Stoke City F.C. Under-21s and Academy

Stoke City Under-21s
Full nameStoke City Football Club Under-21s
NicknameThe Potters
Founded1863
Groundbet365 Stadium
Clayton Wood Training Ground
St George's Park, Burton upon Trent
ManagerLiam Lawrence (interim) (Under-21s)
Dean Marney (Under-18s)
LeaguePremier League 2
2024–25Premier League 2, 25th
Websitewww.stokecityfc.com

Stoke City Football Club Under-21s is the most senior of Stoke City's youth teams and the club's former reserve team. The Under-21 team is effectively Stoke City's second-string side. They play in Premier League 2. The team also competes in the Premier League Cup and Staffordshire Senior Cup.

They play their home matches at the club's main ground, the bet365 Stadium, St George's Park, Burton upon Trent as well as the club's Clayton Wood Training Ground. In previous seasons the team has played at Lyme Valley Stadium in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Macclesfield Town's Moss Rose, Nantwich Town's Weaver Stadium and Harrison Park in Leek.

History

Stoke fielded a second team for the first time in a league competition, the Combination, in 1891–92, under the name of 'Stoke Swifts'.[1] The Swifts also played in the Midland League and the local North Staffordshire & District League, which they won on two occasions. The team joined the Birmingham & District League in 1900–01 and was renamed 'Stoke Reserves'.[2] They temporarily had to return to local leagues in 1908 after the first team suffered financial difficulties and had to resign from the Football League, taking the reserves' place in the Birmingham & District League.[3] They returned in 1911–12 and continued to play in it until they joined the newly founded Central League, a specific reserve team only league. In 1925 after Stoke-on-Trent was granted City status the second string became "Stoke City Reserves".[4] They won the Central League title in 1927–28 and remained in the league until the 1980s when a Division Two was created.[3] Stoke were relegated in 1984–85, gaining promotion in 1991–92, but suffered instant relegation in 1992–93, however promotion was achieved in 1993–94.[3] The league was restructured in 1996 with Stoke now in the Central League Premier Division, dropping down to Division One in 1999–2000.[3] They won Division One in 2002–03 and then won the Premier Division in 2003–04. Stoke remained in the Central League until 2008.[3]

Following the first team's promotion to the Premier League in 2008 the reserves joined the Premier Reserve League. In 2012 the Premier League implemented the Elite Player Performance Plan and introduced the Professional Development League, with reserve teams becoming under-21 teams. In The League was split into two in 2014–15, with Stoke playing in Division 2. In 2016 the league was re-branded Premier League 2 and the age limit increased to under-23. This was reverted back to under-21 from 2022–23.[5]

Current squads

As of 3 February 2026[6][7]

Under-21s

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 Caleb Clothier
— GK  ENG Noah Cooper
— GK  ENG True Grant
50 DF  ENG Sydney Agina
53 DF  ENG Josh Bickerton
— DF  ITA Laurence Giani
47 DF  IRL Jake Griffin
57 DF  ENG Jaden Mears
— DF  GHA Francis Oppong
54 DF  IRL Raphael-Pijus Otegbayo
— DF  ENG Owen Powell
No. Pos. Nation Player
58 MF  ENG Chinonso Chibueze
— MF  ENG Oghosaiwi Enabulele
— MF  POL Wiktor Gromek
59 MF  IRL Gabriel Kelly
— MF  ENG Josh Maskall
— MF  WAL Japhet Matondo
— FW  ENG Tyler Martin
— FW  ENG Jerome Osei
— FW  ENG Adriel Walker

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
— DF  USA Freddie Anderson (at Barrow)
— MF  IRL Darius Lipsiuc (at Solihull Moors)
55 MF  ENG Ruben Curley (at Curzon Ashton)
No. Pos. Nation Player
46 MF  ENG Will Smith (at Mickleover)
— MF  SCO Kieron Willox (at Inverness Caledonian Thistle)
56 FW  ENG Favour Fawunmi (at Leyton Orient)

Under-18s

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 Ben Chivers
— GK  ENG Lucas Knight
— GK  ENG Hayden Ovaere
— DF  ENG Rocco Bardsley
— DF  ENG Harry Collins
— DF  ITA Anas Dauda
— DF  ENG Josh McWilliams
— DF  ENG Sanchez Phillips
— DF  ENG Jensen Tortoishell
— MF  ENG Tristan Achu
— MF  ENG Lucas Connell
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF  ENG Connor Day
— MF  ENG Daniel Eyaife
— MF  ENG Elliot Fearn
— MF  ENG Max Harrison
— MF  ENG Israel Kelly
— MF  ENG Ryan Liu
— MF  ENG Pedro Nzau
— MF  ENG Sultan Sotunde
— MF  ENG Deandre Witter
— FW  ENG Angus Lloyd
— FW  ENG Tommy McNally
— FW  ENG Jayden Ogbebor

Honours

Leagues

Cups

Staff

Academy management
  • Academy Manager: Sam Stockley
  • Head of Academy Recruitment: Andrew Frost
  • Head of Academy Education: Greg Briggs
  • Head of Academy Medical: Jordan Beech
  • Head of Academy Sports Science: Ben Cope
  • Academy Safeguarding Lead: Wayne Taylor
Academy full-time coaching staff
  • Lead Professional Development Phase Coach (U21): Vacant
  • Professional Development Phase Coach (U21): Liam Lawrence
  • Lead Professional Development Phase Coach (U18): Dean Marney
  • Lead Youth Development Phase Coach: Andy Matthews
  • Lead Youth Phase Coach (U12-16s): Carlton Reid
  • Youth Development Phase Coach (U15): Liam Eaton
  • Youth Development Phase Coach (U14): Ricardo Fuller
  • Youth Development Phase Coach (U13): Ross Woodcock
  • Lead Foundation Phase Coach: Connor Russo
  • Foundation Phase Coach: Jason Brindley
  • Academy Goalkeeping Coach: TBC

League performance

Reserves, U21s and U23s

Season League P W D L GF GA Pts Pos
Entered the Combination as Stoke Swifts
1891–92 The Combination 22 13 1 8 49 29 27 4/12
1892–93 The Combination 22 14 4 4 48 23 32 2/12
1893–94 The Combination 18 10 1 7 57 31 21 2/10
1894–95 Midland Football League 26 14 7 5 90 33 35 2/14
1895–96 North Staffordshire & District League 30 21 7 2 109 29 49 1/16
1896–97 North Staffordshire & District League 25 18 3 5 84 33 39 2/14
1897–98 The Combination 24 10 5 9 42 35 25 3/13
1898–99 North Staffordshire & District League 22 17 1 4 84 25 35 1/12
1899–1900 North Staffordshire & District League 16 9 1 6 50 27 19 3/9
Renamed Stoke Reserves and joined the Birmingham & District League
1900–01 Birmingham & District League 34 17 5 12 80 51 39 4/18
1901–02 Birmingham & District League 34 15 6 13 50 45 36 9/18
1902–03 Birmingham & District League 34 14 6 14 63 45 34 10/18
1903–04 Birmingham & District League 34 21 6 7 89 55 48 2/18
1904–05 Birmingham & District League 34 20 5 9 68 33 45 2/18
1905–06 Birmingham & District League 34 14 7 13 71 60 35 8/18
1906–07 Birmingham & District League 34 13 8 13 62 64 34 9/18
1907–08 Birmingham & District League 34 12 9 13 53 57 33 11/18
Stoke resign from the Football League and first team replaces reserves in the Birmingham & District League
1908–09 North Staffordshire Federation League 15 11 1 3 44 22 23 2/10
1909–10 North Staffordshire & District League 26 20 0 6 76 23 40 3/14
1910–11 North Staffordshire & District League 26 14 3 9 65 32 31 5/14
First team leave the Birmingham & District League, reserves take their place
1911–12 Birmingham & District League 34 11 12 11 51 52 34 9/18
1912–13 Birmingham & District League 34 13 3 18 58 75 29 14/18
1913–14 Birmingham & District League 34 17 7 10 73 46 41 4/18
1914–15 Birmingham & District League 34 17 5 12 80 52 39 8/18
1914 to 1919 – World War I
1919–20 Birmingham & District League 34 14 4 16 73 68 32 12/18
1920–21 Birmingham & District League 34 11 6 17 46 62 28 12/18
Joined the newly formed reserve team only Central League
1921–22 Central League 42 19 9 14 71 52 47 6/22
1922–23 Central League 42 13 9 14 62 82 35 18/22
1923–24 Central League 42 11 12 19 43 58 34 17/22
1924–25 Central League 42 12 8 22 54 90 32 18/22
Stoke-on-Trent granted city status in 1925, renamed Stoke City Reserves
1925–26 Central League 42 14 8 20 74 93 36 18/22
1926–27 Central League 42 15 5 22 70 81 35 18/22
1927–28 Central League 42 23 8 11 101 62 54 1/22
1928–29 Central League 42 16 7 19 78 82 39 15/22
1929–30 Central League 42 17 10 15 70 83 44 8/22
1930–31 Central League 42 14 11 17 46 73 39 16/22
1931–32 Central League 42 12 10 20 57 101 34 16/22
1932–33 Central League 42 16 8 18 80 74 40 14/22
1933–34 Central League 42 26 4 12 88 66 56 3/22
1934–35 Central League 42 21 10 11 93 62 52 2/22
1935–36 Central League 42 10 10 22 66 95 30 20/22
1936–37 Central League 42 19 6 17 70 82 44 11/22
1937–38 Central League 42 12 12 18 55 76 36 21/22
1938–39 Central League 42 12 10 20 60 65 34 19/22
1939 to 1945 – World War II
1945–46 Central League 40 16 3 21 68 74 35 14/21
1946–47 Central League 42 11 10 21 56 89 32 18/22
1947–48 Central League 42 15 9 18 56 71 39 13/22
1948–49 Central League 42 16 6 20 65 69 38 14/22
1949–50 Central League 42 13 9 20 56 83 35 19/22
1950–51 Central League 42 6 9 27 34 92 21 22/22
1951–52 Central League 42 11 5 26 47 84 27 22/22
1952–53 Central League 42 17 7 18 67 69 41 11/22
1953–54 Central League 42 10 6 26 46 89 26 21/22
1954–55 Central League 42 19 5 18 69 78 43 12/22
1955–56 Central League 42 10 14 18 52 76 34 17/22
1956–57 Central League 42 17 11 14 65 62 45 8/22
1957–58 Central League 42 16 10 16 66 71 42 11/22
1958–59 Central League 42 22 8 12 81 54 52 4/22
1959–60 Central League 42 21 9 12 77 54 51 5/22
1960–61 Central League 42 9 11 22 42 71 29 20/22
1961–62 Central League 42 11 11 20 45 75 33 19/22
1962–63 Central League 42 22 8 12 75 50 52 6/22
1963–64 Central League 42 19 10 13 58 42 48 14/22
1964–65 Central League 42 10 12 20 42 71 32 18/22
1965–66 Central League 42 24 9 9 76 51 57 2/22
1966–67 Central League 42 18 5 19 65 68 41 11/22
1967–68 Central League 42 12 14 16 60 73 38 16/22
1968–69 Central League 42 15 9 18 45 42 39 13/22
1969–70 Central League 42 19 11 12 67 40 49 8/22
1970–71 Central League 42 10 14 18 52 64 34 18/22
1971–72 Central League 42 17 13 12 59 49 47 6/22
1972–73 Central League 42 23 8 11 86 55 54 2/22
1973–74 Central League 42 16 11 15 59 56 43 13/22
1974–75 Central League 42 18 12 12 50 40 48 6/22
1975–76 Central League 42 16 10 16 60 55 42 11/22
1976–77 Central League 42 13 18 11 49 50 44 10/22
1977–78 Central League 42 13 14 15 58 52 40 11/22
1978–79 Central League 42 23 11 8 65 45 57 3/22
1979–80 Central League 42 11 17 14 45 49 39 13/22
1980–81 Central League 42 14 11 17 51 57 39 14/22
1981–82 Central League 42 11 15 16 50 61 37 14/22
Central League Division Two created
1982–83 Central League Division One 30 14 6 10 54 57 34 7/16
Three points for a win introduced to reserve team football
1983–84 Central League Division One 30 11 6 13 52 59 39 9/16
1984–85 Central League Division One 34 8 6 20 43 72 30 17/18
1985–86 Central League Division Two 34 9 5 20 51 85 32 15/18
1986–87 Central League Division Two 32 13 5 14 42 48 44 9/17
1987–88 Central League Division Two 34 11 8 15 30 44 41 ?/18
1988–89 Central League Division Two 34 17 10 7 60 38 61 ?/18
1989–90 Central League Division Two 34 14 8 12 50 44 50 6/18
1990–91 Central League Division Two 34 12 5 17 51 67 41 ?/18
1991–92 Central League Division Two 34 25 5 4 93 30 80 1/18
1992–93 Central League Division One 34 8 8 18 38 56 32 16/18
1993–94 Central League Division Two 34 21 3 10 54 41 66 3/18
1994–95 Central League Division One 34 12 7 15 46 44 43 11/18
1995–96 Central League Division One 34 17 8 9 57 42 59 3/18
League restructure
1996–97 Central League Premier Division 24 11 2 11 34 37 35 4/13
1997–98 Central League Premier Division 24 10 4 10 35 41 34 6/13
1998–99 Central League Premier Division 24 7 7 10 24 32 28 10/13
League restructure following creation of Premier Reserve League
1999–2000 Central League Premier Division 22 3 8 11 21 37 17 11/12
2000–01 Central League Division One 22 9 5 8 35 32 12 5/12
2001–02 Central League Division One 22 10 3 9 52 27 33 5/12
2002–03 Central League Division One 18 12 2 4 42 22 38 1/10
2003–04 Central League Premier Division 22 13 4 5 45 31 43 1/12
2004–05 Central League Premier Division 22 10 3 9 28 26 33 5/12
Leagues re-organised into geographical divisions
2005–06 Central League Central Division 18 7 2 9 22 30 23 6/10
2006–07 Central League Central Division 22 6 7 9 25 37 25 8/12
2007–08 Central League Central Division 22 9 3 10 25 36 30 9/12
Joined Premier Reserve League following first team's promotion
2008–09 Premier Reserve League South 16 4 2 10 18 23 14 8/9
2009–10 Premier Reserve League South 16 3 4 9 13 24 13 9/9
Resigned from the Premier Reserve League
2010–11 No league entered
2011–12 Central League Central Division 12 3 3 6 15 23 12 7/7
Joined Professional Development League following league reconstruction
2012–13 Under-21 Premier League First Phase 12 1 1 10 11 37 4 7/7
Under-21 Premier League Second Phase 12 2 1 9 14 28 7 7/7
2013–14 Under-21 Premier League 21 6 4 11 26 34 22 18/22
2014–15 Under-21 Premier League Division 2 22 4 6 12 23 50 18 11/12
2015–16 Under-21 Premier League Division 2 22 10 2 10 24 24 32 8/12
2016–17 Premier League 2 Division 2 22 4 8 10 25 36 20 11/12
2017–18 Premier League 2 Division 2 22 6 2 14 31 46 20 11/12
2018–19 Premier League 2 Division 2 22 7 7 8 42 37 28 7/12
2019–20 Premier League 2 Division 2 18 8 3 7 32 27 27 4/12
2020–21 Premier League 2 Division 2 24 14 3 7 41 30 45 2/13
2021–22 Premier League 2 Division 2 26 12 7 7 34 36 43 3/14
2022–23 Premier League 2 Division 2 20 3 5 12 26 45 14 10/11
2023–24 Premier League 2 20 7 2 11 38 55 23 19/26
2024–25 Premier League 2 20 4 3 13 26 43 15 25/26

References

  1. ^ "Stoke Swifts". FCHD. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  2. ^ "Stoke Reserves". FCHD. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Under 23s / Reserve Statistics". Stoke City. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  4. ^ "Stoke City Reserves". FCHD. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Premier League 2 becomes under-21 competition". Premier League. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  6. ^ "U21s". Stoke City.
  7. ^ "U18s". Stoke City.
  8. ^ "Academy Staff". Stoke City. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
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