Birmingham City F.C. Reserves and Academy
Encyclopedia
Birmingham City F.C. Reserves and Academy are the reserve team
and the youth development system
respectively of Birmingham City Football Club
. The reserve team, established in 1879, played in the Premier Reserve League South in the 2009–10 season but have not entered a league since. The Academy, established in its current form in 1999, trains boys in age groups from under 9s through to under 18s, and runs an Under-18 team which competes in the Premier Academy League
.
es until gaining a place in the Birmingham & District League in 1893. In their third season they finished in runners-up spot, an achievement repeated in 1907 and 1921. In 1915 they were runaway winners of the league; in the 34-game season they scored 160 goals, of which Charlie Duncan scored 52. In 1921–22
, following the reorganisation associated with the formation of the Third Division North
, they joined the Central League
, which now consisted of reserve teams of northern Football League clubs. In 1947–48
they lost their place to Barnsley
, so joined the Football Combination
, the equivalent reserve league for teams in the southern half of the country, rejoining an expanded Central League in 1982.
Since the 1999–2000
season, the league played in by the reserve team has depended on the league position of the club's first team. Relegation for the first team in 2006 meant the reserves dropped out of the Premier Reserve League into the Central League for 2006–07
; they finished top of the Central Division of that League.
Promotion back to the Premier League for the first team meant that for 2007–08
the reserves were placed in the Southern Division of the Premier Reserve League. Birmingham City fields its reserve team in the Birmingham Senior Cup
, which it has won on twelve occasions, most recently in 2008 after a 5–0 win over Burton Albion
.
Following the first team's relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2007–08 season, the reserve team was no longer eligible to play in the Premier Reserve League. The option to enter the Central League was not taken up, the club deciding instead not to enter the reserves in a league, but to play only friendly matches and the Birmingham Senior Cup. When the first team gained promotion back to the Premier League the following year, the reserve team resumed its place in the Premier Reserve League South, in which they finished seventh of nine. They have not entered a league since.
The reserve team's playing staff consists of younger players and those on the fringe of the first-team squad, augmented by first-team players recovering from injury and academy players gaining experience. They played most of their league matches at Damson Park
, the home ground of Solihull Moors
; they sometimes played at St Andrew's, for instance when an unusually high attendance is expected. Friendlies are often played behind closed doors at the club's training ground.
in the belief, according to manager Barry Fry
, that the Bosman ruling
meant "they may invest a substantial sum in producing a player who was then picked off, without cost, by a rival club", and the £250,000 annual saving would be better spent bringing in players from outside.
Fry's successor as manager, Trevor Francis
, insisted that the system should be reinstated and brought in Brian Eastick
to oversee the process; by 1999 the club had met the Football Association
's criteria and received a licence to operate an Academy.
Since the youth system was re-established, a number of players have graduated to careers in League football at Birmingham or elsewhere, some examples being Darren Carter
, Craig Fagan
, Andrew Johnson, Marcos Painter
and Mat Sadler.
Academy products who have represented their country include Colin Doyle (Republic of Ireland
),
David Howland
(Northern Ireland U-21
),
Sone Aluko
(England U-19
),
Krystian Pearce
(2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup
with England U-17
),
and Aaron Moses-Garvey
, whose St Kitts and Nevis U-20
side reached the final qualifying round for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup
and who made his full international debut in February 2008. In the 2009–10 season, goalkeeper Jack Butland was part of the England under-17 team that won the 2010 European championships
, and Will Packwood played for the USA
at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup
.
Terry Westley
was appointed Academy manager in 2006. In his first season, he presided over the under-18 side reaching the quarter final of the FA Youth Cup
, and two years later they reached the semifinal of the same competition. After completing a report to the club's board of directors, which contained recommendations needed to "push [the Academy] to the next level", Westley left the club by mutual consent in February 2011. He was succeeded by his assistant Kristjaan Speakman on a caretaker
basis.
The Academy teams play their matches at the club's training ground, Wast Hills, at Kings Norton
, south Birmingham.
during the 2011–12 season. Those marked as academy players were named in matchday squads for the Premier Academy League
or FA Youth Cup
. Triallists and regular first-team players are excluded; those who have only been unused substitutes are marked accordingly. Note that the list may be incomplete because the club's match reports do not always include a full team sheet. Squad number
s, where present, refer to the first team squad; reserve and youth teams do not have squad numbers. In 2011–12, the club gave squad numbers to many reserve and academy players to ensure their availability as B-list players for their Europa League
campaign.
Reserve team players last updated for match played 9 August 2011:
Academy players last updated for match played 27 August 2011:
Key
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
and the youth development system
Youth system
Youth system is a sporting terminology used to refer to a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads numbers in some teams...
respectively of Birmingham City Football Club
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...
. The reserve team, established in 1879, played in the Premier Reserve League South in the 2009–10 season but have not entered a league since. The Academy, established in its current form in 1999, trains boys in age groups from under 9s through to under 18s, and runs an Under-18 team which competes in the Premier Academy League
Premier Academy League
The Premier Academy League is the top level of youth football in England. It is contested between the Academy sides of The Premier League and some Football League clubs, including Welsh side Cardiff City...
.
Reserves
Birmingham City have had a reserve team since 1879. They played friendly matchExhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
es until gaining a place in the Birmingham & District League in 1893. In their third season they finished in runners-up spot, an achievement repeated in 1907 and 1921. In 1915 they were runaway winners of the league; in the 34-game season they scored 160 goals, of which Charlie Duncan scored 52. In 1921–22
1921-22 in English football
The 1921–22 season was the 47th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The league underwent a major expansion for the second consecutive season, adding 20 teams from the Midlands and Northern England. They were placed in the new Third Division North, and the existing southern-based...
, following the reorganisation associated with the formation of the Third Division North
Football League Third Division North
The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
, they joined the Central League
Central League (football)
The Central League , is a football league in England for reserve teams primarily of Football League clubs in the Midlands and North of England....
, which now consisted of reserve teams of northern Football League clubs. In 1947–48
1947-48 in English football
The 1947–48 season was the 68th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
they lost their place to 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...
, so joined the Football Combination
Football Combination
The Football Combination , is a football competition for the reserve teams of English Football League clubs from Southern England and Wales...
, the equivalent reserve league for teams in the southern half of the country, rejoining an expanded Central League in 1982.
Since the 1999–2000
1999-2000 in English football
-Premier League:Manchester United were crowned FA Premier League champions with an 18-point margin over runners-up Arsenal and with just 3 league defeats all season. This was despite their failure to retain the European Cup and withdrawal from the FA Cup in order to compete in the FIFA Club World...
season, the league played in by the reserve team has depended on the league position of the club's first team. Relegation for the first team in 2006 meant the reserves dropped out of the Premier Reserve League into the Central League for 2006–07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
; they finished top of the Central Division of that League.
Promotion back to the Premier League for the first team meant that for 2007–08
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
the reserves were placed in the Southern Division of the Premier Reserve League. Birmingham City fields its reserve team in the 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...
, which it has won on twelve occasions, most recently in 2008 after a 5–0 win over Burton Albion
Burton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005...
.
Following the first team's relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2007–08 season, the reserve team was no longer eligible to play in the Premier Reserve League. The option to enter the Central League was not taken up, the club deciding instead not to enter the reserves in a league, but to play only friendly matches and the Birmingham Senior Cup. When the first team gained promotion back to the Premier League the following year, the reserve team resumed its place in the Premier Reserve League South, in which they finished seventh of nine. They have not entered a league since.
The reserve team's playing staff consists of younger players and those on the fringe of the first-team squad, augmented by first-team players recovering from injury and academy players gaining experience. They played most of their league matches at Damson Park
Damson Park
Damson Park is a stadium in Damson Parkway, Solihull, West Midlands, England. It was the traditional home of Solihull Borough F.C. before they merged to become Solihull Moors. They currently share Damson Park with Birmingham and Solihull Bees and also have an agreement that allows Birmingham City...
, the home ground of 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:...
; they sometimes played at St Andrew's, for instance when an unusually high attendance is expected. Friendlies are often played behind closed doors at the club's training ground.
Academy
In 1996, the directors of Birmingham City dismantled their youth development systemYouth system
Youth system is a sporting terminology used to refer to a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads numbers in some teams...
in the belief, according to manager Barry Fry
Barry Fry
Barry Francis Fry is an English football manager. A former Manchester United apprentice as a winger, his playing career involved brief spells with Bolton Wanderers, Luton Town and Leyton Orient, before he retired prematurely due to injury.He has managed Dunstable Town, Bedford Town, Maidstone...
, that the Bosman ruling
Bosman ruling
Union Royale Belge des Sociétés de Football Association ASBL v Jean-Marc Bosman is a 1995 European Court of Justice decision concerning freedom of movement for workers, freedom of association, and direct effect of article 39 of the EC Treaty...
meant "they may invest a substantial sum in producing a player who was then picked off, without cost, by a rival club", and the £250,000 annual saving would be better spent bringing in players from outside.
Fry's successor as manager, Trevor Francis
Trevor Francis
Trevor John Francis , is a former footballer who won the European Cup with Nottingham Forest and played for England 52 times. He was England's first £1 million player...
, insisted that the system should be reinstated and brought in Brian Eastick
Brian Eastick
Brian Eastick is an association football coach. Since 2009 he has been head coach of the England under-20 team.-Playing career:As a young player at Crystal Palace, Eastick was capped at England under-18 level.-Coaching career:...
to oversee the process; by 1999 the club had met the Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
's criteria and received a licence to operate an Academy.
Since the youth system was re-established, a number of players have graduated to careers in League football at Birmingham or elsewhere, some examples being Darren Carter
Darren Carter
Darren Anthony Carter is an English football midfielder who is a free agent after his contract with Preston North End expired at the end of the 2010–11 season.-Career:...
, Craig Fagan
Craig Fagan
Craig Anthony Fagan is an English footballer who plays for Bradford City. He can play as a forward or on the wing.-Early career:Fagan began his football career as an under-nine with Birmingham City...
, Andrew Johnson, Marcos Painter
Marcos Painter
Marcos David Painter is a footballer who is currently contracted to Brighton & Hove Albion.-Career:Born in Birmingham, Painter was brought up in the Chelmsley Wood area of Solihull and attended the Archbishop Grimshaw secondary school....
and Mat Sadler.
Academy products who have represented their country include Colin Doyle (Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
),
David Howland
David Howland
David Howland is a Northern Irish professional football midfielder who plays for Glentoran in the IFA Premiership. He has represented his country at under-21 level....
(Northern Ireland U-21
Northern Ireland national under-21 football team
The Northern Ireland national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Northern Ireland.-Former coaches:* To 20 August 2008.-2008/09 Matches:-Current squad:Squad to play San Marino.-Other Recent Call-Ups:...
),
Sone Aluko
Sone Aluko
Omatsone "Sone" Aluko is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Scottish Premier League club Rangers. Aluko began his career at Birmingham City but failed to make any league appearances. He joined Aberdeen on loan in the 2007–2008 season and was loaned to Blackpool at the...
(England U-19
England national under-19 football team
-Other matches:-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the friendly match against Denmark.- Recent call-ups :The following players have also been called up to the England under-19 squad and remain eligible.-Past squads:...
),
Krystian Pearce
Krystian Pearce
Krystian Mitchell Victor Pearce is an English professional footballer who plays for Notts County as a central defender. He had an earlier spell on loan at Notts County, and also played in the Football League for Port Vale, Scunthorpe United, Peterborough United and Huddersfield Town...
(2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup
2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup
The FIFA U-17 World Cup 2007 was held in the Korea Republic between 18 August and 9 September 2007. For this event, the number of teams had been expanded from 16 to 24, with the top two of each group and the four best third-place teams advancing to the Round of 16...
with England U-17
England national under-17 football team
-Elite Qualifying Group 3:-Group stage:-Fifth place play-off:-FA International U17 Tournament:-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the 2012 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship qualifying round....
),
and Aaron Moses-Garvey
Aaron Moses-Garvey
Aaron Moses-Garvey is an English-born professional footballer who plays as a striker. He began his career with Birmingham City, and although he never made a first-team appearance for the club, he has represented his father's native country, St Kitts and Nevis, at full international level.-Club...
, whose St Kitts and Nevis U-20
Saint Kitts and Nevis national football team
The Saint Kitts and Nevis national football team is the national team of Saint Kitts and Nevis and is controlled by the St. Kitts and Nevis Football Association...
side reached the final qualifying round for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup
2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup
The 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup was the sixteenth edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup , hosted by Canada from June 30 to July 22, 2007. Argentina defeated Czech Republic in the title game by the score of 2–1, thus managing a back-to-back world title, its fifth in the past seven editions, and sixth...
and who made his full international debut in February 2008. In the 2009–10 season, goalkeeper Jack Butland was part of the England under-17 team that won the 2010 European championships
2010 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship
-Group B:---------------------Knockout Map:-Semifinals:-----Final:-Goalscorers:6 goals Francisco Alcácer3 goals Connor Wickham Gerard Deulofeu Artun Akçakin2 goals Ross Barkley Anthony Koura Paul Pogba Yaya Sanogo Ricardo Esgaio...
, and Will Packwood played for the USA
United States U-17 men's national soccer team
The United States U-17 men's national soccer team is the national under-17 association football team of the United States and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation...
at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup
2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup
The 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup was the thirteenth tournament of the FIFA U-17 World Cup held in Nigeria from October 24 to November 15, 2009.The tournament was won by Switzerland, beating 1-0 the host team, Nigeria...
.
Terry Westley
Terry Westley
Terry Westley is an association football coach and manager. Until 2011 he was the Academy Director at Birmingham City.Westley previously worked at Rushden & Diamonds, Ipswich Town, Charlton Athletic, Luton Town and Derby County. At these clubs he was responsible for developing young players, who...
was appointed Academy manager in 2006. In his first season, he presided over the under-18 side reaching the quarter final 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...
, and two years later they reached the semifinal of the same competition. After completing a report to the club's board of directors, which contained recommendations needed to "push [the Academy] to the next level", Westley left the club by mutual consent in February 2011. He was succeeded by his assistant Kristjaan Speakman on a caretaker
Caretaker manager
In association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
basis.
The Academy teams play their matches at the club's training ground, Wast Hills, at Kings Norton
Kings Norton
Kings Norton is an area of Birmingham, England. It is also a Birmingham City Council ward within the formal district of Northfield.-History:...
, south Birmingham.
Players
All members of the first-team squad are eligible to play for the reserves, and many do so on an occasional basis when recovering from injury or to keep up match fitness while not playing first-team football. Academy players are also eligible to play for the reserves, and the younger reserves may feature for the academy side. Those players marked as reserve team players were named in matchday squads for reserve friendlies or the Birmingham Senior CupBirmingham Senior Cup
The Birmingham Senior Cup is a football competition for Birmingham County FA club teams, organized by the Birmingham County Football Association...
during the 2011–12 season. Those marked as academy players were named in matchday squads for the Premier Academy League
Premier Academy League
The Premier Academy League is the top level of youth football in England. It is contested between the Academy sides of The Premier League and some Football League clubs, including Welsh side Cardiff City...
or 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...
. Triallists and regular first-team players are excluded; those who have only been unused substitutes are marked accordingly. Note that the list may be incomplete because the club's match reports do not always include a full team sheet. Squad number
Squad number
In team sports, the squad number, shirt number, jersey number, sweater number, uniform number or simply a number is the number worn on a player's uniform, to identify and distinguish each player from others wearing the same or similar uniforms...
s, where present, refer to the first team squad; reserve and youth teams do not have squad numbers. In 2011–12, the club gave squad numbers to many reserve and academy players to ensure their availability as B-list players for their Europa League
2011–12 UEFA Europa League
The 2011–12 UEFA Europa League is the third season of the competition since it was renamed from the UEFA Cup. It began on 30 June 2011 with the first legs of the first qualifying round, and will end on 9 May 2012 with the final to be held at Stadionul Național in Bucharest, Romania...
campaign.
Reserve team players last updated for match played 9 August 2011:
Academy players last updated for match played 27 August 2011:
Key
- Player whose name is
struck throughand marked is no longer with the club. - S in Reserves or Academy column denotes the player has only been an unused substitute.
| Player | Pos | No | Res | Acad | International caps | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlee Adam | Y | |||||
| Akwasi Asante Akwasi Asante Akwasi Asante is a Dutch footballer who plays for Birmingham City as a striker. He made his first-team debut for Birmingham in the Europa League play-off round second leg against C.D. Nacional in August 2011.-Club career:... |
FW | 25 | Y | |||
| Amari Bell | DF | Y | ||||
| Reece Brown | DF | Y | ||||
| Colin Doyle | GK | 13 | Y | |||
| Deqwon Ebanks | Y | |||||
| James Fry | MF | 47 | Y | |||
| Brad Gascoigne | MF | 42 | Y | Y | ||
| Eddy Gnahoré | MF | Y | under-18 | |||
| Demari Gray | Y | |||||
| Reece Hales | FW | 46 | Y | |||
| Mitch Hancox | DF | 43 | Y | Y | ||
| Kortney Hause | MF | Y | ||||
| Luke Hubbins Luke Hubbins Luke Anthony Hubbins is an English footballer who plays for Birmingham City. He made his professional debut in August 2010 in the Football League Cup while on loan to Notts County... |
MF | 37 | Y | |||
| Graham Hutchison | DF | Y | under-17 | |||
| Jake Jervis Jake Jervis Jake Mario Jervis is an English footballer who plays for Swindon Town on loan from Birmingham City. He plays as a striker... |
FW | 36 | Y | |||
| Nat Kelly | S | |||||
| Player | Pos | No | Res | Acad | International caps | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fraser Kerr | DF | 38 | Y | under-19 | ||
| Chris Kettings | GK | Y | ||||
| Kyle McFarlane | S | |||||
| George McGee | MF | Y | ||||
| Leon Newell | Y | |||||
| Brice Ntambwe | MF | 51 | Y | under-17 | ||
| DF | Y | under-18 under-18 |
||||
| Will Packwood | DF | 50 | Y | under-17 | ||
| Callum Preston | S | |||||
| Nathan Redmond Nathan Redmond Nathan Daniel Jerome Redmond is an English professional footballer who plays for Birmingham City. He made his first-team debut for Birmingham in the Football League Cup second-round tie against Rochdale in August 2010, becoming the club's second-youngest player ever at the age of 16 years and 173... |
MF | 22 | Y | under-17 | ||
| Callum Reilly | MF | 40 | Y | Y | ||
| Nick Townsend | GK | 45 | S | Y | ||
| Liam Truslove | DF | Y | ||||
| Enric Vallès Enric Vallès Enric Vallès Prat is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for English club Birmingham City. He plays as a midfielder. He began his career in the youth system of FC Barcelona before playing in the Dutch Eredivisie for NAC Breda.... |
MF | 20 | Y | |||
| Sam Westley | DF | 49 | Y | |||