Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Development Squad and Academy

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Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-23s (or the Development squad) is a football team that competes in Division 2 of the newly created Premier League 2. The club qualify as an entrant in the competition, by virtue of their academy holding Category 1 status.[1] Although the league is designed for players aged 23 and below, three overage players may also feature.

The team is currently under the management of Jamie Collins and home games are primarily staged at Kidderminster Harriers' Aggborough home, though the team also plays games at Molineux.[2] The team has been a pathway into Wolves' first team for the past two seasons[clarification needed], with the likes of current first-team players Hugo Bueno, Chem Campbell, Luke Cundle, Joe Hodge, Max Kilman and Dexter Lembikisa progressing from the U21 side.

Development Squad and U23s[edit]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
37 FW England ENG Fletcher Holman
41 FW Wales WAL Josh Esen
42 MF England ENG Harvey Griffiths
45 MF England ENG Ty Barnett
46 DF England ENG Alfie Pond
48 GK Republic of Ireland IRL James Storer
49 DF Democratic Republic of the Congo COD Marvin Kaleta
50 MF England ENG Mason Rees
51 DF England ENG Kam Kandola
53 DF England ENG Aaron Keto-Diyawa
No. Pos. Nation Player
57 MF Italy ITA Temple Ojinnaka
61 DF England ENG Wes Okoduwa
62 FW England ENG Tawanda Chirewa
65 MF England ENG Matthew Whittingham
66 FW England ENG Ethan McLeod
84 FW England ENG Leon Chiwome
87 FW Jamaica JAM Tyler Roberts
95 DF England ENG Filozofe Mabete
DF England ENG Ollie Tipton
FW Portugal POR Leo Lopes
FW England ENG Jaami Qureshi

Out on loan[edit]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
47 FW England ENG Owen Farmer (at Rushall Olympic until 31 May 2024)
52 DF Singapore SGP Harry Birtwistle (at Oxford City until 31 May 2024)
56 GK England ENG Joe Young (at Buxton until 31 May 2024)
No. Pos. Nation Player
67 DF Indonesia IDN Justin Hubner (at Cerezo Osaka until 31 May 2024)
79 MF Wales WAL Owen Hesketh (at Kidderminster Harriers until 31 May 2024)
DF Netherlands NED Nigel Lonwijk (at Wycombe Wanderers until 31 May 2024)
GK England ENG Louie Moulden (at Rochdale until 31 May 2024)

Academy and Under 18s[edit]

Wolverhampton Wanderers Academy is a Category 1 status facility and has produced several high-profile graduates including internationals Robbie Keane and Joleon Lescott.[3] Many other players have gone on to play first team football at Molineux, including current first-team players Hugo Bueno, Chem Campbell, Luke Cundle and Dexter Lembikisa.

The current U18 lead coach is James McPike and is based at the club's Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground.[4][5]

All players are correct in accordance to the Wolves Official Website (not including trialists)[6]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
78 FW England ENG Emilio Ballard-Matthews
GK Wales WAL Lewys Benjamin
GK England ENG George Hardy
GK England ENG Lucas Kibrya
DF England ENG Hayden Carson
DF Italy ITA Mo Diomande
69 DF England ENG Testimony Igbinoghene
DF England ENG Lennon Patterson
76 DF England ENG Caden Voice
72 MF Wales WAL Finn Ashworth
MF Wales WAL Mackenzie Bradbury
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF England ENG Tom Edozie
77 MF England ENG Fraser Harper
MF England ENG Conor McLeod
DF England ENG Jason Nyakudya
MF England ENG Dom Plank
MF England ENG Fabian Reynolds
MF South Korea KOR Ji Min-kyu
FW Malta MLT Lucas Scicluna
FW England ENG Fabian Salmon
FW Spain ESP Dani Ángel

Out on loan[edit]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK England ENG Stan Amos (at Wolverhampton Casuals until 30 June 2024)

Michael Bristow Trophy / Academy Scholar of the Year[edit]

The Michael Bristow trophy is named after Mike Bristow, a lifelong Wolverhampton Wanderers FC supporter, who died in 2008.

The trophy was donated to Wolverhampton Wanderers FC by Keith Brown.

The trophy is a sterling silver cup, below which are engraved the names of the annual winner, which is decided upon by Wolves and awarded annually to their Academy Scholar of the Year. The trophy is retained in the trophy room at the Molineux.

The presentation is generally made on the pitch in one of the final first team home games of the season, by Keith Brown, Hazel Bristow and Matt Bristow. The winner is given an engraved trophy donated by Keith Brown or Hazel Bristow, to mark their achievement.

Season Winner
2009 Republic of Ireland John Dunleavy
2010 England Jamie Reckord
2011 Northern Ireland Johnny Gorman
2012 England Sam Whittall
2013 England Dominic Iorfa
2014 France Ibrahim Keita
2015 England Regan Upton
2016 Wales Ryan Leak
2017 England Cameron John
2018 England Ryan Giles
2019 England Taylor Perry
2020 Portugal Christian Marques
2021 England Jack Hodnett
2023 England Owen Farmer

References[edit]

  1. ^ "In Reserve". www.wolves.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013.
  2. ^ "In Reserve". www.wolves.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013.
  3. ^ "Category One academy". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 27 July 2012.
  4. ^ "Scott Sellars appointed as Head of Academy". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 12 March 2019.
  5. ^ "Academy undergoes summer restructure". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 7 September 2019.
  6. ^ "Under-18".