West Bromwich Albion F.C. Reserves and Academy
Nickname(s)The Baggies
GroundThe Hawthorns, Keys Park
OwnerLai Guochuan
ManagerRichard Stevens
LeaguePremier League 2 Division 2

West Bromwich Albion Reserves and Academy are the youth teams of West Bromwich Albion. The reserve team is made up of under-23 players, and is effectively West Bromwich Albion's second-string side. The under-18 players among other younger age groups make up the academy team. They play in the Premier League 2 Division 2, the second tier of reserve team football in England.

Academy staff and hierarchy

Position Name
Academy Manager England Richard Stevens
Head of Academy Coaching England Mick Halsall
U-23s Manager England Richard Beale
U-23s Coach Northern Ireland Chris Brunt
U-23s Coach Jamaica Deon Burton
U-18s Manager England Leigh Downing
Professional Phase Goalkeeping Development Coach Wales Boaz Myhill
Head of Academy Recruitment England Tom Brady

History

In the 1882–83 season, Albion fielded a reserve side for the first time; the club's second team played 24 matches and went through the season undefeated.[1] Due to the club's financial situation, the reserves had their wages halved early in the 1885–86 season, and by January 1886 the payments made to reserve players were withdrawn altogether. This resulted in Albion's second team refusing to play against Small Heath Alliance and the game was cancelled. Some of the players were suspended as a result of their actions, but were later re-instated.[2] The Albion reserves first competed in The Central League in 1921 and won the competition seven times.[3]

Albion's Youth team first entered the FA Youth Cup in 1952–53. In their first game in the competition, they defeated Brush Sports by a 10–1 scoreline.[4] They reached the final in 1954–55 and 1968–69, losing to Manchester United and Sunderland respectively. Albion won the competition for the only time in their history in 1975–76, beating local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers 5–0 on aggregate in the two-legged final. Albion came close to reaching the final of the competition during the 2018–19 season after an impressive cup run for the first time in 43 years, only to lose to Manchester City 4–2 in the semi-final under youth coach Mike Scott. Albion would have another successful cup run in 2020-21 season only to lose to Aston Villa in the semi-final 4–1. Albion won the U23s Premier League Cup for the first time in their history under Richard Beale during the 2021-22 season beating local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers in a penalty shootout 5–4.[5] Since April 2013, the club's academy has been based in the former Tom Silk Building in Halfords Lane, close to The Hawthorns.[6]

Academy squads

Under-23 squad

West Bromwich Albion F.C. Academy building
As of 15 Jan 2024[7]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
37 MF England ENG Harry Whitwell
38 MF England ENG Akeel Higgins
41 FW England ENG Layton Love
42 DF England ENG Josh Shaw
44 GK Wales WAL Ronnie Hollingshead
45 MF England ENG Kevin Mfuamba
46 FW England ENG Reyes Cleary
47 MF England ENG Fenton Heard
No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK England ENG Bradley Foster
— DF England ENG Reece Hall
— DF England ENG Aaron Harper-Bailey
— DF England ENG Narel Phillips
— DF Wales WAL Alex Williams
— MF England ENG Matthew Richards
— FW England ENG Ruben Shakpoke

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW England ENG Rayhaan Tulloch (at Bradford City until end of season)

Under-18 squad

As of 21 Oct 2023[8]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK England ENG Ben Cisse
— GK England ENG Louis Brady
— DF England ENG Evan Humphries
— DF England ENG Jamal Mohammed
— DF Wales WAL Rhys Morrish
— DF England ENG Deago Nelson
— DF England ENG Corey Sears
— DF England ENG Jenson Sumnall
— MF England ENG Sam Beedie
— MF Wales WAL Ollie Bostock
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF England ENG Fran Cherchi
— MF England ENG Cole Deeming
— MF England ENG Archie Kirton
— MF Austria AUT Souleyman Mandey
— FW England ENG Dan Chimeziri
— FW Ivory Coast CIV Cheick Kone
— FW England ENG Divine Onyemachi
— FW Scotland SCO Eseosa Sule
— FW England ENG Adriel Walker

References

  1. ↑ Matthews, Tony; Mackenzie, Colin (1987). Albion! A Complete Record of West Bromwich Albion 1879–1987. Breedon Books. p. 220. ISBN 0-907969-23-2.
  2. ↑ Matthews, Tony; Mackenzie, Colin (1987). Albion! A Complete Record of West Bromwich Albion 1879–1987. Breedon Books. p. 243. ISBN 0-907969-23-2.
  3. ↑ Matthews, Tony; Mackenzie, Colin (1987). Albion! A Complete Record of West Bromwich Albion 1879–1987. Breedon Books. pp. 221–223. ISBN 0-907969-23-2.
  4. ↑ Matthews, Tony; Mackenzie, Colin (1987). Albion! A Complete Record of West Bromwich Albion 1879–1987. Breedon Books. p. 228. ISBN 0-907969-23-2.
  5. ↑ Matthews, Tony; Mackenzie, Colin (1987). Albion! A Complete Record of West Bromwich Albion 1879–1987. Breedon Books. p. 229. ISBN 0-907969-23-2.
  6. ↑ "West Brom move into their new £1.3m base". Express & Star. 24 April 2013. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  7. ↑ "West Bromwich Albion Premier League 2 Player Profiles". West Bromwich Albion. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  8. ↑ "West Bromwich Albion U18 Team". West Bromwich Albion. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
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