Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Development Squad and Academy

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   ENG Fletcher Holman
41 FW   WAL Josh Esen
42 MF   ENG Harvey Griffiths
45 MF   ENG Ty Barnett
46 DF   ENG Alfie Pond
48 GK   IRL James Storer
49 DF   COD Marvin Kaleta
50 MF   ENG Mason Rees
51 DF   ENG Kam Kandola
53 DF   ENG Aaron Keto-Diyawa
No. Pos. Nation Player
57 MF   ITA Temple Ojinnaka
61 DF   ENG Wes Okoduwa
62 FW   ENG Tawanda Chirewa
65 MF   ENG Matthew Whittingham
66 FW   ENG Ethan McLeod
84 FW   ENG Leon Chiwome
87 FW   JAM Tyler Roberts
95 DF   ENG Filozofe Mabete
DF   ENG Ollie Tipton
FW   POR Leo Lopes
FW   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   ENG Owen Farmer (at Rushall Olympic until 31 May 2024)
52 DF   SGP Harry Birtwistle (at Oxford City until 31 May 2024)
56 GK   ENG Joe Young (at Buxton until 31 May 2024)
No. Pos. Nation Player
67 DF   IDN Justin Hubner (at Cerezo Osaka until 31 May 2024)
79 MF   WAL Owen Hesketh (at Kidderminster Harriers until 31 May 2024)
DF   NED Nigel Lonwijk (at Wycombe Wanderers until 31 May 2024)
GK   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   ENG Emilio Ballard-Matthews
GK   WAL Lewys Benjamin
GK   ENG George Hardy
GK   ENG Lucas Kibrya
DF   ENG Hayden Carson
DF   ITA Mo Diomande
69 DF   ENG Testimony Igbinoghene
DF   ENG Lennon Patterson
76 DF   ENG Caden Voice
72 MF   WAL Finn Ashworth
MF   WAL Mackenzie Bradbury
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF   ENG Tom Edozie
77 MF   ENG Fraser Harper
MF   ENG Conor McLeod
DF   ENG Jason Nyakudya
MF   ENG Dom Plank
MF   ENG Fabian Reynolds
MF   KOR Ji Min-kyu
FW   MLT Lucas Scicluna
FW   ENG Fabian Salmon
FW   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   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   John Dunleavy
2010   Jamie Reckord
2011   Johnny Gorman
2012   Sam Whittall
2013   Dominic Iorfa
2014   Ibrahim Keita
2015   Regan Upton
2016   Ryan Leak
2017   Cameron John
2018   Ryan Giles
2019   Taylor Perry
2020   Christian Marques
2021   Jack Hodnett
2023   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".