“Loves to create” – Exclusive: Guernsey’s Tony Vance on what Bristol City can expect from Ben Acey

Guernsey FC manager Tony Vance has revealed what Bristol City can expect from new signing Ben Acey, speaking exclusively with Football League World.

The Championship club announced last week that the 17-year-old has signed a one-year professional contract at Ashton Gate while 16-year-old Tim Ap Sion has also joined from Guernsey on a two-year scholarship.

The pair’s arrival has generated a fair bit of excitement given Alex Scott’s remarkable emergence at City in 2021/22 – with the 18-year-old winning the club’s Young Player of the Season award just two years after he joined from the Green Lions.

Acey has impressed in the Isthmian League South Central Division (the eighth tier of English football and step four of the National League System) for Guernsey but beyond a few clips, supporters are unlikely to have seen the teenager play.

Vance manages the first team and has coached the midfielder from a young age meaning he is uniquely well-positioned to offer insight into what we can expect from him at Ashton Gate.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with FLW, he said: “Look, we don’t want to get everyone’s hopes up including Ben’s but he’s a nice player. He likes to get on the ball and make things happen. He’s confident.

“He plays in a central midfield role but can play wide as well. He loves to create and has good balance.

“He’s very pretty on the eye but what he will need to do is in his first few months is definitely hit the ground running. He’s got to improve his physicality a bit but he runs some distance. He’s got good pedigree.

“There is obviously going to be a little bit of pressure on him now because of how Alex Scott has gone on to incredible things and we’ve got to make sure that there is no comparison.”

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