The Academy/Development squads watch thread 2024/25

[Crusader 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.

They will be provided with accommodation, places at fee paying schools and financial incentives no doubt. Depending on their situation currently it could be a significant opportunity for them in many ways.

[Sutekh]

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.

They will be provided with accommodation, places at fee paying schools and financial incentives no doubt. Depending on their situation currently it could be a significant opportunity for them in many ways.

Until he gets dropped at the end of his contract anyway....

[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.

Fair play to Reading FC Academy who replied to my email telling me that in fact Kiyan CMS is actually U 17’s and has been retained which is great news and hopefully will fully recover from the injuries.

[SCIAG]

Harvey Maunder never regained his best form after that serious injury, shame as he was a talented player.

Do think Jahmari Clarke is a better prospect than Jeremiah Okine-Peters but he hasn't pushed on the way he needed to.

Only five u18s stepping up is low, but shouldn't be too surprising given how poorly this batch of U18s did (combined with losing a few good players already). Last time we had such a small group step up, one of them went on to make 100 appearances for us.

[Clyde1998]

ACADEMY RETAINED LIST CONFIRMED

So, we've either retained or offered a new deal to everyone who was in the U21 squad vs Sunderland except Carson (who we knew about anyway), Paul and Collins. Sackey isn't listed, but I imagine he's on a youth contract.

Collins going isn't much of a surprise to me, especially as he'll be overage next season and we've got a huge amount of goalkeepers in the first team squad currently.

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.

I think Coke-Miles-Smith, if I've got his age right (17 currently), would be on a youth contract, so wouldn't be included on this list (fairly certain it only relates to players on professional contracts).

[Royals and Racers]

ACADEMY RETAINED LIST CONFIRMED

So, we've either retained or offered a new deal to everyone who was in the U21 squad vs Sunderland except Carson (who we knew about anyway), Paul and Collins. Sackey isn't listed, but I imagine he's on a youth contract.

Collins going isn't much of a surprise to me, especially as he'll be overage next season and we've got a huge amount of goalkeepers in the first team squad currently.

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.

I think Coke-Miles-Smith, if I've got his age right (17 currently), would be on a youth contract, so wouldn't be included on this list (fairly certain it only relates to players on professional contracts).

2 posts up i added to my post with more info about CMS.

[Clyde1998]

ACADEMY RETAINED LIST CONFIRMED

So, we've either retained or offered a new deal to everyone who was in the U21 squad vs Sunderland except Carson (who we knew about anyway), Paul and Collins. Sackey isn't listed, but I imagine he's on a youth contract.

Collins going isn't much of a surprise to me, especially as he'll be overage next season and we've got a huge amount of goalkeepers in the first team squad currently.

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.

I think Coke-Miles-Smith, if I've got his age right (17 currently), would be on a youth contract, so wouldn't be included on this list (fairly certain it only relates to players on professional contracts).

2 posts up i added to my post with more info about CMS.

Fantastic. He's one of the younger players who I've heard a lot of good things about.

[Royals and Racers]

Tottenham PL 2 Champions- beat Sunderland 3-1 today

[Stranded]

Apparently one of the trialists who played over the weekend is 18yo Spurs midfielder Billy Heaps.

Which may be my new favourite footballer name.

The Tottenham website says:

Billy Heaps hails from Stevenage and played for his home-town club before joining us as a 13-year-old.

A talented central midfielder, he attended Marriotts School and, in 2020/21, came up with seven goals and five assists for our Under-16 side.

He has also attended training camps with England Under-16s and Under-17s.

Heaps confirmed as leaving Spurs, so will be interesting* to see if we follow up on our interest or not.

[Clyde1998]

Apparently one of the trialists who played over the weekend is 18yo Spurs midfielder Billy Heaps.

Which may be my new favourite footballer name.

The Tottenham website says:

Billy Heaps hails from Stevenage and played for his home-town club before joining us as a 13-year-old.

A talented central midfielder, he attended Marriotts School and, in 2020/21, came up with seven goals and five assists for our Under-16 side.

He has also attended training camps with England Under-16s and Under-17s.

Heaps confirmed as leaving Spurs, so will be interesting* to see if we follow up on our interest or not.

I doubt there's a budget at the moment for the academy to sign players (waiting on a takeover for that), but I'd be surprised if we're not wanting to sign him.

[Royals and Racers]

Not Royals related but Brentford Academy have jumped from Cat 4 to Cat 2 following an audit with their aim of Cat 1.

[morganb]

Reading Football Club are delighted to announce that 11 promising young players have signed new contracts with the club, retaining their services for the 2024-25 campaign!

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2024/j ... contracts/


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

Joseph Barough, Boyd Beacroft, Harrison Rhone, Kiyan Coke-Miles-Smith, Jerae Jones and Emmanuel Osho

[morganb]

Youngster Andre Garcia who has featured for both #ReadingFC’s U16s and U18s last season is currently training with the first team.

https://x.com/RFCLatest/status/18092107 ... c1u2g&s=19

[MartinRdg]

Reading Football Club are delighted to announce that 11 promising young players have signed new contracts with the club, retaining their services for the 2024-25 campaign!

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2024/j ... contracts/


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

Joseph Barough, Boyd Beacroft, Harrison Rhone, Kiyan Coke-Miles-Smith, Jerae Jones and Emmanuel Osho

Great news

[Royals and Racers]

If we remain CAT 1 in 2024/5( i have not heard anything to say we won’t) the U 21’s should be involved in the new competition featuring Cat 1 U 21 teams not involved in the EFL trophy - like Sunderland, Blackburn, Leeds , Middlesborough and us playing National league teams in the new comp. It is expected that it will be 4 regionalised groups- top 2 in group into QF’s- we would play 4 games all away at National league clubs.
It could be a busy season for the U 21’s if we are in this new comp as we will also be in PL 2, PL international cup, PL cup and B & B senior Cup.

[Stranded]

If we remain CAT 1 in 2024/5( i have not heard anything to say we won’t) the U 21’s should be involved in the new competition featuring Cat 1 U 21 teams not involved in the EFL trophy - like Sunderland, Blackburn, Leeds , Middlesborough and us playing National league teams in the new comp. It is expected that it will be 4 regionalised groups- top 2 in group into QF’s- we would play 4 games all away at National league clubs.
It could be a busy season for the U 21’s if we are in this new comp as we will also be in PL 2, PL international cup, PL cup and B & B senior Cup.

I think the earliest we can lose Cat 1 is next summer.

Anyway comp looks likely to be 4 groups of 8. 4 NL sides and 4 Academy sides - each team plays 4 games, so the Academy sides get 4 games against NL sides, as you say all away.

I'm really not sure how the make up of it will be as I've seen a report saying it will involve the PL2 sides not in the FL Trophy - well that is just 10 sides - I think it begins in November so the other 6 may well be sides who fail to progress from the group stage.

[Royals and Racers]

U 21’s home to Bobby Wilkinson’s Hemel Hempstead FC today at Bearwood.

[Royals and Racers]

Hemel winning 2-0 not long to go.
F-T 0-2

[Sutekh]

Hemel winning 2-0 not long to go.
F-T 0-2

Hemel (NLS, tier 6) drew 3-3 at Bracknell last week. Still early days of pre-season are pretty meaningless, been nice to have at least got a goal though.

[Royals and Racers]

Thatcham FC have announced that the friendly against Reading U 21’s scheduled for Wednesday 31st July has been called off- no reason given.