Aston Villa F.C. Reserves and Academy
Encyclopedia
Aston Villa Reserves are the reserve team of Aston Villa, they have been part of the FA Premier Reserve League
FA Premier Reserve League
The Premier Reserve League is the reserve team league for the top English football teams in the Premier League...

 since its foundation in 1999 and are current holders of the Premier Reserve League South
Premier Reserve League 2007-08
The 2007–08 Premier Reserve League season is the ninth since its establishment. The events in the senior leagues during the 2006–07 season saw Watford, Charlton and Sheffield United all relegated and replaced by the promoted teams Birmingham, Derby County, and Sunderland.Northern Champions...

 title. The team plays its home games at Villa Park
Villa Park
Villa Park may mean:United Kingdom* Villa Park, an association football stadium in Birmingham, EnglandUnited States* Villa Park, California, a small city in Orange County* Villa Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago in DuPage County...

 - during the months of Autumn and Spring - and the Greene King Stadium
De Montfort Park
De Montfort Park is the home of Hinckley United, an English football club from Hinckley, Leicestershire. The club currently plays in the Conference North....

 (home of Hinckley United) - during the winter months. In accordance with Villa's impressive youth development, the team has received success in recent years - as well as becoming victorious in the 2003/04 and 2007/08 seasons, the team has regularly sustained high positions along with the second-string becoming a place of learning for the likes of current first-teamers Ciaran Clark
Ciaran Clark
Ciaran Clark is an English-born Irish professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Aston Villa and the Republic of Ireland national football team...

, Barry Bannan
Barry Bannan
Barry Bannan is a Scottish professional footballer who plays for English Premier League club Aston Villa. He plays as a midfielder and is a Scotland full international, and also represented under-21 and B levels...

, Marc Albrighton
Marc Albrighton
Marc Kevin Albrighton is an English footballer who plays for Premier League side Aston Villa as a winger. He is most comfortable playing on the right side of midfield or as a right-winger, but is sufficiently effective on the left....

, Gabriel Agbonlahor
Gabriel Agbonlahor
Gabriel Imuetinyan "Gabby" Agbonlahor is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Aston Villa. Agbonlahor is a product of Aston Villa's Academy and has earned three caps for the English national team. He is currently the longest-serving player at Villa Park, joining as a youth player in...

, Nathan Delfouneso
Nathan Delfouneso
Nathan Abayomi Delfouneso is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Aston Villa. His natural playing position is as a striker, however he has been used as a winger throughout his career...

 and Eric Lichaj
Eric Lichaj
Eric Joseph Lichaj is an American soccer player who plays for Aston Villa. Lichaj also plays for the United States men's national team. He started his youth career playing for Chicago Magic and participated in the youth residency program at IMG Soccer Academy. He later played college soccer for...

, as well as former players Gary Cahill
Gary Cahill
Gary James Cahill is an English footballer who plays for Premier League club Bolton Wanderers and the England national football team.-Club career:...

, Lee Hendrie
Lee Hendrie
Lee Andrew Hendrie is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Kidderminster Harriers in the Football Conference. The majority of his career was spent with Premier League club Aston Villa, where he spent fourteen years and became known as a somewhat controversial figure...

, Darius Vassell
Darius Vassell
Darius Vassell is an English footballer who plays for Championship side Leicester City, having previously played for Aston Villa, Manchester City and Ankaragücü, as well as the England national team....

, Craig Gardner
Craig Gardner
Craig Gardner is an English footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Premier League club Sunderland. A versatile midfielder, Gardner can play in many different positions, although central midfield is his preferred position...

, Steven Davis
Steven Davis
Steven Davis is a Northern Irish association footballer who currently plays for Scottish Premier League club Rangers and the Northern Ireland national team...

 and Stephen O'Halloran
Stephen O'Halloran
Stephen Edward O'Halloran is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Carlisle United in League One, the third tier of English football. He began his professional career in the Premier League with Aston Villa and earned two full international caps for the Republic of Ireland in...

 amongst many others. The team is currently coached by Kevin MacDonald
Kevin MacDonald (footballer)
Kevin Duncan MacDonald is a Scottish former footballer who played in the Liverpool "double" winning side of 1986....

, but Aston Villa Youth Team coaches Gordon Cowans
Gordon Cowans
Gordon Sidney Cowans is an English retired football player and coach.Cowans started his career at Aston Villa as an apprentice in 1974, and signed as a professional in 1976...

 and Tony McAndrew
Tony McAndrew
Anthony "Tony" McAndrew is a Scottish former footballer who played as a defender in the Football League for Middlesbrough, Chelsea, Darlington and Hartlepool United, and in the North American Soccer League for the Vancouver Whitecaps...

 also have close links with the second string. The Reserve team is primarily made up of players aged 16–19 - in the priority of development. The team also regularly includes fringe first-team players and first-team players recovering from injury.

Matchday

The Reserve team play their league matches at Villa Park
Villa Park
Villa Park may mean:United Kingdom* Villa Park, an association football stadium in Birmingham, EnglandUnited States* Villa Park, California, a small city in Orange County* Villa Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago in DuPage County...

 or their training ground at Bodymoor Heath
Bodymoor Heath
Bodymoor Heath is a small village in the North Warwickshire district of the county of Warwickshire in England, situated on, and with a bridge over, the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal close to the much larger village of Kingsbury....

. During the winter months matches are held at Greene King Stadium
De Montfort Park
De Montfort Park is the home of Hinckley United, an English football club from Hinckley, Leicestershire. The club currently plays in the Conference North....

, home ground of Hinckley United.

History

Signs of the team date back to 1892, when Aston Villa Reserves joined the Birmingham & District League. After finishing in the runners-up position twice in the first 2 seasons of the competition, Villa finally won their first trophy in the 1894/95 season, amazingly winning 26 out of 30 league games and losing just once all season. Several titles followed after this achievement, including an extraordinary run of 8 consecutive titles between 1902 and 1910. When Villa finally left the Birmingham & District League in 1915, they had accumulated a total of 12 league titles and 6 runners-up finishes.

After that, the reserve team played in the Central League for many years, becoming champions in 1929-30, 1963-64 and 1992-93.

In 1999–2000, the FA Premier Reserve League
FA Premier Reserve League
The Premier Reserve League is the reserve team league for the top English football teams in the Premier League...

 was set up, Villa were one of the founding members, and were split into the Northern section of the league. Three disappointing seasons followed, however in the 2003/04 season - inspired by brothers Stefan Moore
Stefan Moore
Stefan Leroy Moore is an English footballer, currently playing with St Neots Town of the United Counties Football League....

 and Luke Moore
Luke Moore
Luke Moore is an English football striker who currently plays for Swansea City. Moore has represented England at U21 level and is the younger brother of fellow former professional footballer, Stefan Moore.-Aston Villa:...

 - Villa eased to their first title. In the two seasons which followed (04-05 and 05-06) - Villa agonisingly finished both campaigns as runners-up, both times to Manchester United. In the 2006/07 season, for the first time since its introduction, the FA Premier Reserve League
FA Premier Reserve League
The Premier Reserve League is the reserve team league for the top English football teams in the Premier League...

 excluded Coca-Cola Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...

 teams from playing in the league, with the 20 senior English Premiership teams parallelling the teams involved in the FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...

. This also meant that due to geographical circumstances, Aston Villa Reserves were switched from the Northern Division, to the Southern equivalent, for the first time since the start of the original format in 1999. Villa eventually finished 4th - winning 9 out of their 18 games, with Luke Moore
Luke Moore
Luke Moore is an English football striker who currently plays for Swansea City. Moore has represented England at U21 level and is the younger brother of fellow former professional footballer, Stefan Moore.-Aston Villa:...

 the top goalscorer, with 7. The season saw the impressive development of several youngsters, most notably including Zoltán Stieber
Zoltán Stieber
Zoltán Stieber is a Hungarian professional footballer who currently plays for Bundesliga side FSV Mainz 05 and the Hungary national football team....

, Shane Lowry
Shane Lowry (footballer)
Shane Thomas Lowry is an Irish-Australian professional football player who currently plays as a centre defender or left fullback for the Australia national football team and Millwall, on loan from Aston Villa...

 and Stephen O'Halloran
Stephen O'Halloran
Stephen Edward O'Halloran is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Carlisle United in League One, the third tier of English football. He began his professional career in the Premier League with Aston Villa and earned two full international caps for the Republic of Ireland in...

, all of which were rewarded with first-team opportunities in the pre-season fixtures, prior to the 2007/08 season
Premier League 2007–08
The 2007–08 Premier League season was the sixteenth since its establishment. The first matches of the season were played on 11 August 2007, and the season ended on 11 May 2008...

.

In the 2007/08 season
Premier Reserve League 2007-08
The 2007–08 Premier Reserve League season is the ninth since its establishment. The events in the senior leagues during the 2006–07 season saw Watford, Charlton and Sheffield United all relegated and replaced by the promoted teams Birmingham, Derby County, and Sunderland.Northern Champions...

, Aston Villa Reserves clinched the Southern title for the first time in their history, however they lost in the national final, losing 3-0 to Liverpool. This included the most goals scored by all 20 participating teams (38) and two 6-0 victories (against Chelsea
Chelsea F.C. Reserves and Youth Team
Chelsea F.C. Reserves are the reserve team of Chelsea Football Club. They are members of the Premier Reserve League Southern Division and the reigning champions of the Southern Division winning the Championship in 2010 - 11...

 and Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...

, home and away respectively). Swede Tobias Mikaelsson
Tobias Mikaelsson
Tobias Lars Mikaelsson is a Swedish footballer who currently plays for Swedish Superettan side Ljungskile SK.He started his professional career with Aston Villa in England in 2007. After loan spells with Ljungskile SK and Port Vale, he signed with Swedish side FC Trollhättan in 2009...

 was the top scorer with 8 goals, followed by strikers Nathan Delfouneso
Nathan Delfouneso
Nathan Abayomi Delfouneso is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Aston Villa. His natural playing position is as a striker, however he has been used as a winger throughout his career...

 and Marlon Harewood
Marlon Harewood
Marlon Anderson Harewood is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Guangzhou R&F in China.Harewood started his career at Nottingham Forest. During his career there, he had loan spells at Haka and Ipswich Town before joining West Ham United in 2003 and then Aston Villa in 2007...

 (4 each). Zoltán Stieber
Zoltán Stieber
Zoltán Stieber is a Hungarian professional footballer who currently plays for Bundesliga side FSV Mainz 05 and the Hungary national football team....

 and Nathan Baker
Nathan Baker (footballer)
Nathan Luke Baker is an English professional footballer who is contracted to Premier League side Aston Villa as a central defender or left back...

 both scored twice. The season was also notable for the impressive development of several young players, such as Nathan Delfouneso, Barry Bannan, Ciaran Clark and - most remarkably - the rise of young defender Nathan Baker, who stepped up from Under-16 level to Reserve regular inside a single season. Furthermore, Reserve regulars; Nathan Delfouneso, Marc Albrighton
Marc Albrighton
Marc Kevin Albrighton is an English footballer who plays for Premier League side Aston Villa as a winger. He is most comfortable playing on the right side of midfield or as a right-winger, but is sufficiently effective on the left....

, Elliot Parish and Nathan Baker were all rewarded for their efforts, with places on the summer tour of Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....

.

In the 2008/09 season
Premier Reserve League 2008-09
The 2008–09 Premier Reserve League is the tenth season since the establishment of the Premier Reserve League...

, Aston Villa retained their Southern title and beat North champions Sunderland 3-1 at Villa Park to be declared Premier Reserve League Champions for the 2008/09 season

In the 2009/10 season
2009–10 Premier Reserve League
The 2009–10 Premier Reserve League was the eleventh season since the establishment of the Premier Reserve League...

, Aston Villa won their third consecutive Southern title and lost to North Champions Manchester United 3-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw at Old Trafford in the Premier Reserve League Final 2009/10.

Current Reserve squad

Hong Kong Soccer Sevens

The yearly invitational seven-a-side tournament
HKFC International Soccer Sevens
The HKFC International Soccer Sevens is an annual 7-a-side football competition organized by Hong Kong Football Club at Hong Kong Football Club Soccer/Rugby Pitch.-Format:* The competition features two tournaments, Main Tournament and Masters Tournament...

 brings together the best youth and reserve sides in the world, and this competition has brought notable success to Aston Villa in the past - with a squad of reserve and youth players fielded for the 3 day event.

Villa - inspired by Stephen Cooke
Stephen Cooke
Stephen Cooke is a footballer currently signed to Pelsall Villa in the Midland Football Combination Premier Division, where he plays as a midfielder...

 and Steven Foley
Steven Foley-Sheridan
Steven Foley-Sheridan is an Irish footballer who was with AFC Bournemouth. He plays in midfield and featured in Aston Villa's FA Youth Cup win in 2002, and in their run to the final two years later. He joined from Aston Villa to Bournemouth on loan in late 2005. He later signed a permanent deal at...

 clinched the trophy in the final against Manchester United in 2004 for their first success. Striker Gabriel Agbonlahor
Gabriel Agbonlahor
Gabriel Imuetinyan "Gabby" Agbonlahor is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Aston Villa. Agbonlahor is a product of Aston Villa's Academy and has earned three caps for the English national team. He is currently the longest-serving player at Villa Park, joining as a youth player in...

 captained Villa to the semi-final in 2006 - losing to the eventual winners Urawa Red Diamonds
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...

 - and also received the 'Player Of The Tournament' accolade. Villa won the competition again in May 2007, beating Central Coast Mariners of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

 in the final, with Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...

 playmaker Zoltán Stieber
Zoltán Stieber
Zoltán Stieber is a Hungarian professional footballer who currently plays for Bundesliga side FSV Mainz 05 and the Hungary national football team....

 winning 'Player Of The Tournament'. Villa then went onto win the competition again a year later, defeating Yau Yee Select, Bulova Rangers and PSV Eindhoven in the group stages. Further victories against Eastleigh
Eastleigh F.C.
Eastleigh Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Eastleigh, Hampshire. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Silverlake Stadium.-History:...

, Australian Institute of Sport and Glasgow Celtic in the final, ensured the title was regained. Additionally, young Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

 midfielder Barry Bannan won the 'Player Of The Tournament' accolade.
Aston Villa won the tournament in 2008 and reached the Semi-final in 2009. Most recently Villa won the tournament in 2010.

Honours

Birmingham & District League
  • Winners:
    • 1894/95, 1895/96, 1899/00, 1902/03, 1903/04, 1904/05, 1905/06, 1906/07, 1907/08, 1908/09, 1909/10, 1911/12.
  • Runners-Up:
    • 1892/93, 1893/94, 1897/98, 1898/99, 1900/01, 1910/11.


Birmingham Senior Cup
Birmingham Senior Cup
The Birmingham Senior Cup is a football competition for Birmingham County FA club teams, organized by the Birmingham County Football Association...

  • Winners:
    • 1879/80, 1881/82, 1882/83, 1883/84, 1884/85, 1887/88, 1888/89, 1889/90, 1890/91, 1895/96, 1898/99, 1902/03, 1903/04, 1905/06, 1907/08, 1908/09, 1909/10, 1911/12, 1984/85.
  • Runners-Up:
    • 1875/86, 1880/81, 1892/93, 1894/95, 1900/01, 1901/02, 1923/24, 1982/83, 1994/95, 1995/96.


FA Premier Reserve League North
FA Premier Reserve League
The Premier Reserve League is the reserve team league for the top English football teams in the Premier League...

  • Winners:
    • 2003/04.
  • Runners-Up:
    • 2004/05, 2005/06.


FA Premier Reserve League South
FA Premier Reserve League
The Premier Reserve League is the reserve team league for the top English football teams in the Premier League...

  • Winners:
    • 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10.


FA Premier Reserve League
FA Premier Reserve League
The Premier Reserve League is the reserve team league for the top English football teams in the Premier League...

  • Winners:
    • 2008/09.
  • Runners-Up:
    • 2007/08, 2009/10.


HKFC International Soccer Sevens
HKFC International Soccer Sevens
The HKFC International Soccer Sevens is an annual 7-a-side football competition organized by Hong Kong Football Club at Hong Kong Football Club Soccer/Rugby Pitch.-Format:* The competition features two tournaments, Main Tournament and Masters Tournament...

  • Winners:
    • 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010.

Aston Villa Academy

Aston Villa Academy is the youth development system of Premier League team Aston Villa, it covers the age of under-18's - and for the 2007/08 season
Premier Academy League 2007-08
The 2007–08 Premier Academy League season is the tenth since its establishment, and the fourth under the current name and make-up. Aston Villa were crowned the 2007–08 Premier Academy League Champions after beating Manchester City 2–0 in the Play-off Final, with goals from James Collins and Chris...

 - participated in Group B of the FA Premier Academy League. Victories over Arsenal
Arsenal F.C. Academy
Arsenal Football Club Academy are the youth team of Arsenal Football Club. They currently play in the FA Premier Academy League, the highest level of youth football in England...

 and Manchester City
Manchester City F.C. Reserves and Academy
Manchester City is represented at Reserve level by the Elite Development Squad, also referred to as just the Elite Squad, or EDS, a predominantly 'Under-21' side that replaced the previous Reserve team in a move to focus on youth development post-academy...

 subsequently earnt Villa the national Academy title in 2007/08.

In the 2007/08 season
Premier Academy League 2007-08
The 2007–08 Premier Academy League season is the tenth since its establishment, and the fourth under the current name and make-up. Aston Villa were crowned the 2007–08 Premier Academy League Champions after beating Manchester City 2–0 in the Play-off Final, with goals from James Collins and Chris...

 Villa clinched top spot in Group B, impressively notching the most wins (22), most points (68) and most goals (84) of all 41 clubs involved. Villa's youngsters were drawn against Group A winners Arsenal
Arsenal F.C. Academy
Arsenal Football Club Academy are the youth team of Arsenal Football Club. They currently play in the FA Premier Academy League, the highest level of youth football in England...

 in the semi-final, which was won via a single strike from Nathan Delfouneso
Nathan Delfouneso
Nathan Abayomi Delfouneso is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Aston Villa. His natural playing position is as a striker, however he has been used as a winger throughout his career...

. This subsequently meant a final against FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...

 winners Manchester City
Manchester City F.C. Reserves and Academy
Manchester City is represented at Reserve level by the Elite Development Squad, also referred to as just the Elite Squad, or EDS, a predominantly 'Under-21' side that replaced the previous Reserve team in a move to focus on youth development post-academy...

, which was comprehensively won 2-0, with goals from James Collins and Chris Herd
Chris Herd
Christopher "Chris" Herd is an Australian football player who plays for Premier League club Aston Villa. He has also represented his country at under-20 level...

. The top scorers for the season were striker David Sherman-Hay ( 18) [ Russia, and United States player], James Collins (23), Austrian
Austrians
Austrians are a nation and ethnic group, consisting of the population of the Republic of Austria and its historical predecessor states who share a common Austrian culture and Austrian descent....

 striker Andreas Weimann
Andreas Weimann
Andreas "Andi" Weimann is an Austrian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League side Aston Villa.-Rapid Vienna:...

 (16), Nathan Delfouneso
Nathan Delfouneso
Nathan Abayomi Delfouneso is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Aston Villa. His natural playing position is as a striker, however he has been used as a winger throughout his career...

 (15) and Scot Barry Bannan
Barry Bannan
Barry Bannan is a Scottish professional footballer who plays for English Premier League club Aston Villa. He plays as a midfielder and is a Scotland full international, and also represented under-21 and B levels...

 (13).

As well as this, Villa also reached the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...

, eventually being knocked out by eventual runners-up Chelsea
Chelsea F.C. Reserves and Youth Team
Chelsea F.C. Reserves are the reserve team of Chelsea Football Club. They are members of the Premier Reserve League Southern Division and the reigning champions of the Southern Division winning the Championship in 2010 - 11...

, and were victorious in the prestigious Ergenzingen Tournament in May 2008. A draw against HNK Hajduk Split
HNK Hajduk Split
HNK Hajduk Split, commonly referred to as Hajduk Split or simply Hajduk, is a Croatian football club founded in 1911 and based in the city of Split. The club's home ground since 1979 is the 35,000-seater Poljud Stadium and the team's traditional home colours are white shirts with blue shorts and...

, and subsequent victories against Ergenzingen FC and São Paulo FC, placed them in a semi-final against FC Thun. A 1-0 victory earnt them a final against FSV Mainz
1. FSV Mainz 05
1. Fußball- und Sportverein Mainz 05 e. V., usually shortened to 1. FSV Mainz 05, Mainz 05, or simply Mainz, is a 1905 founded German association football club based in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate. In addition to the football section the 1. FSV Mainz 05 has a handball and table tennis department...

, where a late strike by Harry Forrester won the Villains the trophy.

The 2008/09 season
Premier Academy League 2008-09
The 2008–09 Premier Academy League Under–18 season was the twelfth edition since the establishment of The Premier Academy League, and the fifth under the current make-up. The first matches of the season were played on 23 August 2008, and the season ended on 18 May 2009.All teams played the other...

 was less fruitful for Villa's youngsters, as they finished 3rd in Group B, and were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup at the first hurdle, losing in the Third Round to eventual champions Arsenal
Arsenal F.C. Academy
Arsenal Football Club Academy are the youth team of Arsenal Football Club. They currently play in the FA Premier Academy League, the highest level of youth football in England...

.

The team train at Bodymoor Heath
Bodymoor Heath
Bodymoor Heath is a small village in the North Warwickshire district of the county of Warwickshire in England, situated on, and with a bridge over, the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal close to the much larger village of Kingsbury....

 in North Warwickshire
North Warwickshire
North Warwickshire is a local government district and borough in Warwickshire, England. The main town in the district is Atherstone where the council is based...

 and also play their home matches there on weekends. The system has been very productive in recent years, heavily down to the influence of Head Youth Team Coach Gordon Cowans
Gordon Cowans
Gordon Sidney Cowans is an English retired football player and coach.Cowans started his career at Aston Villa as an apprentice in 1974, and signed as a professional in 1976...

 and Youth Team Coach Tony McAndrew
Tony McAndrew
Anthony "Tony" McAndrew is a Scottish former footballer who played as a defender in the Football League for Middlesbrough, Chelsea, Darlington and Hartlepool United, and in the North American Soccer League for the Vancouver Whitecaps...

.

Staff

  • Academy Coach:   Tony McAndrew
    Tony McAndrew
    Anthony "Tony" McAndrew is a Scottish former footballer who played as a defender in the Football League for Middlesbrough, Chelsea, Darlington and Hartlepool United, and in the North American Soccer League for the Vancouver Whitecaps...

  • Academy Coach: Brian O'Connell
    Brian O'Connell
    Brian O'Connell is an Irish sportsman. He plays hurling with his local club Wolfe Tones na Sionna and represented the Clare senior hurling team from 2003 to 2010. O'Connell captained this team for three years including a Munster final appearance against Tipperary in 2008. O'Connell is better known...

  • Academy Director:   Bryan Jones
  • Assistant Academy Director:   Steve Burns
  • Academy Goalkeeper Coach:   Rafael González-Robles
    Rafael González-Robles
    Rafael González Robles, commonly known as Rafa , is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper.11 of his professional seasons were spent at Oviedo and Málaga, but he only served as backup for 10 of those; after retiring, he became a goalkeeper's coach, notably in England.-Football...

  • Head of Education and Welfare:   Paul Brackwell

Current Academy squad

Player DOB Position International Caps Previous Club
2nd Year Scholars (players born between September 1, 1992 and August 31, 1993)
  Gary Gardner June 29, 1992 Midfielder Capped at U-16, U-17, U-19, U-20 and U-21 level Trainee
  Jason Lampkin April 24, 1992 Midfielder Capped at U-16 level Manchester United
  Benjamin Siegrist January 31, 1992 Goalkeeper Capped at U-16, U-17, U-18 and U-19 level FC Basel
FC Basel
Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. They are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 14 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the...

  András Stieber October 8, 1991 Midfielder Goldball '94 FC
1st Year Scholars (players born between September 1, 1993 and August 31, 1994))
  Callum Barratt September 1, 1993 Goalkeeper Trainee
  Joshua Barton March 23, 1994 Midfielder Capped at U-15 and U-16 Level Cliftonville
Cliftonville F.C.
Cliftonville Football & Athletic Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. Founded on 20 September 1879 by John McCredy McAlery in the suburb of Cliftonville in north Belfast, it is the oldest football club in Ireland and celebrated its 130th...

  Liam Bateman Defender Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...

 
  Richard Bryan November 5, 1993 Defender Capped at U-16 and U-17 Level Trainee
  Graham Burke September 21, 1993 Forward Capped at U-19 Level Belvedere F.C.
  Riccardo Calder Trainee
  Courtney Cameron January 3, 1993 Midfielder Northampton Town
  Samir Carruthers April 4, 1993 Midfielder Capped at U-19 level Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...

  Mason Clarke Trainee
  Matthew Coton September 21, 1993 Goalkeeper West Bromwich Albion F.C
  Alfie Crooks Forward Trainee
  Darious Darkin Midfielder Trainee
  Juan José Serrano de la Cruz Vidal Midfielder Capped at U-16 Level RCD Espanyol
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...

  Daniel Devine May 8, 1993 Defender Capped at U-15 and U-16 Level Crumlin United
Crumlin United F.C.
Crumlin United Football Club is a Northern Irish football club playing in Division 1A of the Northern Amateur Football League. The club was founded in 1968 and played in the Lisburn League, Ballymena Premier League and Dunmurry League before joining the Amateur League in 1986...

  Michael Drennan Forward Capped at U-15, U-16 and U-17 level Evergreen FC
  Umit Eminoglu September 14, 1994 Forward Trainee
  Jordan Graham March 5, 1995 Midfielder Capped at U-16 level Trainee
Jack Grealish Midfielder Capped at U-15 and U-17 level Trainee
  Craig Hill Goalkeeper Chelsea
  Ben Hodges August 21, 1996 Defender Trainee
  Jamie Hunt Forward Trainee
  Sebastian Jenkins Defender Trainee
  Daniel Johnson October 8, 1992 Midfielder Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...

  Bradley Lewis Defender Trainee
  Malcolm Melvin Midfielder Trainee
  Connor Mooney August 13, 1994 Forward Trainee
  Ebby Nelson-Addy September 13, 1992 Midfielder Trainee
  Joe Read Midfielder Trainee
  Callum Robinson Midfielder Trainee
  Oliver Stevenson Defender Trainee
  Connor Taylor September 5, 1992 Forward Coventry Sphinx
  Charles Ward January 3, 1993 Defender Capped at U-16 Level Trainee
  Javed Islam November 14, 1993 Midfielder N/A
  Bradley Watkins September 11, 1994 Goalkeeper Capped at U-16 and U-17 Level Trainee
  Joshua Webb Defender Capped at U-16 Level Trainee
  Derrick Williams January 17, 1993 Defender Capped at U-19 Level Tramore AFC

Honours

FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...

  • Winners:
    • 1972, 1980, 2002.

  • Runners-Up:
    • 1978, 2004.


FA Premier Academy League U17s
  • Winners:
    • 2003/04.


FA Premier Academy League U18s: Group B
  • Winners:
    • 2007/08.
    • 2010/11.


FA Premier Academy League U18s: Play-Offs
  • Winners:
    • 2007/08.


Ergenzingen Tournament
  • Winners:
    • 2008.

  • Runners-Up:
    • 2007.

Notable Academy Graduates

The following players have all progressed through the youth ranks at Aston Villa and made at least one appearance for the first team in professional competition. Players in bold are still contracted to the club.
Player DOB Position First-Team Debut First-Team Appearances First-Team Goals Current Club
  Nathan Baker
Nathan Baker (footballer)
Nathan Luke Baker is an English professional footballer who is contracted to Premier League side Aston Villa as a central defender or left back...

April 23, 1991 Defender January 25, 2011 (vs Wigan Athletic) Ongoing Ongoing Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...

 (On loan from Aston Villa)
  Chris Herd
Chris Herd
Christopher "Chris" Herd is an Australian football player who plays for Premier League club Aston Villa. He has also represented his country at under-20 level...

April 4, 1989 Midfielder November 13, 2010 (vs Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...

)
Ongoing Ongoing Aston Villa
  Jonathan Hogg
Jonathan Hogg
Jonathan Lee Hogg is an English footballer who plays for Watford as a central midfielder. He previously played for Aston Villa, and spent periods on loan at Darlington and Portsmouth.-Aston Villa:...

December 6, 1988 Midfielder November 13, 2010 (vs Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...

)
7 0 Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...

  Andreas Weimann
Andreas Weimann
Andreas "Andi" Weimann is an Austrian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League side Aston Villa.-Rapid Vienna:...

August 5, 1991 Forward August 14, 2010 (vs West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...

)
Ongoing Ongoing Aston Villa
Ciaran Clark
Ciaran Clark
Ciaran Clark is an English-born Irish professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Aston Villa and the Republic of Ireland national football team...

September 26, 1989 Defender August 30, 2009 (vs Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...

)
Ongoing Ongoing Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...

  Shane Lowry
Shane Lowry (footballer)
Shane Thomas Lowry is an Irish-Australian professional football player who currently plays as a centre defender or left fullback for the Australia national football team and Millwall, on loan from Aston Villa...

June 12, 1989 Defender August 20, 2009 (vs Rapid Vienna
SK Rapid Wien
The Sportklub Rapid Wien is an Austrian football club playing in the country's capital city of Vienna. Rapid is the most popular club in Austria and also record title holder having won the Austrian national football title 32 times...

)
Ongoing Ongoing Aston Villa
  Marc Albrighton
Marc Albrighton
Marc Kevin Albrighton is an English footballer who plays for Premier League side Aston Villa as a winger. He is most comfortable playing on the right side of midfield or as a right-winger, but is sufficiently effective on the left....

November 18, 1989 Midfielder February 26, 2009 (vs CSKA Moscow) Ongoing Ongoing Aston Villa
  Barry Bannan
Barry Bannan
Barry Bannan is a Scottish professional footballer who plays for English Premier League club Aston Villa. He plays as a midfielder and is a Scotland full international, and also represented under-21 and B levels...

December 1, 1989 Midfielder December 17, 2008 (vs Hamburger SV
Hamburger SV
Hamburger Sport-Verein, usually referred to as HSV in Germany and Hamburg in international parlance, is a German multi-sport club based in Hamburg, its largest branch being its football department...

)
Ongoing Ongoing Aston Villa
  Nathan Delfouneso
Nathan Delfouneso
Nathan Abayomi Delfouneso is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Aston Villa. His natural playing position is as a striker, however he has been used as a winger throughout his career...

February 2, 1991 Forward August 14, 2008 (vs FH
Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar
Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar, commonly referred to as FH, is Icelandic football club based in Hafnarfjörður.- Overview :The team are perhaps best known outside Iceland for beating Scottish side Dunfermline in the qualifying rounds of the 2004/05 UEFA Cup 4–3 on aggregate...

)
Ongoing Ongoing Aston Villa
  Isaiah Osbourne November 15, 1987 Midfielder October 21, 2006 (vs Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...

)
30 0 Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...

  Gary Cahill
Gary Cahill
Gary James Cahill is an English footballer who plays for Premier League club Bolton Wanderers and the England national football team.-Club career:...

December 19, 1985 Defender April 1, 2006 (vs Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...

)
31 1 Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....

  Gabriel Agbonlahor
Gabriel Agbonlahor
Gabriel Imuetinyan "Gabby" Agbonlahor is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Aston Villa. Agbonlahor is a product of Aston Villa's Academy and has earned three caps for the English national team. He is currently the longest-serving player at Villa Park, joining as a youth player in...

October 13, 1986 Forward March 18, 2006 (vs Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...

)
Ongoing Ongoing Aston Villa
  Craig Gardner
Craig Gardner
Craig Gardner is an English footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Premier League club Sunderland. A versatile midfielder, Gardner can play in many different positions, although central midfield is his preferred position...

November 25, 1986 Midfielder December 26, 2005 (vs Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...

)
80 6 Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...

  Steven Davis
Steven Davis
Steven Davis is a Northern Irish association footballer who currently plays for Scottish Premier League club Rangers and the Northern Ireland national team...

January 1, 1985 Midfielder September 18, 2004 (vs Norwich City) 102 9 Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...

  Luke Moore
Luke Moore
Luke Moore is an English football striker who currently plays for Swansea City. Moore has represented England at U21 level and is the younger brother of fellow former professional footballer, Stefan Moore.-Aston Villa:...

February 13, 1986 Forward February 22, 2004 (vs Birmingham City) 98 14 Swansea City
  Peter Whittingham September 8, 1984 Midfielder April 23, 2003 (vs Newcastle United) 66 2 Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...

  Liam Ridgewell
Liam Ridgewell
Liam Matthew Ridgewell is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Birmingham City. He is primarily a centre half but can also play at left back. Previously a player for Birmingham's arch-rivals Aston Villa, Ridgewell also spent a spell on loan at A.F.C. Bournemouth in 2002.-Early...

July 21, 1984 Defender January 4, 2003 (vs Blackburn Rovers) 93 7 Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...

  Rob Edwards December 25, 1982 Defender December 28, 2002 (vs Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...

)
9 0 Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...

  Stefan Moore
Stefan Moore
Stefan Leroy Moore is an English footballer, currently playing with St Neots Town of the United Counties Football League....

September 28, 1983 Forward September 11, 2002 (vs Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...

)
30 2 St Neots Town
St Neots Town F.C.
St Neots Town F.C. is an English football club based in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. The club are currently members of Division One Central of the Southern League and play at New Rowley Park.-History:...

  Thomas Hitzlsperger
Thomas Hitzlsperger
Thomas Hitzlsperger is a German footballer who plays as a midfielder. He plays for Bundesliga club Wolfsburg after signing a three-year deal on 17 August 2011. Hitzlsperger spent the early part of his career playing for Aston Villa in England , before returning to Germany to play for Stuttgart...

April 5, 1982 Midfielder January 13, 2001 (vs Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...

)
114 12 Wolfsburg
VfL Wolfsburg
VfL Wolfsburg is a professional German association football club based in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, who play in the Bundesliga football competition. Wolfsburg have won the Bundesliga once in their history, in the 2008–09 season, and were DFB-Pokal runners-up in 1995. The current head coach is Felix...

  Stephen Cooke
Stephen Cooke
Stephen Cooke is a footballer currently signed to Pelsall Villa in the Midland Football Combination Premier Division, where he plays as a midfielder...

February 15, 1982 Midfielder August 2, 2000 (vs Celta de Vigo
Celta de Vigo
Real Club Celta de Vigo , simply referred to as Celta Vigo, is a Spanish professional football club based in Vigo, Galicia, currently playing in the Segunda División. It was founded on March 28, 1923 following the merger of Real Vigo Sporting and Real Fortuna Foot-ball Club.Nicknamed Los Celestes ,...

)
4 0 Pelsall Villa
Pelsall Villa F.C.
Pelsall Villa F.C. are a football club based in the village of Pelsall, near Walsall, West Midlands, England, currently playing in the Midland Football Combination Premier Division. They are nicknamed The Villains and play at The Bush Ground...

  Jonathan Bewers September 10, 1982 Defender April 15, 2000 (vs Tottenham Hotspur) 1 0 Unattached
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....

  Gareth Barry
Gareth Barry
Gareth Barry is an English footballer who plays for Manchester City and the England national football team.Barry moved to Aston Villa from Brighton & Hove Albion as a youngster, and spent 12 years at the club. He captained Aston Villa, and, at the end of his career with the club, lay eighth in...

February 23, 1981 Midfielder May 2, 1998 (vs Sheffield Wednesday) 441 52 Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...

  Adam Rachel
Adam Rachel
Adam Rachel is an English professional football goalkeeper currently playing for Conference North side Solihull Moors....

December 10, 1976 Goalkeeper December 26, 1998 (vs Blackburn Rovers) 1 0 Unattached
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....

  Darius Vassell
Darius Vassell
Darius Vassell is an English footballer who plays for Championship side Leicester City, having previously played for Aston Villa, Manchester City and Ankaragücü, as well as the England national team....

June 13, 1980 Forward August 23, 1998 (vs Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...

)
201 45 Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...

  Darren Byfield
Darren Byfield
Darren Asherton Byfield is an English-born professional footballer of Jamaican descent who played for Walsall. His predominant position is as a forward.-Career:...

September 29, 1979 Forward December 28, 1997 (vs Leeds United) 10 0 Unattached
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....

  Richard Walker
Richard Walker (footballer born 1977)
Richard Martin Walker is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Conference North side Solihull Moors.-Early Career:...

November 8, 1977 Forward December 28, 1997 (vs Leeds United) 10 2 Solihull Moors
Solihull Moors F.C.
Solihull Moors F.C. is an English football club, founded in 2007 by the merger of Moor Green and Solihull Borough.The club plays its games at Damson Park, Solihull and competes in the Conference North.-History:...

  Lee Hendrie
Lee Hendrie
Lee Andrew Hendrie is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Kidderminster Harriers in the Football Conference. The majority of his career was spent with Premier League club Aston Villa, where he spent fourteen years and became known as a somewhat controversial figure...

May 18, 1977 Midfielder December 23, 1995 (vs Queens Park Rangers) 308 32 Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...

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