbey Rangers in the pre-season friendly, which was actually his first day at the club.

“He’s continued to do well ever since and impressed us day after day. He’s got pace, he’s strong and he’s willing to learn which is so important at that age.

“Oscar’s got goals and assists in him and a fantastic attitude to go along with it, so he deserved his deal and I’m excited to see the future holds for him.”