Reading F.C. Under-23s and Academy

Reading were granted Academy status by the Football Association in February 1999. The first Academy manager was John Stephenson who oversaw the club's youth development until October 2000 when he left to join Preston North End. He was succeeded by former Reading goalkeeper, and the then goalkeeping coach, Nick Hammond.[1] After his appointment as Reading's first Director of football in September 2003, Hammond combined all three roles until the appointment of Exeter City boss Eamonn Dolan as the new Academy manager in October 2004.[2] The club originally trained in rented facilities at Sonning Lane and Bradfield College but moved to their own training ground at Hogwood Park in Arborfield in 2004.[3][4] A two-year Academy partnership with Boreham Wood was announced in July 2012[5] with the club also aiming to have a first-team composed of 50% Academy players.[6] The introduction in 2012 of the four-tier academy system under the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) forced the club to search for a new training ground in order to meet the criteria for Category One status.[7] With this in mind, the club agreed in principle to buy land at Bearwood Lakes Golf Club for a new training facility at a cost of between £10 million and £20 million in May 2013.[8][9] In July 2013, the club confirmed they had achieved Category One status.[10]

The Reading reserves competed in the Capital League between 1995 and 1998 before joining The Football Combination which they played in from 1998 until 2006, excluding the 1999–2000 season.[11] With the senior side's promotion to the Premier League in 2006, the reserve team was also promoted to the Premier Reserve League for the 2006–07 season. Under future first-team manager Brian McDermott, the reserves finished top of the Southern section and beat Bolton reserves 2–0 to win the overall title in their first season.[12] They finished second the following year but were relegated as the first team dropped into the Championship.[13] The reserves rejoined the Football Combination following their relegation and remained there until 2010 when they withdrew in order to arrange their own fixtures against a higher level of opposition.[14]

With the club's application for Category One status under the EPPP, the under-21 and Academy (under-18) teams competed in the new Professional Development League 1 for the 2012–13 season.[15] The teams were successful under the new format with the under-18s finishing as runners-up to Fulham in the inaugural competition,[16] and the under-21s winning the first U21 Premier League Cup the following year.[17]

The under-23s play their home matches at Hogwood Park, the club's training ground, with four games each season being played at the Madejski Stadium. Three outfield players and one goalkeeper over the age of 23 are allowed to be selected for each fixture,[18] with scholars from the Academy squad also eligible to play.

As of 15 December 2020

Under-23 squad

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 35 DF  ENG Imari Samuels 36 DF  ENG Nelson Abbey 37 FW  ENG Nahum Melvin-Lambert 38 DF  ENG Ethan Bristow 39 MF  ENG Oliver Pendlebury 41 MF  ENG Joseph Ajose 42 MF  ENG Lynford Sackey 43 DF  ENG Tennai Watson 44 MF  ENG Ryan East 45 MF  ENG Femi Azeez 46 MF  UGA Jayden Onen

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  ENG Coniah Boyce-Clarke — GK  ENG James Holden — DF  ENG Jeriel Dorsett — DF  ENG Josh Hewitt — DF  ISR Omri Luzon — MF  ENG Conor Lawless — MF  ENG Thierry Nevers — MF  ENG Claudio Osorio — MF  GNB Mamadi Camará — MF  IRL Kian Leavy — FW  USA Augustus McGiff

Each year, following the completion of their full-time education, the club signs a number of schoolboys, from both within the academy and from other clubs, on scholarship agreements.[19] The scholarships last two years after which the player signs professionally or is released by the club. In instances where a player is particularly valued, the club may opt to sign them on professional terms at an earlier age.[20] The scholars make up the bulk of the Academy team which competes in the under-18 league, though younger players are also eligible. As well as the league, the Academy also enters a team into the FA Youth Cup.

The under-18s play their home matches at Hogwood Park, the club's training ground, with a selection of games each season being played at the Madejski Stadium. Three outfield players and one goalkeeper over the age of 18 are allowed to be selected for each fixture, with scholars from the Academy squad also eligible to play.

Current Under-18s squad

As of 15 December 2020[21]

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  ENG Harvey Collins — GK  ENG Matt Rowley — DF  ENG Kelvin Abrefa — DF  ENG Jordan Addo-Antoine — DF  ENG Tyrell Ashcroft — DF  ENG Jordan Hamilton — DF  ENG Louie Holzman — DF  ENG Sam Paul — DF  ENG Michael Stickland

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  ENG Hamid Abdel-Salam — MF  ENG Jay Senga Ngoyi — MF  ENG Malachi Talent-Aryeetey — MF  ENG Yaw Turkson — MF  WAL Benjamin Purcell — FW  ENG Alfie Anderson — FW  ENG Jahmari Clarke — FW  ENG Harvey Maudner — FW  ENG David Nyarko

Academy and development staff[22][23]

• Academy manager: Michael Gilkes
• Assistant Academy Manager:
• Professional Phase Coach: Scott Marshall
• U23 Goalkeeper Coach: Robert Shay
• U18 Coach: Michael Donaldson
• U18 Assistant Coach: Mikele Leigertwood
• Head of Academy Physiotherapy: Steve Cottrell
• Lead Academy Doctor: Dr Marc Batista
• U23 Academy Doctor: Manish Thakker
• U18 Physiotherapist: Aoife Healy
• U23 Physiotherapist:
• U9-16 Physiotherapist:
• U9-16 Physiotherapist:
• U23 Sport Scientist: Harry Bruford
• U18 Sport Scientist: Luca Avena
• PDP Strength and Conditioning Coach: David Breakspear
• U9-16 Sport Scientist: Callum Stratford
• Academy Performance Coach: Ben Marks

Several Academy graduates hold club records. Peter Castle became the club's youngest ever player when he came on as a substitute against Watford on 30 April 2003 for his first and only Reading appearance, aged 16 years and 49 days, whilst Gylfi Sigurðsson holds the record for the highest transfer fee received when he moved to Hoffenheim in August 2010.[51] In May 2013 Alex McCarthy became the first Reading graduate to be selected in the England squad since the Academy era began in 1999.[52] Additionally, three graduates have been named Player of the Season with Gylfi Sigurðsson, Alex Pearce and Jordan Obita winning in 2009–10, 2011–12 and 2013–14 respectively.[53]

The Football Combination[11]

Winners: 2003–04, 2008–09

Runners-up: 2005–06

Premier Reserve League

Winners: 2006–07[13]

Under-21 Premier League Cup

Winners: 2013–14[17]

Under-18 Professional Development League 1

Runners-up: 2012–13[16]

• Under-21 homepage at Reading F.C.
• Academy homepage at Reading F.C.