Maris, who joined the Barnsley as an Under 15 player, scored 20 of those 34 goals, including two hat-trick, for the Under 18s, but is keen to get down to working hard in preparation for the new season.
“I’m delighted to have signed for Barnsley. I’ve had a really good season and this has been a great reward for that.
“I’ve enjoyed playing alongside Nana and you know that if one us doesn’t score you can usually rely on the other one to knock one or more in.”
Despite scoring some good goals last season, many seen on YouTube, George Maris remain modest about his part in them.
“I seemed to be the one who knocked them in but it was everyone else who put together the passing moves and created the chances for me.
“I see myself as a creative player, playing just behind the likes of Nana to help produce chances as well as scoring.
“I’ve been working hard since the season finished to become stronger and fitter and put myself in a good position to get onto the bench for the start of the season and then get some appearances under my belt. Now we are in League One and with more games with the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy added it will hopefully give us younger players some extra opportunities of first team action.
“It’s great to have a manager who is prepared to look at the young lads and he takes a lot of interest in our progress.”
Maris is aware that he will have to put plenty of effort in ahead of the new season if he is to get an opportunity to play in the first team.
“I will need to get stronger in order to complete with the men in League One because it is a physical division. In terms of physical aspects and fitness it will be a big jump going from Under 18s and Under 21s to first team action, but if I work hard over the summer then I can get myself in the right position to take my chance.”
George Maris in action
