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 and Mateus Mané progressing from the U23 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
40 GK  ENG Alfie Brooks
42 MF  ENG Harvey Griffiths
44 FW  ENG Leon Chiwome
45 MF  ENG Ty Barnett
54 FW  ESP Dani Ángel
55 MF  ENG Alfie White
56 MF  WAL Makenzie Bradbury
59 DF  ENG Saheed Olagunju
60 FW  SCO Ethan Sutherland
61 DF  ENG Wes Okoduwa
62 MF  ENG Luke Rawlings
No. Pos. Nation Player
63 FW  KOR Minkyu Ji
64 MF  ENG Myles Dayman
70 GK  NIR Josh Gracey
72 MF  WAL Finn Ashworth
74 MF  ENG Tom Edozie
GK  WAL Lewys Benjamin
DF  JAM Dexter Lembikisa
MF  JAM Fabian Reynolds
MF  IRL Luke O'Donnell
MF  ENG Conor McLeod
MF  CHN Xu Bin
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
46 DF  ENG Alfie Pond (on loan at Crewe Alexandra)
48 GK  IRL James Storer (on loan at Greenock Morton)
49 GK  ENG Arthur Nasta (on loan at Hornchurch)
No. Pos. Nation Player
57 DF  ITA Temple Ojinnaka (on loan at Shrewsbury Town)
71 DF  ENG Hayden Carson (on loan at Chester)

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 player Hugo Bueno.

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
75 GK  ENG Alfie Arnold
78 FW  ENG Emilio Ballard-Matthews
79 DF  SCO Sebastian Lochhead
80 MF  ENG Mason Stevens
81 DF  WAL Ashton Williams
GK  IRL Xander Grieves
DF  ITA Elvis Elendu
DF  ENG Max Nolan-Ruddock
No. Pos. Nation Player
DF  ENG Elliot Saba
DF  ENG Ollie Stafford
MF  ENG Hayden Ford
MF  NOR Bjørn Marwa
MF  AUT David Osifo
FW  ENG Jake Wilcox
FW  IRL Dapo Anunlopo
FW  ENG Reiss Bowen

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".