Southampton F.C. Under-23s and Academy


Southampton F.C. Under-23s and Academy or Saints Under-23s and Academy is the youth organisation run by Southampton F.C. to encourage and develop young footballers in the south of England. Renowned players including Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott, and Alan Shearer began their careers at this academy.
The team is made up of under-23 and academy players, is effectively Southampton's second-string side, but is limited to three outfield players and one goalkeeper over the age of 23 per game following the introduction of new regulations from the 2012–13 season. They play in Premier League 2, Division 1. The team also competes in the Leasing.com Trophy, Premier League International Cup, Premier League Cup and the Hampshire Senior Cup. The under-18 players among other younger age groups make up the Academy team and play in the Premier League U18 First Division, South, Premier League U18 Cup and the FA Youth Cup.
Home fixtures are contested at the club's training facilities at Staplewood in Long Lane, Marchwood, Southampton and at St. Mary's, with some cup games being held at A.F.C. Totton's Testwood Stadium. Since November 2019, the under-23s have been managed in the interim by David Horseman, with Carl Martin managing the under-18s in the interim.

Age categories

Amongst the players who passed through the Saints Academy and went on to represent their country since the turn of the Millennium are:
In the past, prior to the establishment of the academy, the Southampton youth system has produced other international players, such as Terry Paine, Martin Chivers, Steve Williams, Mick Channon, Matthew Le Tissier, Kevin Phillips and Alan Shearer.
Four former Saints academy players featured in the England Under-21 match against Montenegro on 7 September 2007: Martin Cranie and Theo Walcott both started whilst Dexter Blackstock and Andrew Surman came on as second-half substitutes, with Surman scoring the final goal in a 3-0 victory, tapping the ball home in stoppage time from a knock-down by Blackstock.
In England's international friendly against Denmark on 5 March 2014, three graduates of the Southampton F.C. Academy appeared as second-half substitutes: Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Present structure

Matt Hale is the current Academy Director, stepping up from his role as Academy Manager in July 2019. He was replaced as academy manager by his assistant Ed Vahid at the same time. Robin Nicholls is the current Academy Operations Manager, while David Hughes was appointed as the first Head of Academy Player Development in mid-July 2019. The current academy set up has teams at all age groups from Under 8s all the way through to the professional Under 23 team, employing large number of coaches and educational staff. Iain Brunnschweiler is the current Coach Development Manager for the academy. Academy players from the age of 16 up until the age of 18 are often looked after by Host Families within the local area. These families are organised and monitored by Family Liaison Officer Ian Herding and his assistant Emma Walker.
The head of Academy recruitment currently is Chris Welman, while Rod Ruddick, Jim Flood, Wayne Stephens and Terry Burton are all involved in youth recruitment for the academy along with the club scouting team.
The aim of the Southampton academy is to "...produce Premiership class players..."
Currently, Southampton's academy set-up is one of the best in the country and they have regularly reached the latter stages of the FA Youth Cup, as well as being successful in the FA Premier Academy League championship. In the 2010–2011 season the U18s were only just "...Pipped to the Title..." by one point on the last day of the season of the Group A league. Southampton had to win and Fulham had to draw or lose for Southampton to come top. After winning 1–3 away to Coventry City the U18s were dismayed to discover Fulham had come back from being 0–3 down versus Leicester City to win 5–3.
The academy has joined up with local college Sparsholt College to try to give those footballers who have missed out on a scholarship the opportunity to remain in the game and train and play matches with the Southampton Academy.
In May 2013, Andre Villas-Boas, manager of Tottenham Hotspur praised the Southampton Academy for its ability to produce star players, describing it as "a great school of development" and comparing it to Sporting Lisbon.
In April 2015, a Southampton U21 side won the U21 Premier League Cup, defeating a Blackburn Rovers U21 side in the two-legged final at St Mary's Stadium in front of more than 12,000 fans. Goals from Ryan Seager and Sam Gallagher cancelled out a Matt Targett own goal to give Southampton a 2–1 victory after extra time to win the second edition of the cup.

Under-23 squad

Players who will qualify as U23s in season 2020–21 and who are outside the first team squad.

U23 Honours

Leagues

Academy 2nd Years 2020–21

Leagues

Cups

; Under-23 / Under-18 management
A number of players from the Southampton F.C. Academy have gone on to have careers in professional football, whether at Southampton or at other clubs. The following is a list of players who have made their Southampton first team debuts since the turn of the Millennium. Players who have represented Southampton in the Leasing.com Trophy, and no other competition, are not included in this list. Academy graduates who still play for Southampton, including those that are currently out on loan to other clubs, are highlighted in green. Where players have made their debut in the same fixture, they are sorted alphabetically by surname.
PlayerPositionSouthampton AppearancesSouthampton GoalsCurrent ClubBornInternational HonoursDebutManager
Ryan AshfordDF10Retired HonitonAge 18 vs. Mansfield Town, Worthington Cup, 26 September 2000Glenn Hoddle
Scott McDonaldFW30 Brisbane Roar Melbourne AustraliaAge 18 vs. Brighton & Hove Albion, Worthington Cup, 11 September 2001Stuart Gray
Chris BairdDF793Retired Rasharkin Northern IrelandAge 21 vs. Aston Villa, FA Barclaycard Premiership, 22 March 2003Gordon Strachan
Kevin PhillipsFW7326Retired Hitchin EnglandAge 30 vs. Leicester City, FA Barclaycard Premiership, 16 August 2003Gordon Strachan
Léandre GriffitMF82Retired Maubeuge France U21Age 19 vs. Blackburn Rovers, FA Barclaycard Premiership, 25 October 2003Gordon Strachan
Yoann FollyMF180Retired Paris TogoAge 18 vs. Tottenham Hotspur, FA Barclaycard Premiership, 27 March 2004Paul Sturrock
Martin CranieDF250 Luton Town Yeovil England U21Age 17 vs. Chelsea, FA Barclaycard Premiership, 1 May 2004Paul Sturrock
Alan BlayneyGK40Retired Belfast Northern IrelandAge 22 vs. Newcastle United, FA Barclaycard Premiership, 12 May 2004Paul Sturrock
Leon BestFW174Retired Nottingham Republic of IrelandAge 18 vs. Newcastle United, FA Barclays Premiership, 19 September 2004Steve Wigley
Dexter BlackstockFW369Retired Oxford Antigua and BarbudaAge 18 vs. Everton, FA Barclays Premiership, 16 October 2004Steve Wigley
Theo WalcottMF/FW235 Everton Stanmore EnglandAge 16 vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers, Coca-Cola Football Championship, 8 August 2005Harry Redknapp
Nathan DyerMF663 Swansea City TrowbridgeAge 17 vs. Southend United, Carling Cup, 22 August 2005Harry Redknapp
David McGoldrickFW7515 Sheffield United Nottingham Republic of IrelandAge 17 vs. Mansfield Town, Carling Cup, 20 September 2005Harry Redknapp
Matt MillsDF60Free Agent Swindon England U19Age 19 vs. Watford, Coca-Cola Football Championship, 26 December 2005Dave Bassett &
Dennis Wise
Bartosz BiałkowskiGK420 Millwall Braniewo PolandAge 18 vs. Crystal Palace, Coca-Cola Football Championship, 25 January 2006George Burley
Andrew SurmanMF14618Free Agent Johannesburg England U21Age 19 vs. Crystal Palace, Coca-Cola Football Championship, 25 January 2006George Burley
Simon GillettMF390Retired OxfordAge 20 vs. Leicester City, FA Cup, 28 January 2006George Burley
Gareth BaleDF/MF455 Real Madrid Cardiff WalesAge 16 vs. Millwall, Coca-Cola Football Championship, 17 April 2006George Burley
Adam LallanaMF26560 Brighton & Hove Albion St Albans EnglandAge 18 vs. Yeovil Town, Carling Cup, 23 August 2006George Burley
Cédric BaseyaFW10Retired Brétigny-sur-Orge DR Congo U20Age 20 vs. Ipswich Town, Coca-Cola Football Championship, 1 March 2008Nigel Pearson
Michael PokeGK40Retired StainesAge 22 vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers, Coca-Cola Football Championship, 4 March 2008Nigel Pearson
Lloyd JamesMF852 Bath City Bristol Wales U21Age 20 vs. Cardiff City, Coca-Cola Football Championship, 9 August 2008Jan Poortvliet
Jake ThomsonMF160 Fareham Town Southsea Trinidad and TobagoAge 19 vs. Cardiff City, Coca-Cola Football Championship, 9 August 2008Jan Poortvliet
Jamie WhiteFW30 Infinity SouthamptonAge 18 vs. Derby County, Coca-Cola Football Championship, 23 August 2008Jan Poortvliet
Joseph MillsDF360 Forest Green Rovers Swindon England U18Age 18 vs. Birmingham City, Carling Cup, 26 August 2008Jan Poortvliet
Olly LancashireDF170 Crewe Alexandra HookAge 19 vs. Queens Park Rangers, Coca-Cola Football Championship, 14 September 2008Jan Poortvliet
Matt PatersonFW222 Gosport Borough Dunfermline Scotland U19Age 18 vs. Norwich City, Coca-Cola Football Championship, 30 September 2008Jan Poortvliet
Oscar GobernMF252 Dover Athletic Birmingham England U19Age 17 vs. Preston North End, Coca-Cola Football Championship, 1 November 2008Jan Poortvliet
Kayne McLaggonFW81 Barry Town United Barry Wales CAge 18 vs. Plymouth Argyle, Coca-Cola Football Championship, 26 December 2008Jan Poortvliet
Alex Oxlade-ChamberlainMF4210 Liverpool Portsmouth EnglandAge 16 vs. Huddersfield Town, Coca-Cola Football League One, 2 March 2010Alan Pardew
Callum McNishMF10 North Leigh OxfordAge 17 vs. Carlisle United, Coca-Cola Football League One, 24 April 2010Alan Pardew
Aaron MartinDF292Free Agent Newport, IOWAge 20 vs. Gillingham, Coca-Cola Football League One, 1 May 2010Alan Pardew
Sam HoskinsFW50 Northampton Town DorchesterAge 18 vs. Swindon Town, Carling Cup, 30 August 2011Dean Wilkins
Ben ReevesDF/MF131Free Agent Verwood Northern IrelandAge 19 vs. Preston North End, Carling Cup, 21 September 2011Nigel Adkins
James Ward-ProwseMF27824 Southampton Portsmouth EnglandAge 16 vs. Crystal Palace, Carling Cup, 25 October 2011Nigel Adkins
Ryan DobleFW10Retired Blaenavon Wales U21Age 20 vs. Coventry City, FA Cup, 7 January 2012Nigel Adkins
Jack StephensDF1116 Southampton Torpoint England U21Age 17 vs. Coventry City, FA Cup, 7 January 2012Nigel Adkins
Luke ShawDF670 Manchester United Kingston upon Thames EnglandAge 16 vs. Millwall, FA Cup, 28 January 2012Nigel Adkins
Calum ChambersDF250 Arsenal Petersfield EnglandAge 17 vs. Stevenage, Capital One Cup, 28 August 2012Nigel Adkins
Andy RobinsonMF10 Weymouth BournemouthAge 19 vs. Sheffield Wednesday, Capital One Cup, 25 September 2012Nigel Adkins
Lloyd IsgroveMF80 Swindon Town Yeovil WalesAge 19 vs. Leeds United, Capital One Cup, 30 October 2012Nigel Adkins
Harrison ReedMF300 Southampton
Worthing England U20Age 18 vs. Barnsley, Capital One Cup, 27 August 2013Mauricio Pochettino
Omar RoweMF20 Hayes & Yeading HackneyAge 18 vs. Barnsley, Capital One Cup, 27 August 2013Mauricio Pochettino
Jake SinclairFW10 Wimborne Town BathAge 18 vs. Barnsley, Capital One Cup, 27 August 2013Mauricio Pochettino
Sam GallagherFW262 Blackburn Rovers Camberley England U20Age 18 vs. Sunderland, Capital One Cup, 6 November 2013Mauricio Pochettino
Sam McQueenDF/MF290 Southampton Southampton England U21Age 19 vs. Sunderland, FA Cup, 15 February 2014Mauricio Pochettino
Matt TargettDF631 Aston Villa Eastleigh England U21Age 18 vs. Millwall, Capital One Cup, 26 August 2014Ronald Koeman
Jake HeskethMF41 Southampton StockportAge 18 vs. Manchester United, Premier League, 8 December 2014Ronald Koeman
Dominic GapeMF10 Wycombe Wanderers Burton BradstockAge 20 vs. Everton, Premier League, 20 December 2014Ronald Koeman
Jason McCarthyDF10 Millwall SouthamptonAge 19 vs. Crystal Palace, Premier League, 26 December 2014Ronald Koeman
Ryan SeagerFW20 Hungerford Town Yeovil England U20 call-upAge 18 vs. Crystal Palace, FA Cup, 24 January 2015Ronald Koeman
Olufela OlomolaFW10 Scunthorpe United LondonAge 19 vs. Sunderland, EFL Cup, 26 October 2016Claude Puel
Josh SimsMF/FW270 Southampton Yeovil England U20Age 19 vs. Everton, Premier League, 27 November 2016Claude Puel
Harry LewisGK30 Southampton Shrewsbury England U18Age 19 vs. Norwich City, FA Cup, 7 January 2017Claude Puel
Michael ObafemiFW335 Southampton Dublin Republic of IrelandAge 17 vs. Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League, 21 January 2018Mauricio Pellegrino
Danny IngsFW6733 Southampton Winchester EnglandAge 26 vs. Burnley, Premier League, 12 August 2018Mark Hughes
Yan ValeryDF362 Southampton Champigny-sur-Marne France U18Age 19 vs. Leicester City, Carabao Cup, 27 November 2018Mark Hughes
Tyreke JohnsonMF30 Southampton
TrowbridgeAge 20 vs. Arsenal, Premier League, 16 December 2018Ralph Hasenhüttl
Kayne RamsayDF20 Southampton LondonAge 18 vs. Manchester City, Premier League, 30 December 2018Ralph Hasenhüttl
Marcus BarnesFW10Free Agent ReadingAge 22 vs. Derby County, FA Cup, 5 January 2019Ralph Hasenhüttl
Callum SlatteryMF50 Southampton Kidlington England U20Age 19 vs. Derby County, FA Cup, 5 January 2019Ralph Hasenhüttl
Jake VokinsDF31 Southampton Oxford England U19Age 19 vs. Manchester City, Carabao Cup, 29 October 2019Ralph Hasenhüttl
Will SmallboneMF101 Southampton Basingstoke Republic of Ireland U19Age 19 vs. Huddersfield Town, FA Cup, 4 January 2020Ralph Hasenhüttl
Nathan TellaMF/FW10 Southampton StevenageAge 20 vs. Norwich City, Premier League, 19 June 2020Ralph Hasenhüttl