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.

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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 and Mateus Mané progressing from the U23 side.

Development squad and U23s

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
36 FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Mateus Mané
41 FW Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  WAL Josh Esen
44 FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Leon Chiwome
45 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Ty Barnett
52 FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Fletcher Holman
54 FW Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Dani Ángel
55 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Alfie White
56 MF Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  WAL Makenzie Bradbury
57 MF Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Temple Ojinnaka
59 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Saheed Olagunju
60 FW Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Ethan Sutherland
61 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Wes Okoduwa
No.Pos.NationPlayer
62 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Luke Rawlings
63 FW Flag of South Korea.svg  KOR Minkyu Ji
64 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Myles Dayman
68 FW Flag of Portugal (official).svg  POR Leo Lopes
70 GK Ulster Banner.svg  NIR Josh Gracey
72 MF Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  WAL Finn Ashworth
74 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Tom Edozie
76 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Caden Voice
MF Flag of Jamaica.svg  JAM Fabian Reynolds
GK Flag of England.svg  ENG George Hardy
MF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Luke O'Donnell
MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Conor McLeod

Out on loan

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
42 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Harvey Griffiths (on loan at Crewe Alexandra)
48 GK Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL James Storer(on loan at Greenock Morton)
49 GK Flag of England.svg  ENG Arthur Nasta(on loan at Hornchurch)
71 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Hayden Carson(on loan at Chester)
GK Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  WAL Lewys Benjamin(on loan at Chester)
DF Flag of Jamaica.svg  JAM Dexter Lembikisa (on loan at Lincoln City)

Academy and Under 18s

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 player Hugo Bueno.

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; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
78 FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Emilio Ballard-Matthews
GK Flag of England.svg  ENG Alfie Arnold
GK Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Xander Grieves
MF Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Elvis Elendu
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Josh Gidaree
DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Sebastian Lochhead
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Max Ruddock
DF Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  WAL Ashton Williams
MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Hayden Ford
No.Pos.NationPlayer
MF Flag of Norway.svg  NOR Bjorn Marwa
MF Flag of Austria.svg  AUT David Osifo
MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Elliot Saba
MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Ollie Stafford
MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Mason Stevens
MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Jake Wilcox
FW Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Lennon Biggs
FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Reiss Bowen
FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Fabian Salmon

Michael Bristow Trophy / Academy Scholar of the Year

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.

SeasonWinner
2009 Flag of Ireland.svg John Dunleavy
2010 Flag of England.svg Jamie Reckord
2011 Ulster Banner.svg Johnny Gorman
2012 Flag of England.svg Sam Whittall
2013 Flag of England.svg Dominic Iorfa
2014 Flag of France.svg Ibrahim Keita
2015 Flag of England.svg Regan Upton
2016 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ryan Leak
2017 Flag of England.svg Cameron John
2018 Flag of England.svg Ryan Giles
2019 Flag of England.svg Taylor Perry
2020 Flag of Portugal (official).svg Christian Marques
2021 Flag of England.svg Jack Hodnett
2023 Flag of England.svg Owen Farmer

References

  1. "In Reserve". wolves.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013.
  2. "In Reserve". 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".