Cheltenham Town Academy
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Cheltenham Town Academy is the youth set up for Cheltenham Town FC and, since its founding following the club's promotion to the Football League in 1999[1] has contributed 57 players to the first team, with some being graduates, some playing while an academy players, and some having trained with the academy before returning as a senior player some years later.[2]
The creation of the academy followed the establishment of a youth set up in the late 90s with former goalkeeper coach Derek Bragg becoming a scout as the club looked to set up a new youth training scheme and were on the look out for local young talent. A stand out figure in the pre-academy youth set up is former Burnley and Northern Ireland defender Michael Duff who joined the set up from Carterton Town in 1996 and would remain at the Gloucestershire club until 2004. The academy now runs from U8 pre-academy to full time Under 18 scholars as well as two development centres, in Cheltenham and Hereford, and over 300 players involved.
The first graduate of the academy is credited on ctfc.com to David Bird in 2000 with 42 listed on the club's website, although this list is out of date with many young players appearing in the Papa John's Trophy since it was last updated in 2020. There is also the 2015/16 FA Trophy which isn't seen as a senior competition by the club, although it was referenced to as one at the time, with youth players making their only senior appearance during that time. The Papa John's Trophy and FA Trophy therefore take the total to 55 with Andy Williams and Owen Evans returning to the club after spending some time training with the academy to take the overall total to 57, but these are not all recognised by the club.
There are also numerous notable player sales to other clubs, with Cameron Pring moving to Championship side Bristol City in 2015 and Luke Thomas joining Derby County in 2015.[3]
Staff[edit]
- Academy Director: Vacant
- Head of Coaching: Tim Bell
- Professional Development Phase Lead Coach: Pete Haynes
- Goal Keeper Coach: Dan Still
- Foundation Phase Lead Coach: Dave Palmer
- Designated Safeguarding Officer and U19 Development Centre Manager: Dave Cox
- Academy Administrator and Development Centre Manager: Job Nyakudya
- Head of Academy Media: Ben Nichols
References[edit]
- ↑ "History - Cheltenham Town FC". www.ctfc.com.
- ↑ Nichols, Ben (2022-04-18). "EVERY player to go from Academy to First Team". Up The Duff.
- ↑ "Player Transfers - Cheltenham Town FC". www.ctfc.com.
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