Tottenham Hotspur Academy
Full nameTottenham Hotspur Football Club
Nickname(s)The Lilywhites
Short nameSpurs
GroundHotspur Way, Enfield,
London, England
ChairmanDaniel Levy
ManagerWayne Burnett (Under-23s)
Stuart Lewis (Under-18s)
Simon Davies (Academy)
LeaguePremier League 2
U18 Premier League

The Tottenham Hotspur Academy is the youth system of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. The academy was created to train and develop players from the age of eight all the way through to the age of 23. Many of those who have progressed through Tottenham's academy have gone on to sign professional contracts and several have represented their country at full international level.

The reserves in recent times have been known as the Development Squad to reflect the purpose of producing players for the first team. They won one Premier Reserve League South title following the league's formation in 1999 and were runners-up in the inaugural U21 Premier League which took over from 2012, becoming the Professional Development League's Premier League 2 in 2016. In Premier League 2, matches were for the under-23's until the 2022–23 season, since when the competition has been limited to under-21's.

The under-18's take part in the U18 Premier League, also a part of the Professional Development League.


Historical reserve team

Prior to the formation of the academy, the reserve team played in the Football Combination. This was founded as the London Combination and originally consisted of London-based first teams, with reserve teams taking over in 1919. From 1926, clubs outside of London were admitted and the name of the league changed to the Football Combination. Tottenham's reserves were winners in seasons 1919–20, 1921–22, 1925–26, 1952–53, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1961–62, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89 and 1994–95.

In 1999 the FA Premier Reserve League was founded and Tottenham's reserve team moved to that competition, remaining until the end of the 2008–09 season. Tottenham reserves won the FA Premier Reserve League, southern division, in season 2005–06.

Historical youth team

In 1923, Tottenham entered into an arrangement which saw Tottenham youngsters turn out for Northfleet United in the Kent League and associated cup competitions.[1] Northfleet were Kent League Cup winners in 1923–24,[2] and Kent League Division 1 champions in 1925–26, during which they scored 172 goals in a 36 match season. They won the Kent Senior Cup for five successive seasons between 1923–24 and 1927–28.

Northfleet United joined the Southern League Eastern Section in 1927–28 but left in 1930 and rejoined the Kent League.[3] In 1931, the arrangement between the clubs was upgraded to full nursery team status[1] and this heralded a period during which they scored a minimum of 110 goals in league competition each season. Northfleet were Kent League Division 1 Championship and Kent League Cup double winners in 1931–32 and 1934–35, league champions in 1935–36, and double winners again in 1936–37 (completing a hat-trick as league champions). They were Kent Senior Cup winners in 1937–38, and Kent League Division 1 champions again in 1938–39.

With the outbreak of the Second World War, league competition ceased as did the nursery team arrangement.

Tottenham Hotspur's youth team, for players aged 18 and under and known as Tottenham's 'A' team, was entered into the Eastern Counties League in 1948.[4] They won the League Cup in their first season and the league title and the East Anglian Cup in their second. In 1957–58 they again won both the league and East Anglian Cup and went on to win the League Cup the following season. They won three consecutive league titles in 1959–60, 1960–61 and 1961–62. During their time in the Eastern Counties League the team played at White Hart Lane, as well as at Hoddesdon Town's Lowfield Ground (1950–51), the Hoddesdon Sports Arena (1951–52) and Brookfields Lane in Cheshunt (1952–1963).

In 1963 they moved to the Metropolitan League, winning the League Cup in 1963–64, the League Cup and Professional Cup in 1964–65 and the league itself in 1966–67.[5]

In 1969 the youth team moved to the South East Counties League, winning it in seasons 1969–70, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1978–79, 1980–81, the five seasons 1985–86 through to 1989–90, 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1994–95.[4] The youth team also won the national FA Youth Cup in 1970, 1974 and 1990. The team first won the South East Counties League Cup in 1985 and followed this with victories in 1986, 1988, 1991 (jointly), 1992, 1993, 1996 and 1997.

The youth team's reserves, otherwise known as the juniors or colts and consisting primarily of younger players, also took part in the South East Counties League. The league was originally split into Senior League and Junior League but from season 1985–86 it was Division One for the youth team and Division Two for the juniors.

The FA Premier Youth League was formed in 1997 and expanded in 1998 to be renamed the FA Premier Academy League, and the youth team left the South East Counties League.

The Academy

The Tottenham Hotspur Academy coaches young footballers from the ages of 8 to 18 involving approximately 150 young players, looked after by 30 full-time and part-time staff. The academy features a network of 35 scouts who are tasked with finding the best local, national and international talent. Whilst under 16, in the Youth development phase, players are coached or play in the evenings and the weekend whilst they are in full-time education. On reaching 16, the best players are offered a place in the U18s Academy on a full-time 2 year Scholarship contract. This provides an academic programme alongside their football commitments. Players will usually progress through first and second years of the professional development phase whereupon on completion, they will be either offered a professional contract or be released. Where a player is borderline or has been held back because of injury there is the option of offering a third year at the academy by exception.

Notable players to come through the Tottenham Hotspur Academy include Harry Kane, Ledley King, Jake Livermore, Ryan Mason, Danny Rose, Andros Townsend, Kyle Walker-Peters and Harry Winks, all of whom have gone on to represent their country at international level.

In 2017 the newly retired and former Tottenham player Scott Parker was appointed in charge of the Under-18s.[6][7] In July 2018, Parker left Tottenham to return to his last club, Fulham, serving as first-team coach.[8] The current Under-18 manager is Stuart Lewis, who was appointed in July 2021[9] to replace Matt Taylor, who had been in place since 2019.[10]

Academy managers have included Colin Murphy,[11][12] Peter Suddaby,[13][12][14] John McDermott[14] and Dean Rastrick.[15][16] The position is currently held by Simon Davies, who moved from head of coaching methodology on 20 June 2023 following Rastrick's departure from the club.[17]

Development squad

Players who have progressed through the academy and have shown the potential to play at a higher level are offered professional contracts and will then join the Development Squad, the successor to the reserve team. The Development Squad may also be joined by Under-21 players signed from other clubs or free agents who have proved themselves in trials at the club. The purpose of the Development Squad is to produce new players for the First Team though breaking into the senior squad is no easy feat for a young player. As well as playing in Under-21 games players may be loaned out to other clubs in lower leagues or sometimes clubs abroad to give them experience and to aid their development.

Clive Allen became the manager of the reserve team at the beginning of the 2005–06 season. Home games at that time were played at Broadhall Way, the home ground of Stevenage Borough. From the 2007–08 season home matches were played at Leyton Orient's home ground, the Matchroom Stadium. The club announced on 12 June 2009 that for the 2009–10 season it would not be entering a team in the Reserve League. Instead the reserve players would be loaned out for first team experience, and if necessary friendly matches would be arranged as required during the season to test out players returning from injury.[18]

After not participating in the Reserve League for three seasons the club agreed to play in the newly formed Barclays U21 Premiership League from season 2012–13.

In July 2014, former Aston Villa and Middlesbrough defender Ugo Ehiogu was appointed Under-21 Team Coach following a period of part-time work within the academy.[19] On 20 April 2017, Ehiogu went into cardiac arrest after collapsing at Tottenham's training ground and died the following day at the age of 44.[20] Two months later, Tottenham announced that they had appointed former Dagenham and Redbridge manager Wayne Burnett as Ehiogu's successor.[21] Burnett currently has the title of Under-23 manager.[22]

Notable seasons

2005–06 season

New manager Clive Allen led the reserve team to their first FA Premier Reserve League South title, staying top of the table from mid-December and losing just three times during the league season. In the Barclays Premiership Reserve League Play-Off, contested by the winners of the Southern and Northern Reserve League titles, Tottenham Reserves lost 2–0 to Manchester United Reserves at Old Trafford.

2012–13 season

Tottenham Under-21s won Group 2 of the Barclays U21 Premiership League in the first half of the season which qualified them for the Elite Group, which they also won. This put them through to the end of the season knock-out competition where they progressed all the way to the final, eventually losing 3–2 to Manchester United Under-21s.

2014-15 season

On 6 September 2014, Tottenham Under-18s won the Premier League Under-18s Champions Cup, a two-day event held at Tottenham's training centre. The team, managed by Kieran McKenna, defeated Everton 5-1 then qualified for the final with a 1-1 draw against Spain's Real Madrid. In the final, they triumphed with a 1-0 win over Portugal's Benfica.[23]

2022–23 season

In May 2023, Tottenham Under-18s won the Under-18 Premier League Cup,[24] adding to the Under-17 version won the previous month.[25] Both teams were managed by Stuart Lewis.

Honours

Domestic

European

  • Eurofoot Tournament
    • Winners (2): 2007, 2011
  • Premier League Champions Cup
    • Winners (1): 2014

International

Players

Under-21s

As of 1 September 2023[26]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
43 MF England ENG Nile John
44 FW England ENG Dane Scarlett
46 GK England ENG Luca Gunter
52 FW England ENG Jude Soonsup-Bell
53 DF England ENG Brooklyn Lyons-Foster
56 DF England ENG Charlie Sayers
57 MF England ENG Max Robson
58 MF Spain ESP Yago Santiago
60 DF England ENG Tyrell Ashcroft [27]
61 GK Republic of Ireland IRL Aaron Maguire
62 FW England ENG Will Lankshear
No. Pos. Nation Player
63 FW England ENG Jamie Donley
65 DF England ENG Alfie Dorrington
66 MF England ENG Rio Kyerematen
67 DF England ENG Maxwell McKnight
68 DF Jamaica JAM Dante Cassanova
70 FW England ENG Jaden Williams
72 DF Wales WAL Will Andiyapan
73 DF England ENG Jahziah Linton
77 MF England ENG George Abbott
93 MF England ENG Billy Heaps

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
45 MF England ENG Alfie Devine (at Port Vale until 30 June 2024)[28]
51 MF Scotland SCO Matthew Craig (at Doncaster Rovers until 30 June 2024)[29]
No. Pos. Nation Player
53 GK Republic of Ireland IRL Josh Keeley (at Barnet until 30 June 2024)[30]
— FW Republic of Ireland IRL Troy Parrott (at Excelsior Rotterdam until 30 June 2024)[31]

Under-18s

Second Year Academy Players

As of 26 August 2023[32]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
85 DF England ENG Archie Chaplin (professional) [33]
87 FW England ENG Damola Ajayi
— GK England ENG Carey Bloedorn
— GK Albania ALB Elliot Krasniqi
— DF Spain ESP Pele Arganese-McDermott (professional) [34]
— DF England ENG Maeson King
— DF England ENG James Rowswell
No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF England ENG Zach Simons
— MF England ENG Leo Black
— MF England ENG Tyrese Hall
— MF England ENG Kieran Morgan
— MF England ENG Gabriel Han Willhoft-King
— FW Morocco MAR Yusuf Akhamrich
— FW England ENG Oliver Irow (professional) [35]

First Year Academy Players

As of 26 August 2023[32][36]

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 England ENG Samual Archer
— GK England ENG Charlie Warren
— DF England ENG Timileyin Adekunle
— DF England ENG Theodore Adelusi
— DF England ENG Roman Egan-Riley
— DF England ENG Calum Logan
No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF England ENG Dante Orr
— MF England ENG Herbie James
— MF England ENG Mikey Moore
— MF England ENG Callum Olusesi
— FW England ENG Ellis Lehane

Notable Tottenham Hotspur F.C. youth team players or Academy graduates

The following list of youth team players or Academy graduates appeared in a competitive first team fixture for Tottenham Hotspur and have been capped in a full international since the Second World War. Players still currently playing for the club are in bold. Other still active players are in italics.

The following list of youth team or Academy players have been capped in a full international since the Second World War but never played in a competitive first team game for Tottenham. Players still currently playing for the club are in bold. Other still active players are in italics.

The following additional list of youth team players or Academy graduates although uncapped in a full international have appeared in 100 or more competitive fixtures for the Tottenham Hotspur first team since the Second World War. Players still currently playing for the club are in bold. Other still active players are in italics.

Academy management and support staff

Role[37]Name
Academy directorSimon Davies
Performance directorVacant
Assistant performance directorAndy Scoulding
Head of Player Development, Under-17 to Under-23Vacant
Assistant Head of Player Development, Under-17 to Under-23Nigel Gibbs
Professional Development Phase CoachPaul Bracewell
Head of Academy Football DevelopmentGary Broadhurst
Under-23 ManagerWayne Burnett
Under-18 ManagerStuart Lewis
Pastoral Development, Under-17 to Under-23Troy Archibald-Henville
Head of Academy GoalkeepingPerry Suckling
Goalkeeping CoachDean Brill
Goalkeeping CoachAaron Tillbrook
Academy Coach and College Head CoachRyan Hall
Academy Coach and Club AmbassadorJermain Defoe[38]
Academy CoachBradley Allen
Academy CoachWill Antwi
Academy CoachAaron Cato
Academy CoachSam Cox[39]
Academy CoachTrevor Duberry, JP
Academy CoachGlen Hicks
Academy CoachConnor McEnroe
Academy CoachJoe Staunton
Academy CoachTony Tillbrook
Head of Academy Physical DevelopmentMatt Allen
Academy Fitness Coach Under-18Chris Riley
Head Coach, Football Development CentrePaul Griffiths[40]
Senior International Development CoachAnton Blackwood
Head of Global Football DevelopmentAndy Rogers
Lead Global Development CoachJamal Rose
Global Development CoachShaun Harris
Global Development CoachRyan Hervel
Global Development CoachShannon Moloney
Global Development CoachFrankie Rogers
Head of Academy ScoutingPaul Lowe[41]
Chief International Scout Under-20Sebastian Taghizadeh
Academy Recruitment OfficerJason Hogg
Academy Head of EducationTrevor Webb
Academy Education AssistantHelene Michaels
Academy Administration ManagerLuke Godfrey
Player Care ManagerTina Gold
Transport Manager and Welfare OfficerNick Boulli
Academy Kit ManagerTavish Mahandru
Development/Academy Kit AssistantStanley White

Manager history

Reserve team manager / Head of development

The role of Reserve Team Manager was often filled by the club's Assistant Manager.

There was no reserve team during World War 2.

There was no reserve team 2009–2012.

  • 2012–2016 ???
  • England John McDermott (Head of coaching and development 2016–2020)[53] Note 1
  • England Wayne Burnett (Under-23 manager 2017–present)
  • England Ryan Mason (Head of player development Under-17 to Under-23 2020–2021)

Note 1McDermott was already Head of coaching and development but it was not until 2016 that he was put in charge of all teams below the first team, and was therefore the notional reserve team manager.

Under-18 manager / Youth team manager

Prior to 1969 Tottenham did not have a full-time youth team manager.[54] Jimmy Anderson was in charge of the Northfleet nursery team from 1934 to 1939 and was arguably the Tottenham youth team manager in all but name.[55]
Sometimes the Under-18 manager is referred to as the Under-18 coach.

Academy manager / Academy director

The titles 'Academy manager' and 'Academy director' seem to be interchangeable.

References

  1. 1 2 Kent's nursery clubs Archived 6 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 5 May 2009
  2. ↑ Kent League Cup Winners Retrieved 19 April 2014
  3. ↑ Northfleet United at the Football Club History Database
  4. 1 2 Blakeman, M (2010) The Official History of the Eastern Counties Football League 1935–2010, Volume II ISBN 978-1-908037-02-2
  5. ↑ Metropolitan League Handbook 1968/69
  6. ↑ "Scott Parker returns 30 June 2017 – News – tottenhamhotspur.com". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  7. ↑ "New Academy coaching staff appointed 29 June 2017 – News – tottenhamhotspur.com". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  8. ↑ "Parker Appointed". Fulham F.C. 4 July 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  9. ↑ "Academy coaching update". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 3 July 2021.
  10. ↑ Abbott, Harry (8 July 2019). "Former Swindon Town defender Matt Taylor joins Tottenham Hotspur's coaching staff following retirement as a player". Swindon Advertiser.
  11. ↑ "Football: Klinsmann backed by Ferdinand". The Independent. 11 March 1998. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  12. 1 2 "Sporting Digest: Football". The Independent. 16 July 1999. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  13. 1 2 "spurs v brighton notes". mehstg.com. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  14. 1 2 "Arnesen in Spurs clear-out". Evening Standard. London. 28 April 2005. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  15. ↑ "Academy coaching update". Tottenham Hotspur. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  16. ↑ "Academy update – Dean Rastrick departs". Tottenham Hotspur. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  17. ↑ "Academy update - Simon Davies". Tottenham Hotspur. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  18. ↑ Reserve News THFC website 12 June 2009 Retrieved, 15 August 2009
  19. ↑ Under 21s Appointment THFC website, Accessed 25 July 2014
  20. ↑ "Ugo Ehiogu 21 April 2017 – News – tottenhamhotspur.com". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  21. ↑ "New Academy coaching staff appointed 29 June 2017 – News – tottenhamhotspur.com". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  22. ↑ "Tottenham appoint Wayne Burnett and Perry Suckling as academy coaches".
  23. ↑ "Under-18s win Champions Cup!". Tottenham Hotspur. 6 September 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  24. ↑ "Under-18s make it a League Cup double!". Tottenham Hotspur. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  25. ↑ "Under-17s taste glory in Premier League Cup!". Tottenham Hotspur. 19 April 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  26. ↑ "Under 21". Tottenham Hotspur. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  27. ↑ "Ashcroft and Keeley join Academy". tottenhamhotspur.com. Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  28. ↑ "Port Vale loan for Devine". Tottenham Hotspur. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  29. ↑ "Matthew Craig: Doncaster Rovers sign Tottenham midfielder on loan". BBC. 9 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  30. ↑ "Barnet loan for Keeley". Tottenham Hotspur. 4 January 2024.
  31. ↑ "Troy Parrott: Tottenham striker joins Excelsior Rotterdam on season-loan deal". BBC Sport. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  32. 1 2 "Under 18". Tottenham Hotspur. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  33. ↑ "Chaplin turns pro". Tottenham Hotspur. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  34. ↑ "Arganese-McDermott signs first pro deal". Tottemham Hotspur F.C. 23 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  35. ↑ "Irow turns pro". Tottenham Hotspur. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  36. ↑ "Introducing our new Under-18s players". Tottenham Hotspur. 4 July 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  37. ↑ "Academy Info". Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  38. ↑ "Jermain Defoe returns". Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  39. ↑ "Spurs academy coach reveals what Yaya Toure has been doing at the club". The Spurs Web. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  40. ↑ "New City College". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. September 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  41. ↑ "Fabio Paratici's Spurs overhaul behind the scenes and how it will affect their transfer business". football.london. 30 January 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  42. ↑ "The Bill Nicholson years - player to manager - 1954-60". Tottenham Hotspur FC. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  43. ↑ "Looking back at the Spurs reserve team which won the Football Combination League (Division 1) during the 1961/62 season". superhotspur.com. 14 November 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  44. ↑ "eddie baily – fact file (see Para 10)". archive.mehstg.com. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  45. ↑ "the spurs management team 1975–76". archive.mehstg.com. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  46. ↑ "pat welton – fact file". archive.mehstg.com. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  47. ↑ "Robin Stepney RIP". Horsham Football Club. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  48. ↑ "Robbie Stepney RIP". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  49. ↑ "john pratt – fact file". archive.mehstg.com. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  50. ↑ "Things are looking up for Hughton". Irish Independent. 18 March 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  51. ↑ "Theo Foley RIP". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 27 June 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  52. ↑ "Fair play league gives Charlton anxious wait on Uefa Cup spot". The Guardian. 22 May 2004. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  53. ↑ "Mauricio Pochettino hands new role to Tottenham coach John McDermott". The Guardian. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  54. 1 2 "Pat Welton". saintsstatistics.co.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  55. ↑ Norman Giller (24 May 2021). My Seventy Years of Spurs. ISBN 9781785319433. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  56. ↑ "RIP Pat Welton". Spurs Community. 5 July 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  57. ↑ "My interview with former Spurs Youth Team manager Keith Waldon". superhotspur. 28 March 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  58. ↑ "des bulpin – fact file". archive.mehstg.com. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  59. ↑ "John's just four-midable!". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 10 December 2001. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  60. ↑ "Who is Kieran McKenna? Manchester United coach taking training with Michael Carrick". Sky Sports. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  61. 1 2 3 "Tottenham Hotspur U18 Manager history". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  62. ↑ "Matt Wells departs". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 7 March 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
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