Aberdeen F.C. Reserves and Academy

Aberdeen Reserves
Full name Aberdeen Football Club Reserve Squad
Ground Various, primarily
Balmoral Stadium, Cove Bay
Chairman Stewart Milne
Head Coach Paul Sheerin
League SPFL Reserve League
2017–18 4th (Development League)

In addition to their first team competing in the Scottish Premiership, Aberdeen F.C. also maintain a reserve team competing in the SPFL Reserve League, as well as further teams for younger age groups playing in competitions such as the Scottish Challenge Cup and the Scottish Youth Cup within the club's academy.

A reserve team was fielded for many years until the abandonment of the most recent league for those teams in 2009. An under-20 side took part in the SPFL Development League until it was disbanded in 2018.

Competitions

Prior to the introduction of the Scottish Premier League in 1998, the Under-20s previously competed in the youth league administered by the Scottish Football League. They won the last edition of the SFL competition and the first under the SPL, although since then they have only won it once more (in 2014–15).

From 2015 onwards it is possible for the Aberdeen Academy to participate in the UEFA Youth League by the Under-17 side winning the previous season's league at that age group; however this has not yet been achieved.

For the 2016-17 edition of the Scottish Challenge Cup, Under-20 teams were granted entry to compete against adult teams for the first time in the modern era (provided their parent clubs are in the Premiership). Aberdeen U20 won their opening round against Formartine United of the Highland League but lost in the next round to Forfar Athletic of the fourth level.

As of 2018, the reserves do not have a constant home ground. Their fixtures are normally played at lower league stadia outwith Aberdeen, either at Glebe Park in Brechin, Balmoor Stadium in Peterhead or Station Park in Forfar – although occasionally matches are played at Pittodrie Stadium. In the 2018–19 season, their nominated ground was the recently completed Balmoral Stadium, home of Cove Rangers.[1]

Academy background

Aberdeen's geographical isolation from much of Scotland's population is an advantage to the Dons' player recruitment to some extent, as they are the only major club in a region of over 500,000 people so generally have the pick of the promising youngsters in the city and shire. The relative economic power of the club also means that players from the Central Belt are frequently persuaded to move north, and over the decades many of Aberdeen's successful youth products (not least Willie Miller, McLeish, Black, Leighton, McMaster and later Joe Miller, Phil McGuire, Diamond and Chris Maguire) have moved from the west of Scotland to begin their professional careers.[2] In the 21st century Aberdeen have also looked further afield to the English lower leagues for academy recruits as well as senior players.

In 2017, the Aberdeen academy was one of eight across the country designated 'elite' status on the introduction of Project Brave, an SFA initiative to concentrate the development of the best young players at a smaller number of clubs with high quality facilities and coaching than was previously the case.[3][4]

In the event that the long-awaited New Aberdeen Stadium is completed, the youth training facilities would certainly move to that location and some of the Reserve League fixtures may also take place there.

The Reserves head coach is Paul Sheerin, and the head of the youth academy is Neil Simpson.

U20 Development squad

As of 31 August 2018[5][6][7]

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

No. Position Player
23 Scotland MF Frank Ross
24 Scotland MF Dean Campbell
25 Scotland FW Bruce Anderson
27 Scotland FW Connor McLennan
30 Republic of Ireland GK David Craddock
31 Nigeria FW David Dangana
33 Scotland MF Ethan Ross
35 England FW Morgan Brown
No. Position Player
37 Scotland DF Jack MacKenzie
40 Scotland GK Archie Mair
48 Republic of Ireland DF Conor Power
49 Republic of Ireland DF Luke Turner
Scotland GK Kyle Leiper
Democratic Republic of the Congo DF Harlain Mbayo
Scotland DF Jordan McGregor
Finland DF Miko Virtanen

Out on loan

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

No. Position Player
26 Scotland MF Seb Ross (on loan to Stenhousemuir)
32 England DF Sam Roscoe (on loan to Alloa Athletic)
36 Wales DF Ryan Harrington (on loan to Montrose)
45 Scotland MF Chris Antoniazzi (on loan to Montrose)

Honours

Notes

  1. ↑ Since 1993. Previously known as the Scottish Football League Youth Division, Scottish Premier Under-18/Under-19/Under-20 League and SPFL Under-20 League

Former reserve/youth team players

This list focuses on the players who have graduated through Aberdeen's academy since the inception of the SPL in 1998. many other of Aberdeen's earlier notable players, including most of the highly successful Alex Ferguson era also came through the youth system. Players currently at Aberdeen in bold

As of October 2017

References

  1. ↑ "SPFL Reserve League fixtures" (PDF). SPFL. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  2. ↑ Clark, Graham (30 July 1987). "One that got away". Evening Times. p. 2. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  3. ↑ "Project Brave: Scottish FA confirms eight-club academy elite". BBC Sport. 15 November 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  4. ↑ "SFA confirms Project Brave academy placings". The Scotsman. 15 November 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  5. ↑ The Official Website of Aberdeen Football Club - U20s Squad 17-18
  6. ↑ AFC Heritage - 2017-18 Youth Squad
  7. ↑ 3 July 2018 Update
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