The Academy/Development squads watch thread 2015//16

[morganb]

assuming the cut of date for playing U21 football is at the start of the season...

It's here under definitions:

‘Under 21 Player’ means a Player under the age of 21 as at the 1 January in the year in which the Season concerned commences.

So, unless I'm mistaken, anyone 20 or under on 1 Jan. 2024 will qualify as U21 for the forthcoming season.

Thank you - didn't think it would be as early as January. So that gives another season of U21 football for CBC, Borgnis and Wareham and only three starters from yesterday becoming overage for next season (Carson, who we already know to be leaving; Stickland; Wellens).

If we're allowed three overage players (as an example, I don't know the actual number), Stickland and Wellens could still be regularly involved. A lot of these players will have another attempt at this competition next season (if they don't go out on loan or get promoted to the first team).

Michael Stickland was 20 in November 2023 according to a tweet from the Club so he should be fine for under 21 football again next season. He went to the same school as my kids so I did double check with them before posting!

[rabidbee]

Five over-age players and one over-age keeper: https://www.premierleague.com/news/2677866

[Clyde1998]

It's here under definitions:



So, unless I'm mistaken, anyone 20 or under on 1 Jan. 2024 will qualify as U21 for the forthcoming season.

Thank you - didn't think it would be as early as January. So that gives another season of U21 football for CBC, Borgnis and Wareham and only three starters from yesterday becoming overage for next season (Carson, who we already know to be leaving; Stickland; Wellens).

If we're allowed three overage players (as an example, I don't know the actual number), Stickland and Wellens could still be regularly involved. A lot of these players will have another attempt at this competition next season (if they don't go out on loan or get promoted to the first team).

Michael Stickland was 20 in November 2023 according to a tweet from the Club so he should be fine for under 21 football again next season. He went to the same school as my kids so I did double check with them before posting!

Wikipedia was the only source showing any date of birth and got it wrong (with different dates) on two different articles!

You're right, the club did post a birthday message on Twitter (https://x.com/ReadingFC/status/1722566305562189975), so he was born on 9 November 2003. Collins and Wellens have their date of birth listed on the Premier League website, so we know they're considered overage players for next season (Wellens by a month; Collins by two months).

[Stranded]

Five over-age players and one over-age keeper: https://www.premierleague.com/news/2677866

Cheers - so it is more of a reserve league than a true u21 league then.

[Stranded]

Thank you - didn't think it would be as early as January. So that gives another season of U21 football for CBC, Borgnis and Wareham and only three starters from yesterday becoming overage for next season (Carson, who we already know to be leaving; Stickland; Wellens).

If we're allowed three overage players (as an example, I don't know the actual number), Stickland and Wellens could still be regularly involved. A lot of these players will have another attempt at this competition next season (if they don't go out on loan or get promoted to the first team).

Michael Stickland was 20 in November 2023 according to a tweet from the Club so he should be fine for under 21 football again next season. He went to the same school as my kids so I did double check with them before posting!

Wikipedia was the only source showing any date of birth and got it wrong (with different dates) on two different articles!

You're right, the club did post a birthday message on Twitter (https://x.com/ReadingFC/status/1722566305562189975), so he was born on 9 November 2003. Collins and Wellens have their date of birth listed on the Premier League website, so we know they're considered overage players for next season (Wellens by a month; Collins by two months).

Would imagine, those players who are "too old" for u21 will either be released unless they are seen as having the opportunity to push for the first team next year or we feel they should do the year after with a good loan behind them.

[Snowflake Royal]

Thank you - didn't think it would be as early as January. So that gives another season of U21 football for CBC, Borgnis and Wareham and only three starters from yesterday becoming overage for next season (Carson, who we already know to be leaving; Stickland; Wellens).

If we're allowed three overage players (as an example, I don't know the actual number), Stickland and Wellens could still be regularly involved. A lot of these players will have another attempt at this competition next season (if they don't go out on loan or get promoted to the first team).

Michael Stickland was 20 in November 2023 according to a tweet from the Club so he should be fine for under 21 football again next season. He went to the same school as my kids so I did double check with them before posting!

Wikipedia was the only source showing any date of birth and got it wrong (with different dates) on two different articles!

You're right, the club did post a birthday message on Twitter (https://x.com/ReadingFC/status/1722566305562189975), so he was born on 9 November 2003. Collins and Wellens have their date of birth listed on the Premier League website, so we know they're considered overage players for next season (Wellens by a month; Collins by two months).

As jahmari would tell you, club birthday tweets not always reliable.

[Yellowcoat2]

Five over-age players and one over-age keeper: https://www.premierleague.com/news/2677866

However that was for the season 2022/23 when the format was changed from under 23 to under 21 and might have been a transitional phase. Confusing now because the Premier League are also saying for 2023/2024 the players must be under 21! So how some of the over age players qualified is a bit of a mystery.

[Snowflake Royal]

Five over-age players and one over-age keeper: https://www.premierleague.com/news/2677866

However that was for the season 2022/23 when the format was changed from under 23 to under 21 and might have been a transitional phase. Confusing now because the Premier League are also saying for 2023/2024 the players must be under 21! So how some of the over age players qualified is a bit of a mystery.

That’s what I'd read.

Did Holmes maybe play with the U18s? Or an unofficial game?

[Yellowcoat2]

If you click on the link 'competition format explained' in the rabidbee quote it states ' Players in the competition cannot be older than 21'. Maybe they only strictly enforced this for the playoffs. Who knows?

[Clyde1998]

Five over-age players and one over-age keeper: https://www.premierleague.com/news/2677866

However that was for the season 2022/23 when the format was changed from under 23 to under 21 and might have been a transitional phase. Confusing now because the Premier League are also saying for 2023/2024 the players must be under 21! So how some of the over age players qualified is a bit of a mystery.

That’s what I'd read.

Did Holmes maybe play with the U18s? Or an unofficial game?

Holmes played against Blackburn in the U21 league this season, along with Pereira: https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2023/o ... rn-rovers/

[morganb]

However that was for the season 2022/23 when the format was changed from under 23 to under 21 and might have been a transitional phase. Confusing now because the Premier League are also saying for 2023/2024 the players must be under 21! So how some of the over age players qualified is a bit of a mystery.

That’s what I'd read.

Did Holmes maybe play with the U18s? Or an unofficial game?

Holmes played against Blackburn in the U21 league this season, along with Pereira: https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2023/o ... rn-rovers/

Indeed they did as that game was at Aldershot Rec. I had assumed that players aged over 21 who are playing in order to gain fitness after injury are allowed but playing the whole season for the Under 21s would not be. Thought there was also a limit of three over-age players in the squad.

[Stranded]

However that was for the season 2022/23 when the format was changed from under 23 to under 21 and might have been a transitional phase. Confusing now because the Premier League are also saying for 2023/2024 the players must be under 21! So how some of the over age players qualified is a bit of a mystery.

That’s what I'd read.

Did Holmes maybe play with the U18s? Or an unofficial game?

Holmes played against Blackburn in the U21 league this season, along with Pereira: https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2023/o ... rn-rovers/

Yeah there must be some nuance to the rules. As mentioned, Jay Spearing played in 10 games for Liverpool u21 starting 2 at the age of 35.

[Royals and Racers]

Not of too much interest obviously but final is on Sunday at 3pm at Spurs main stadium.

[rabidbee]

Do the winners get promoted to PL1?

[SCIAG]

Three overage players allowed in the match squad.

As well as Jay Spearing at Liverpool, Man United have Tom Huddlestone (and previously used Paul McShane in the same role).

Clubs do still need to occasionally give overage players a run-out.

Think the rule atm is 3 in a match day squad, might be three plus goalkeeper. Very few teams ever use the full quota though. Definitely isn’t still five plus goalkeeper!

[RG30]

United move for Mpofu

United are looking at the long-term future by signing Scotland Under-15s forward Camron Mpofu from Reading in time for him to join the academy next season.

Though born in Scotland, Mpofu moved south with his family and went to school in Berkshire, joining Reading in 2021 after a successful six-week trial. He has been tracked by a number of clubs after excelling in youth football, and Scotland called him into their Under-15s squad for games against Spain and Hong Kong in Murcia three weeks ago.

Mpofu’s family are expected to relocate with their son to the north-west with United hoping they have a future star on their hands.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13442961/MAN-UNITED-CONFIDENTIAL-65m-Premier-League-Alejandro-Garnacho-Erik-ten-Hag.html

[morganb]

ACADEMY RETAINED LIST CONFIRMED

Following the conclusion of their respective seasons, the club can now confirm the contractual decisions that have been made for players across our Under 21 and Under 18 teams.

UNDER 21s

Options

The following players have had one-year options implemented on their contracts, meaning they will be signed on with the Royals for a further season:

Jacob Borgnis
John Clarke
Jeremiah Okine-Peters
John Ryan
Charlie Wellens

Contract Offered

The following players have been offered contracts from the club, and these are currently under consideration:

Adrian Akande
Matthew Rowley
Jay Senga-Ngoyi
Michael Stickland
Basil Tuma

Released

Hamid Abdel-Salam
Billie Clark
Jahmari Clarke
Harvey Collins
Ajani Giscombe
Geneiro Maragh
Harvey Maudner
Sam Paul
Ben Purcell

We would like to place on record our thanks and best wishes to all nine players listed who will depart the club at the expiration of their contract.

Under Contract

Louie Holzman


UNDER 18s

Contract Offered

The following players have been offered new contracts that will see them extend their stay with the club:

Joseph Barough
Boyd Beacroft
Harrison Rhone

Contract Offered – Rejected

Toby Mawer

Toby has rejected the contract offer from the club to accept a College Sponsorship place in the United States. We wish all the best to Toby in his future career and studies.

Released

Tyler Field
Matthew Goulding
William Gutierrez-Ramirez
Jayden Porter-Atkinson
Jack Timberlake
Aaron White

Tyler, Matthew, William, Jayden, Jack and Aaron will all depart the club at the expiration of their current deals. We would like to thank them all for their hard work and dedication throughout their time in RG2.

Under Contract

Abraham Kanu
Shay Spencer

[Sutekh]

ACADEMY RETAINED LIST CONFIRMED

Following the conclusion of their respective seasons, the club can now confirm the contractual decisions that have been made for players across our Under 21 and Under 18 teams.

UNDER 21s

Options

The following players have had one-year options implemented on their contracts, meaning they will be signed on with the Royals for a further season:

Jacob Borgnis
John Clarke
Jeremiah Okine-Peters
John Ryan
Charlie Wellens

Contract Offered

The following players have been offered contracts from the club, and these are currently under consideration:

Adrian Akande
Matthew Rowley
Jay Senga-Ngoyi
Michael Stickland
Basil Tuma

Released

Hamid Abdel-Salam
Billie Clark
Jahmari Clarke
Harvey Collins
Ajani Giscombe
Geneiro Maragh
Harvey Maudner
Sam Paul
Ben Purcell

We would like to place on record our thanks and best wishes to all nine players listed who will depart the club at the expiration of their contract.

Under Contract

Louie Holzman


UNDER 18s

Contract Offered

The following players have been offered new contracts that will see them extend their stay with the club:

Joseph Barough
Boyd Beacroft
Harrison Rhone

Contract Offered – Rejected

Toby Mawer

Toby has rejected the contract offer from the club to accept a College Sponsorship place in the United States. We wish all the best to Toby in his future career and studies.

Released

Tyler Field
Matthew Goulding
William Gutierrez-Ramirez
Jayden Porter-Atkinson
Jack Timberlake
Aaron White

Tyler, Matthew, William, Jayden, Jack and Aaron will all depart the club at the expiration of their current deals. We would like to thank them all for their hard work and dedication throughout their time in RG2.

Under Contract

Abraham Kanu
Shay Spencer

Not altogether surprised by those leaving, even Jahmari after seemingly going backwards under Ince and then being injured for most of last season.

Is Abraham any relation to a more famous footballing Kanu?

[Royals and Racers]

Only surprise for me is Harvey Collins but we have a lot of keepers.
I know he had a bad injury last season but i hope Kiyan Coke Miles Smith is still with the club.

[South Coast Royal]

United move for Mpofu

United are looking at the long-term future by signing Scotland Under-15s forward Camron Mpofu from Reading in time for him to join the academy next season.

Though born in Scotland, Mpofu moved south with his family and went to school in Berkshire, joining Reading in 2021 after a successful six-week trial. He has been tracked by a number of clubs after excelling in youth football, and Scotland called him into their Under-15s squad for games against Spain and Hong Kong in Murcia three weeks ago.

Mpofu’s family are expected to relocate with their son to the north-west with United hoping they have a future star on their hands.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13442961/MAN-UNITED-CONFIDENTIAL-65m-Premier-League-Alejandro-Garnacho-Erik-ten-Hag.html

Family relocating to the North-West before the son has left school in the vague hope that he will one day make it.
Their choice of course and I wish the boy well but bringing up children (any others in the family?) is more than just hoping that they become a professional footballer when so few succeed IMHO.