The new deals at Ewood Park have continued like London buses, as local lad Scott Wharton lived up to the club’s motto of ‘One of Our Own’ by agreeing new terms at his boyhood club.
Scott, now 25, follows in the footsteps of younger brother, Adam, in putting pen to paper on new deals until 2027, further highlighting the success and importance of Blackburn Rovers’ Category One status academy which continues to produce talent.
Having become a mainstay in the first-team squad under former boss, Tony Mowbray, throughout 2021-22, playing in every league game since his return from injury in the 3-1 home win over Sheffield United in November 2021, the defender has taken to life under new Head Coach, Jon Dahl Tomasson like a duck to water.
Despite being considered as one of the first names on the teamsheet in East Lancashire, the left-footed defender, who is comfortable on the ball, has had to hone his craft out on loan in the lower divisions of English football before being deemed ready to fight in the upper echelons of the Championship. Loan spells with Cambridge United, Lincoln City, Bury and Northampton Town all proved crucial in aiding the central defender’s development and driving him towards becoming the towering leader he is now, within Rovers’ ranks.
Alongside effectively ‘learning on the job’, Wharton has proved to be a crucial cog in the sides of his loan clubs having earned three promotions from the fourth division for his CV, with Lincoln, Bury and Northampton, respectively.
Although Wharton has further seen his game improve after learning off experienced partners, Daniel Ayala and Dominic Hyam, the academy graduate made his debut for his hometown club way back in 2016, in a 2-2 home draw with Burton Albion, aged just 18 as he played all 90 minutes in his first experience of Championship football, before opening his account for the Blues three days later, picking up a goal and an assist in a 4-3 extra-time victory over Crewe Alexandra in the League Cup Second Round. It’s fair to say that the defender has come a long way from those early days and despite his injury setbacks, he has gone onto become one of the first names on the teamsheet at Ewood Park.
After committing his long-term future, Wharton sat down with RoversTV to reflect on the new contract, as he discussed his and the club’s joint ambitions for this season and beyond.
“I’m delighted to extend my stay at the club. I’ve been here a long time already, but to stay for another four years is a proud moment for me and my family.
“I really love it here, there’s a great set of people at the Senior Training Centre, the Academy and at Ewood, we have a good bunch of lads who are all great mates and I think that shows on the pitch as well.
“I’m really excited with where this club’s going at the moment and it’s a big part of my thinking long-term when I think to how last season was for us and where we’re going this season as well.
“I think it’s promising and there are positive things to come. It’s a club I definitely want to be a part of and I feel I’ve played my part over the last two seasons as well. I still believe my best years are ahead of me and I think you develop and mature a bit later on in your career as a central defender.”
We look forward to seeing more of you in Blue & White, Scotty!
