West Bromwich Albion F.C. Reserves and Academy

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West Bromwich Albion F.C. Reserves and Academy
Nickname(s)The Baggies
Ground The Hawthorns, Keys Park
Owner Shilen Patel
ManagerRichard Stevens
League Premier League 2 Division 2

West Bromwich Albion Reserves and Academy are the youth teams of West Bromwich Albion. The reserve team is made up of under-23 players, and is effectively West Bromwich Albion's second-string side. The under-18 players among other younger age groups make up the academy team. They play in the Premier League 2 Division 2, the second tier of reserve team football in England.

Contents

Academy staff and hierarchy

PositionName
Academy Manager Flag of England.svg Richard Stevens
Head of Academy Coaching Flag of England.svg Mick Halsall
U-23s Manager Flag of England.svg Richard Beale
U-23s Coach Ulster Banner.svg Chris Brunt
U-23s Coach Flag of Jamaica.svg Deon Burton
U-18s Manager Flag of England.svg Leigh Downing
Professional Phase Goalkeeping Development Coach Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Boaz Myhill
Head of Academy Recruitment Flag of England.svg Tom Brady

History

In the 1882–83 season, Albion fielded a reserve side for the first time; the club's second team played 24 matches and went through the season undefeated. [1] Due to the club's financial situation, the reserves had their wages halved early in the 1885–86 season, and by January 1886 the payments made to reserve players were withdrawn altogether. This resulted in Albion's second team refusing to play against Small Heath Alliance and the game was cancelled. Some of the players were suspended as a result of their actions, but were later re-instated. [2] The Albion reserves first competed in The Central League in 1921 and won the competition seven times. [3]

Albion's Youth team first entered the FA Youth Cup in 1952–53. In their first game in the competition, they defeated Brush Sports by a 10–1 scoreline. [4] They reached the final in 1954–55 and 1968–69, losing to Manchester United and Sunderland respectively. Albion won the competition for the only time in their history in 1975–76, beating local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers 5–0 on aggregate in the two-legged final. Albion came close to reaching the final of the competition during the 2018–19 season after an impressive cup run for the first time in 43 years, only to lose to Manchester City 4–2 in the semi-final under youth coach Mike Scott. Albion would have another successful cup run in 2020-21 season only to lose to Aston Villa in the semi-final 4–1. Albion won the U23s Premier League Cup for the first time in their history under Richard Beale during the 2021-22 season beating local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers in a penalty shootout 5–4. [5] Since April 2013, the club's academy has been based in the former Tom Silk Building in Halfords Lane, close to The Hawthorns. [6]

Academy squads

Under-23 squad

West Bromwich Albion F.C. Academy building WBAFC Academy building.jpg
West Bromwich Albion F.C. Academy building
As of 20 Aug 2024 [7]

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
28 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Fenton Heard
33 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Cole Deeming
34 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Harry Whitwell
36 DF Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Muhamed Diomande
37 FW Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  WAL Ollie Bostock
38 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Kevin Mfuamba
39 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Reece Hall
40 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Deago Nelson
41 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Matthew Richards
43 FW Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Eseosa Sule
No.Pos.NationPlayer
— GK Flag of England.svg  ENG Ben Cisse
— GK Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  WAL Ronnie Hollingshead
— DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Evan Humphries
— DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Jamal Mohammed
— DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Josh Shaw
— DF Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  WAL Alex Williams
— MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Archie Kirton
— FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Akeel Higgins
— FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Layton Love
— FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Adriel Walker

Out on loan

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
29 FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Reyes Cleary (on loan at Walsall until end of season)

Under-18 squad

As of 6 Jul 2024 [8]

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
35 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Dauda Idrissa
— GK Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Louis Brady
— GK Flag of England.svg  ENG Liam Wilkes
— DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Abdul Abudu
— DF Flag of New Zealand.svg  NZL Noah DuPont
— DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Adam Letlat
— DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Alfie Maughan
— DF Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  WAL Rhys Morrish
— DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Corey Sears
No.Pos.NationPlayer
— MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Sam Beedie
— MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Charlie Blackshields
— MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Fran Cherchi
— MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Matthew Crowther
— MF Flag of Austria.svg  AUT Souleyman Mandey
— MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Rio Parmar
— FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Dan Chimeziri
— FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Adam Okorodudu
— FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Divine Onyemachi

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References

  1. ↑ Matthews, Tony; Mackenzie, Colin (1987). Albion! A Complete Record of West Bromwich Albion 1879–1987. Breedon Books. p. 220. ISBN   0-907969-23-2.
  2. ↑ Matthews, Tony; Mackenzie, Colin (1987). Albion! A Complete Record of West Bromwich Albion 1879–1987. Breedon Books. p. 243. ISBN   0-907969-23-2.
  3. ↑ Matthews, Tony; Mackenzie, Colin (1987). Albion! A Complete Record of West Bromwich Albion 1879–1987. Breedon Books. pp. 221–223. ISBN   0-907969-23-2.
  4. ↑ Matthews, Tony; Mackenzie, Colin (1987). Albion! A Complete Record of West Bromwich Albion 1879–1987. Breedon Books. p. 228. ISBN   0-907969-23-2.
  5. ↑ Matthews, Tony; Mackenzie, Colin (1987). Albion! A Complete Record of West Bromwich Albion 1879–1987. Breedon Books. p. 229. ISBN   0-907969-23-2.
  6. ↑ "West Brom move into their new £1.3m base". Express & Star. 24 April 2013. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  7. ↑ "West Bromwich Albion Premier League 2 Player Profiles". West Bromwich Albion. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  8. ↑ "West Bromwich Albion U18 Team". West Bromwich Albion. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
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