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, with the likes of current first-team players Hugo Bueno, Chem Campbell, Luke Cundle, Joe Hodge and Dexter Lembikisa progressing from the U21 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. Nation Player
41 FW  WAL Josh Esen
42 MF  ENG Harvey Griffiths
45 MF  ENG Ty Barnett
49 GK  ENG Arthur Nasta
51 DF  COD Filozofe Mabete
53 DF  ENG Aaron Keto-Diyawa
54 FW  ESP Dani Ángel
57 MF  ITA Temple Ojinnaka
65 MF  ENG Matthew Whittingham
67 DF  IDN Justin Hubner
68 FW  POR Leo Lopes
69 DF  ENG Testimony Igbinoghene
No. Pos. Nation Player
71 DF  ENG Hayden Carson
72 MF  WAL Finn Ashworth
74 MF  ENG Tom Edozie
44 FW  ENG Leon Chiwome
50 GK  ENG Stan Amos
MF  JAM Fabian Reynolds
43 FW  SCO Ethan Sutherland
48 GK  IRL Jimmy Storer
49 DF  COD Marvin Kaleta
52 FW  ENG Fletcher Holman

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
55 MF  ENG Alfie White
56 MF  WAL Makenzie Bradbury
59 FW  ENG Mateus Mané
61 DF  ENG Wes Okoduwa
62 MF  ENG Luke Rawlings
70 GK  NIR Josh Gracey
76 DF  ENG Caden Voice
78 FW  ENG Emilio Ballard-Matthews
GK  WAL Lewys Benjamin
GK  ENG George Hardy
DF  ENG Myles Dayman
DF  ENG Josh Gidaree
No. Pos. Nation Player
DF  SCO Sebastian Lochhead
DF  ENG Saheed Olagunju
DF  AUT David Osifo
DF  ENG Jason Nyakudya
DF  ENG Max Ruddock
MF  ENG Conor McLeod
MF  NOR Bjorn Marwa
MF  ENG Jake Wilcox
FW  ENG Reiss Bowen
FW  KOR Minkyu Ji
FW  ENG Fabian Salmon

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. Nation Player
GK  ENG Lucas Kibrya (on loan at Wolverhampton Casuals)

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.

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

  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".