Date of Birth: 07/01/1991
Position: Centre Midfield
Birth place: Blackburn

Adam Barton signed professional forms for Preston North End in December 2008, putting pen to paper on a two-and-a-half-year deal midway through the second year of his youth team scholarship alongside another promising Deepdale youngster, Danny Mayor.

The Blackburn-born central midfielder is seen as one for the future, and enjoyed a taste of life in the senior setup in March 2009 when he was called up to the matchday squad for North End's trip to Charlton, albeit that he didn't take to the field for any action after being named amongst the substitutes during an injury crisis.

Comfortable on the ball and a regular for North End's reserves throughout his scholarship, he started his playing days as a six-year-old before being picked up by Blackburn Rovers, where he was highly rated. He stayed with his home-town Premiership club until the age of 16, but wasn't offered a youth team scholarship due to a serious back injury.

North End decided to take an educated gamble on the rangy playmaker, and it has paid off with several eyecatching performances at youth and reserve level following his full recovery from the problems that beset him in his younger days.

Upon signing his pro contract, Barton praised those who have helped him to recover in the treatment room at Springfields, admitting:

"I owe a lot to the physios and I'm delighted to have got back playing and shown what I am capable of.

"My main goal now is to get involved in the first team, get in the squad and on the bench and just progress from there."

The player nicknamed 'Spid' by his team-mates was joined in the youth team ranks by his cousin, Ciaron Barton, but Adam was the only member of the family to have been offered a professional deal at Deepdale at the conclusion of the two-year scholarship.