Reading F.C. Under-23s and Academy explained

Clubname:Reading Under-21s
Fullname:Reading Football Club
(Under-23s & Academy)
Nickname:The Royals
Ground:Madejski Stadium,
Bearwood Park
Chairman:Sir John Madejski
Manager:Michael Gilkes (Academy)
Noel Hunt, (Under-23s)
Mikele Leigertwood (Under-18s)
League:
Season:2021–22
Position:U23s – 14th
U18s – 11th
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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.

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 intentions to return to a Category One Academy.[18]

Under-21s

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.

Under-21 squad

Under-18 team

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

Staff

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.[22] Ady Williams made nearly 400 appearances in three spells between 1988 and 2004 and was capped 13 times for Wales[23] whilst Stuart Lovell made 227 league appearances, scored 58 times and played twice for the Australia national team.[24] 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.[25] [26]

Since the Academy opened in 1999, 87 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.[27] [28] [29]

Statistics

PlayerPositionAge of debutReadingInternationalU21/U23 International
Reading CareerManagerDebut dateAppsGoalsCountryAppsGoalsCountryAppsGoals
Alex HaddowMidfielder1999–2001Tommy Burns40
Darius HendersonForward1999–2004Alan Pardew8315
Nathan TysonMidfielder1999–2004Alan Pardew381
Jamie AshdownGoalkeeper1998–2004Alan Pardew160
Darren CampbellMidfielder2003–2005Alan Pardew10
Peter CastleDefender2003–2006Alan Pardew10
Jamie YoungGoalkeeper2003–2006Steve Coppell10
Simon CoxForward2005–2008; 2014–2016Steve Coppell699304
Shane LongForward2005–2011
2022–2023
Steve Coppell23556881710
Curtis OsanoMidfielder2005–2008Steve Coppell20
Alex PearceDefender2006–2015Steve Coppell240157220
James HenryMidfielder2006–2010Steve Coppell184
Julian KellyDefender2008–2011Steve Coppell130
Jem KaracanMidfielder2007–2015Steve Coppell1751230
Gylfi SigurðssonMidfielder2008–2010Steve Coppell51227825146
Simon ChurchForward2007–2013Steve Coppell12224383158
Scott DaviesMidfielder2006–2011Brendan Rodgers5030
Hal Robson-KanuMidfielder2007–2016Brendan Rodgers2283046542
Nicholas BignallForward2008–2013Brendan Rodgers42
Ben HamerGoalkeeper2006–2011Brendan Rodgers50
Jordan ObitaDefender2010–2020Brian McDermott1917
Jake TaylorMidfielder2009–2016Brian McDermott36310100
Alex McCarthyGoalkeeper2007–2014Brian McDermott7501030
Lawson D'AthMidfielder2010–2014Brian McDermott10
Dominic SamuelForward2012–2017Brian McDermott152
Michael HectorDefender2009–2015, 2015-16Nigel Adkins935390
Ryan EdwardsMidfielder2012–2015Nigel Adkins100180
Craig TannerForward2013–2017Nigel Adkins51
Jake CooperDefender2014–2017Nigel Adkins564
Jack StaceyMidfielder2013–2017Nigel Adkins60
Aaron KuhlMidfielder2013–2017Nigel Adkins80
Aaron TshibolaMidfielder2013–2016Nigel Adkins170151
Sean LongDefender2013–2017Nigel Adkins10111
Mikkel AndersenGoalkeeper2007–2015Nigel Adkins50140
Niall KeownDefender2013–2017Steve Clarke3020
Andrija NovakovichForward2015–2019Steve Clarke3030
Tariqe FosuMidfielder2014–2017Steve Clarke1041-
Josh BarrettMidfielder2015–2020Brian McDermott13230
Robert DickieDefender2014–2018Brian McDermott10
Tennai WatsonDefender2015–2021Jaap Stam90
Liam KellyMidfielder2013–2019Jaap Stam94910
Omar RichardsDefender2016–2021Jaap Stam104310
Axel Óskar AndréssonDefender2016–2019Jaap Stam2020183
Andy RinomhotaMidfielder2015–2022Jaap Stam139410
Sam SmithForward2015–2021
2023–
Jaap Stam5018
Danny LoaderForward2017–2020Jaap Stam35291
Tom HolmesDefender2017–2024
2024
Jaap Stam1331
Tom McIntyreDefender2016–2024Scott Marshall117730
Gabriel OshoDefender2016–2020Scott Marshall100
Ryan EastMidfielder2016–2021José Gomes10
Michael OliseMidfielder2019–2021José Gomes73771
Teddy HoweDefender2017–2020José Gomes60
Akin OdimayoDefender2019–2020José Gomes10
Andre BurleyDefender2019–2020Mark Bowen30211
Ramarni Medford-SmithDefender2019–2020Mark Bowen10
Jeriel DorsettDefender2019–Mark Bowen31150
Ben HouseDefender2019–2020Mark Bowen1020
Luke SouthwoodGoalkeeper2020–2023Eddie Niedzwiecki30010
Ethan BristowDefender2020–2022Eddie Niedzwiecki11010
Nahum Melvin-LambertForward2020–2023Eddie Niedzwiecki3010
Dejan TetekMidfielder2020–2023Veljko Paunović21050
Lynford SackeyForward2020–2022Veljko Paunović20
Nelson AbbeyDefender2020–2024Veljko Paunović310
Oliver PendleburyMidfielder2020–2021Veljko Paunović10
Conor LawlessMidfielder2020–2021Veljko Paunović10
Mamadi CamaráMidfielder2020–Veljko Paunović26150
Claudio OsorioMidfielder2021–2023Veljko Paunović20
Kian LeavyMidfielder2021–2023Veljko Paunović2010
Kelvin EhibhatiomhanForward2021–Veljko Paunović6115
Michael SticklandDefender2021–Veljko Paunović40
Jahmari ClarkeForward2021–2024Veljko Paunović142
Tyrell AshcroftDefender2021–2022Marko Mitrović40
Louie HolzmanDefender2021–Veljko Paunović20
Kelvin AbrefaDefender2021–Veljko Paunović302
Basil TumaForward2022–Paul Ince5030
Coniah Boyce-ClarkeForward2019–Noel Hunt6010
Jack SengaForward2021–Noel Hunt20
Caylan VickersForward2023–2024Rubén Sellés223
Taylan HarrisMidfielder2023–2024Rubén Sellés11
Tom NorcottGoalkeeper2023–Rubén Sellés10
Andre GarciaDefender2024–Rubén Sellés40
Emmanuel OshoDefender2024–Rubén Sellés20
Abraham KanuDefender2024–Rubén Sellés20
Adrian AkandeForward2024–Rubén Sellés20
Shay SpencerMidfielder2024–Rubén Sellés10
Ashqar AhmedDefender2024–Rubén Sellés10
Tyler SackeyMidfielder2024–Rubén Sellés10
Totals87 Players2,94529121 Players3865924 Players15322

Careers elsewhere

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.[27] [30] [31] [32] [33]

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.[55] In May 2013 Alex McCarthy became the first Reading graduate to be selected in the England squad since the Academy era began in 1999.[56] 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.[57]

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]

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: The Royals Academy . https://web.archive.org/web/20020402012259/http://www.readingfc.co.uk/team/view/juniors/0,,10306,00.html . 2 April 2002 . Reading F.C . 2 June 2013.
    2. News: Moving farewell for football boss . 6 October 2004 . BBC Sport . 2 June 2013.
    3. News: Royals line up Arborfield training ground . Reading Post . 2 June 2013.
    4. News: Little to return for Cup derby . Reading Post . 2 June 2013.
    5. Web site: Royals agree Academy Partnership . Reading F.C . 21 April 2013.
    6. News: Grimsby Town youth player Lewis Collins all set for Royal appointment . Grimsby Telegraph . 27 June 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130630200253/http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/story-19406834-detail/story.html#axzz2XOgoNnRj . 30 June 2013 . dead .
    7. News: Reading FC on the hunt for a new training ground . Fordham . Jonny . 20 September 2012 . Reading Post . 2 June 2013.
    8. Web site: Training ground deal . Reading F.C . 2 June 2013.
    9. News: Reading FC aim to buy Bearwood golf course . Fort . Linda . 17 May 2013 . Reading Post . 2 June 2013.
    10. Web site: Category One confirmed . Reading F.C . 12 July 2013.
    11. Web site: Football Combination records . Royals Record . 2 June 2013 . 24 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131224105145/http://www.royalsrecord.co.uk/cups/fco.html#D3_2009 . dead .
    12. News: Royals are Viktorious . Reading Post . 2 June 2013.
    13. Web site: Premier Reserve League records . Royals Record . 2 June 2013.
    14. News: Reading FC ditch reserve league . Fordham . Jonny . 28 April 2010 . 2 June 2013.
    15. Web site: Youth development rules . The Football Association . pdf . 21 April 2013.
    16. Web site: Barclays U18s: Fulham crowned champions . Premier League . 24 May 2013 . 2 October 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131002040721/http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2012-13/may/barclays-u18-final-fulham-crowned-champions.html . dead .
    17. Web site: Reading turn tables on Man City to lift U21 PL Cup . The Premier League . 20 April 2014 . 22 April 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140422113722/http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2013-14/apr/u21-premier-league-cup-final-review-190414.html . dead .
    18. Web site: Reading FC issue statement after confirmation of academy demotion to Category Two status . getreading.co.uk . Get Reading . 20 September 2022 . 21 July 2022.
    19. Web site: How does the U21s League work? . Reading F.C . 14 April 2013.
    20. Web site: The new crop . Reading F.C . 27 May 2013.
    21. Web site: Tanner and Tshibola sign on . https://web.archive.org/web/20110305235650/http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~2304375,00.html . 5 March 2011 . Reading F.C . 27 May 2013.
    22. News: When the music stops - Part 1 . Rice . Xan . 9 May 2004 . The Observer . 4 June 2013.
    23. Web site: Player profile: Ady Williams . https://web.archive.org/web/20080228150835/http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10306~9415,00.html . 28 February 2008 . Reading F.C . 4 June 2013.
    24. Web site: I felt like a fair dinkum Aussie . FourFourTwo . 4 June 2013.
    25. Web site: Reading F.C. players 1946–2012 . Neil Brown statistics . 4 June 2013.
    26. Web site: Managers of Reading F.C. . Reading F.C . 4 June 2013.
    27. Web site: Academy graduates . Reading F.C . 14 April 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130816065952/http://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/article/academy-graduates-331310.aspx# . 16 August 2013 . dead . dmy-all .
    28. Web site: Academy graduates . Reading F.C . 22 January 2017.
    29. Web site: ACADEMY GRADUATES . readingfc.co.uk . Reading F.C. . 20 September 2023.
    30. Web site: Dolan's insight into newboys . https://web.archive.org/web/20120527132151/http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1315602,00.html . 27 May 2012 . Reading F.C . 2 July 2013.
    31. Web site: Korea's Nam Tae-Hee believes Sunderland-bound Ji Dong-Won will be a 'great player' . Goal.com . 2 July 2013.
    32. Web site: Royals offer scholarship contracts to seven schoolboys for next season . https://web.archive.org/web/20070627050006/http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1013200,00.html . 27 June 2007 . Reading F.C . 19 July 2013.
    33. Web site: Induction for new intake . https://web.archive.org/web/20090720023015/http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/ReserveAcademyNews/0,,10306~1718201,00.html . 20 July 2009 . Reading F.C . 18 January 2015.
    34. Web site: Reading's Other Academy Graduates: Premier League. 3 June 2019.
    35. Web site: Player profile: Marvin Bartley . Burnley F.C . 21 April 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130310200404/http://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/team/player-profile/index.aspx?playerid=311993&tcmuri=29665 . 10 March 2013 . dead .
    36. News: Doug Bergqvist joins Exeter from Aldershot . BBC Sport . 2 July 2013.
    37. Web site: Henrik Breimyr profile . Aldershot Town F.C . 27 June 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160610165710/http://shop.theshots.co.uk/PlayerDisplay.ink?skip=4&squadno=10626&season=10%2F11&seasonl=2010%2F2011&Playertype=8 . 10 June 2016 . dead .
    38. Web site: Academy Life: Jamie Bynoe-Gittens. 16 April 2022. secretscout.co.uk. 15 June 2020 .
    39. Web site: Town sign Daniel Carr . Huddersfield Town F.C . 27 October 2013.
    40. Web site: Harry Cooksley profile . Aldershot Town F.C . 2 July 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202818/http://shop.theshots.co.uk/PlayerDisplay.ink?skip=8&season=08%2F09&seasonl=2012%2F2013&playertype=p . 29 October 2013 . dead .
    41. Web site: Daniels signs professional contract. West Bromwich Albion F.C.. 30 November 2011. 1 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20111202021358/http://www.wba.co.uk/page/News/0%2C%2C10366~2531990%2C00.html. 2 December 2011. dead. dmy-all.
    42. News: Reading axe Murty and Hahnemann . 15 May 2009 . BBC Sport . 21 April 2013.
    43. Web site: Bashir Humphreys. 27 December 2022. chelseafc.com.
    44. News: Uche Ikpeazu: Watford sign prolific teenager on pro contract . BBC Sport . 24 January 2014.
    45. Web site: 11 youngsters awarded scholarships within club's academy . fleetwoodtownfc.com . Fleetwood Town F.C. . 2 February 2022 . 11 May 2018.
    46. Web site: Adam Mekki profile . Aldershot Town F.C . 2 July 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160610160731/http://shop.theshots.co.uk/PlayerDisplay.ink?skip=16&season=08%2F09&seasonl=2012%2F2013&playertype=p . 10 June 2016 . dead .
    47. Web site: Johnny Mullins profile . Rotherham United F.C . 2 July 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052002/http://www.themillers.co.uk/team/player-profile/index.aspx?playerid=310641&tcmuri=189482 . 4 March 2016 . dead .
    48. Web site: Matt Partridge . https://web.archive.org/web/20140409014435/http://www.readingfc.co.uk/team/player-profile/matt-partridge/46 . 9 April 2014 . Reading F.C . 25 August 2014.
    49. News: Dolan: 'Academy is a success'...but Gooding's unconvinced . Reading Post . 27 June 2013.
    50. Web site: James Rowe profile . https://web.archive.org/web/20100801020120/http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10306~52201,00.html . 1 August 2010 . Reading F.C . 10 August 2010.
    51. Web site: Louie Soares profile . Aldershot Town F.C . 27 June 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023708/http://shop.theshots.co.uk/PlayerDisplay.ink?season=06%2F07&Playertype=p&squadno=6321 . 4 March 2016 . dead .
    52. Web site: EFL transfer targets: Mathew Stevens – the boxer-turned-striker out to make his granddad proud . theathletic.com . The Athletic . 26 April 2022 . 30 December 2021.
    53. Web site: Vasilev signing: Inside info . https://web.archive.org/web/20080323153053/http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1188627,00.html . 23 March 2008 . Reading F.C . 27 June 2013.
    54. News: Connor Wickham's time to stand on his own has arrived . Rayner . Stuart . The Journal . Newcastle . 18 January 2012 . 24 May 2013 .
    55. Web site: Club honours and records . Reading F.C . 14 April 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130214194722/http://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/article/records-232960.aspx . 14 February 2013 . dmy-all .
    56. Web site: McCarthy in England squad . Reading F.C . 24 May 2013.
    57. Web site: Statistics . Reading F.C . 24 May 2013.