Reading_F.C._Under-23s_and_Academy

Reading F.C. Under-23s and Academy

Reading F.C. Under-23s and Academy

Football club

The Reading Academy refers to the development teams of Reading Football Club. The club takes part in the Professional Development League system, with the Under-23 competing in the Premier League 2 – Division 2, and the Under-18 competing in the U18 Premier League – South Division.

Quick Facts Full name, Nickname(s) ...

Under the old youth training scheme, the club produced a number of first team players including Ady Williams, Scott Taylor and future England international Neil Webb. Since the Academy opened in 1999, 75 graduates have gone on to play first team football for Reading including Gylfi Sigurðsson, who was later sold for a club record transfer fee.

History

Reading were granted Academy status by the Football Association in February 1999. The first Academy manager was John Stephenson who oversaw the club's youth development until October 2000 when he left to join Preston North End. He was succeeded by former Reading goalkeeper, and the then goalkeeping coach, Nick Hammond.[1] After his appointment as Reading's first Director of football in September 2003, Hammond combined all three roles until the appointment of Exeter City boss Eamonn Dolan as the new Academy manager in October 2004.[2] The club originally trained in rented facilities at Sonning Lane and Bradfield College but moved to their own training ground at Hogwood Park in Arborfield in 2004.[3][4] A two-year Academy partnership with Boreham Wood was announced in July 2012[5] with the club also aiming to have a first-team composed of 50% Academy players.[6] The introduction in 2012 of the four-tier academy system under the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) forced the club to search for a new training ground in order to meet the criteria for Category One status.[7] With this in mind, the club agreed in principle to buy land at Bearwood Lakes Golf Club for a new training facility at a cost of between £10 million and £20 million in May 2013.[8][9] In July 2013, the club confirmed they had achieved Category One status.[10]

The Reading reserves competed in the Capital League between 1995 and 1998 before joining The Football Combination which they played in from 1998 until 2006, excluding the 1999–2000 season.[11] With the senior side's promotion to the Premier League in 2006, the reserve team was also promoted to the Premier Reserve League for the 2006–07 season. Under future first-team manager Brian McDermott, the reserves finished top of the Southern section and beat Bolton reserves 2–0 to win the overall title in their first season.[12] They finished second the following year but were relegated as the first team dropped into the Championship.[13] The reserves rejoined the Football Combination following their relegation and remained there until 2010 when they withdrew in order to arrange their own fixtures against a higher level of opposition.[14]

With the club's application for Category One status under the EPPP, the under-21 and Academy (under-18) teams competed in the new Professional Development League 1 for the 2012–13 season.[15] The teams were successful under the new format with the under-18s finishing as runners-up to Fulham in the inaugural competition,[16] and the under-21s winning the first U21 Premier League Cup the following year.[17]

In July 2022, Reading confirmed that their Academy had lost its Category One status as a result of downsizing during the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, and as a result the club the dropped out of the Premier League 2 Division 2 to the Professional Development League. The club also confirmed their intensions to return to a Category One Academy.[18]

Under-21s

For details of the current season, see 2016–17 Professional U21 Development League and 2016–17 Under-21 Premier League Cup.

The under-23s play their home matches at Hogwood Park, the club's training ground, with four games each season being played at the Madejski Stadium. Three outfield players and one goalkeeper over the age of 23 are allowed to be selected for each fixture,[19] with scholars from the Academy squad also eligible to play.

As of 19 August 2022

Under-21 squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

More information No., Pos. ...

Under-18 team

For details of the current season, see 2016–17 Professional U18 Development League and 2016–17 FA Youth Cup.

Each year, following the completion of their full-time education, the club signs a number of schoolboys, from both within the academy and from other clubs, on scholarship agreements.[20] The scholarships last two years after which the player signs professionally or is released by the club. In instances where a player is particularly valued, the club may opt to sign them on professional terms at an earlier age.[21] The scholars make up the bulk of the Academy team which competes in the under-18 league, though younger players are also eligible. As well as the league, the Academy also enters a team into the FA Youth Cup.

The under-18s play their home matches at Hogwood Park, the club's training ground, with a selection of games each season being played at the Madejski Stadium. Three outfield players and one goalkeeper over the age of 18 are allowed to be selected for each fixture, with scholars from the Academy squad also eligible to play.

Current Under-18s squad

As of 5 August 2023[22]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

More information No., Pos. ...

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

More information No., Pos. ...

Staff

Academy and development staff[23][24]

  • Academy manager: Michael Gilkes
  • Assistant Academy Manager: Mehmet Ali
  • Professional Phase Coach: Scott Marshall
  • U23 Goalkeeper Coach: Robert Shay
  • U18 Coach: Michael Donaldson
  • U18 Assistant Coach: Mikele Leigertwood
  • Head of Academy Physiotherapy: Steve Cottrell
  • Lead Academy Doctor: Dr Marc Batista
  • U23 Academy Doctor: Manish Thakker
  • U18 Physiotherapist: Matt Flynn
  • U23 Physiotherapist: Cian Dunne
  • U9-16 Physiotherapist: Pippa Inwood
  • U9-16 Physiotherapist: Alex Meredith
  • U23 Sport Scientist: Harry Bruford
  • U18 Sport Scientist: Luca Avena
  • PDP Strength and Conditioning Coach: David Breakspear
  • U9-16 Sport Scientist: Callum Stratford
  • Lead Academy and U21 Analyst: Andy Chenery
  • U18 Performance Analyst: Joe Cole
  • U9-16 Performance Analyst: Matt Burdekin
  • Academy Performance Coach: Ben Marks

Former players

Graduates

Prior to the establishment of the Academy, Reading produced several players for the first-team who went on to have successful careers. Neil Webb became Reading's youngest ever goalscorer aged 17 years and 31 days and made a total of 81 appearances for the club, later going on to win 26 England caps.[25] Ady Williams made nearly 400 appearances in three spells between 1988 and 2004 and was capped 13 times for Wales[26] whilst Stuart Lovell made 227 league appearances, scored 58 times and played twice for the Australia national team.[27] Others to have come through the ranks include Johnny Brooks, Jerry Williams, Steve Hetzke, Scott Taylor and Maurice Evans, who made over 400 league appearances for Reading and later managed the first-team between 1977 and 1984.[28][29]

Since the Academy opened in 1999, 80 graduates have gone on to play for the first team. Players who have gone on to play for their country at full international level are marked in bold whilst those still at the club are marked in italics.[30][31][32]

Statistics

As of match played 20 April 2024
More information Player, Position ...

Careers elsewhere

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

A number of players attached to the Academy as schoolboys and scholars, as well as those who signed professionally but never made a first team appearance, have gone on play league football elsewhere. Those that have gone on to play for their country at full international level are marked in bold and those who made their league debut whilst away on loan are marked in Italics.[30][33][34][35][36]

Records and honours

Several Academy graduates hold club records. Peter Castle became the club's youngest ever player when he came on as a substitute against Watford on 30 April 2003 for his first and only Reading appearance, aged 16 years and 49 days, whilst Gylfi Sigurðsson holds the record for the highest transfer fee received when he moved to Hoffenheim in August 2010.[58] In May 2013 Alex McCarthy became the first Reading graduate to be selected in the England squad since the Academy era began in 1999.[59] Additionally, three graduates have been named Player of the Season with Gylfi Sigurðsson, Alex Pearce and Jordan Obita winning in 2009–10, 2011–12 and 2013–14 respectively.[60]

The Football Combination[11]
Winners: 2003–04, 2008–09
Runners-up: 2005–06
Premier Reserve League
Winners: 2006–07[13]
Under-21 Premier League Cup
Winners: 2013–14[17]
Under-18 Professional Development League 1
Runners-up: 2012–13[16]

References

  1. [1]
    "The Royals Academy". Reading F.C. Archived from the original on 2 April 2002. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  2. [2]
    "Moving farewell for football boss". BBC Sport. 6 October 2004. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  3. [3]
    "Royals line up Arborfield training ground". Reading Post. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  4. [4]
    "Little to return for Cup derby". Reading Post. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  5. [5]
    "Royals agree Academy Partnership". Reading F.C. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  6. [6]
    "Grimsby Town youth player Lewis Collins all set for Royal appointment". Grimsby Telegraph. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  7. [7]
    Fordham, Jonny (20 September 2012). "Reading FC on the hunt for a new training ground". Reading Post. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  8. [8]
    "Training ground deal". Reading F.C. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  9. [9]
    Fort, Linda (17 May 2013). "Reading FC aim to buy Bearwood golf course". Reading Post. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  10. [10]
    "Category One confirmed". Reading F.C. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  11. [11]
    "Football Combination records". Royals Record. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  12. [12]
    "Royals are Viktorious". Reading Post. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  13. [13]
    "Premier Reserve League records". Royals Record. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  14. [14]
    Fordham, Jonny (28 April 2010). "Reading FC ditch reserve league". Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  15. [15]
    "Youth development rules" (pdf). The Football Association. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  16. [16]
    "Barclays U18s: Fulham crowned champions". Premier League. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  17. [17]
    "Reading turn tables on Man City to lift U21 PL Cup". The Premier League. Archived from the original on 22 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  18. [18]
    "Reading FC issue statement after confirmation of academy demotion to Category Two status". getreading.co.uk. Get Reading. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  19. [19]
    "How does the U21s League work?". Reading F.C. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  20. [20]
    "The new crop". Reading F.C. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  21. [21]
    "Tanner and Tshibola sign on". Reading F.C. Archived from the original on 5 March 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  22. [22]
    "UNDER-18s". readingfc.co.uk/. Reading F.C. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  23. [23]
    "Academy and development staff". Reading F.C. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  24. [24]
    "Youngsters beat Wolfsburg". Reading F.C. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  25. [25]
    Rice, Xan (9 May 2004). "When the music stops - Part 1". The Observer. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  26. [26]
    "Player profile: Ady Williams". Reading F.C. Archived from the original on 28 February 2008. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  27. [27]
    "I felt like a fair dinkum Aussie". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  28. [28]
    "Reading F.C. players 1946–2012". Neil Brown statistics. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  29. [29]
    "Managers of Reading F.C." Reading F.C. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  30. [30]
    "Academy graduates". Reading F.C. Archived from the original on 16 August 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  31. [31]
    "Academy graduates". Reading F.C. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  32. [32]
    "ACADEMY GRADUATES". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  33. [33]
    "Dolan's insight into newboys". Reading F.C. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  34. [34]
    "Korea's Nam Tae-Hee believes Sunderland-bound Ji Dong-Won will be a 'great player'". Goal.com. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  35. [35]
    "Royals offer scholarship contracts to seven schoolboys for next season". Reading F.C. Archived from the original on 27 June 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  36. [36]
    "Induction for new intake". Reading F.C. Archived from the original on 20 July 2009. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  37. [37]
    "Reading's Other Academy Graduates: Premier League". 3 June 2019.
  38. [38]
    "Player profile: Marvin Bartley". Burnley F.C. Archived from the original on 10 March 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  39. [39]
    "Doug Bergqvist joins Exeter from Aldershot". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  40. [40]
    "Henrik Breimyr profile". Aldershot Town F.C. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  41. [41]
    "Academy Life: Jamie Bynoe-Gittens". secretscout.co.uk. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  42. [42]
    "Town sign Daniel Carr". Huddersfield Town F.C. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  43. [43]
    "Harry Cooksley profile". Aldershot Town F.C. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  44. [44]
    "Daniels signs professional contract". West Bromwich Albion F.C. 30 November 2011. Archived from the original on 2 December 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  45. [45]
    "Reading axe Murty and Hahnemann". BBC Sport. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  46. [46]
    "Bashir Humphreys". chelseafc.com. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  47. [47]
    "Uche Ikpeazu: Watford sign prolific teenager on pro contract". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  48. [48]
    "11 youngsters awarded scholarships within club's academy". fleetwoodtownfc.com. Fleetwood Town F.C. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  49. [49]
    "Adam Mekki profile". Aldershot Town F.C. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  50. [50]
    "Johnny Mullins profile". Rotherham United F.C. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  51. [51]
    "Matt Partridge". Reading F.C. Archived from the original on 9 April 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  52. [52]
    "Dolan: 'Academy is a success'...but Gooding's unconvinced". Reading Post. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  53. [53]
    "James Rowe profile". Reading F.C. Archived from the original on 1 August 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
  54. [54]
    "Louie Soares profile". Aldershot Town F.C. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  55. [55]
    "EFL transfer targets: Mathew Stevens – the boxer-turned-striker out to make his granddad proud". theathletic.com. The Athletic. 30 December 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  56. [56]
    "Vasilev signing: Inside info". Reading F.C. Archived from the original on 23 March 2008. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  57. [57]
    Rayner, Stuart (18 January 2012). "Connor Wickham's time to stand on his own has arrived". The Journal. Newcastle. Retrieved 24 May 2013.[permanent dead link]
  58. [58]
    "Club honours and records". Reading F.C. Archived from the original on 14 February 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  59. [59]
    "McCarthy in England squad". Reading F.C. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  60. [60]
    "Statistics". Reading F.C. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Reading_F.C._Under-23s_and_Academy, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.