Youth & Reserves

Chelsea’s Under-18 team rounded out their home campaign for 2011-12 with a second consecutive goalless draw against Aston Villa.  In a match of few real chances and little incident, a point apiece was a fair result and both sides were able to offer further opportunities to younger players.  Under-16s Mitchell Beeney and Dion Conroy started for the hosts whilst Adi Viveash was able to welcome back Archange Nkumu from injury….

Chelsea’s Reserve team earned a deserved point in South Wales on Tuesday evening as they drew 2-2 agaisnt Swansea at the Parc y Scarlets. Dermot Drummy’s young side twice fell behind in the second half but Patrick Bamford and Lucas Piazon hauled the Blues back on terms on each occasion, with the Brazilian striking in timely fashion with just moments remaining. It was a just result and an impressive one…

Chelsea’s Reserve team continued a fine week across all levels for the Blues with a 4-2 win away to Newcastle on Monday night. A brace from Romelu Lukaku – taking the Belgian to seven goals in as many games – and one apiece from Nathaniel Chalobah and Billy Clifford secured an impressive three points for Dermot Drummy’s men. They won’t be successfully defending their national title from last May but…

Chelsea put themselves into a strong position in the FA Youth Cup with a 2-1 first leg victory away to Manchester United on Friday night. Goals from Amin Affane and Islam Feruz secured a vital victory for the Blues in the opening game of the Semi Final, and they will host their opponents at Stamford Bridge in some ten days time or so with an advantage to play with. As…

For the fourth time in five years, Chelsea have reached the Semi Final stage of the FA Youth Cup. As has become the norm now, there’s been no shortage of drama along the way as the comeback kids have produced staggering turnarounds against West Ham United and Nottingham Forest en route to the final four. In fact, the Blues have only led for less than an hour of this year’s…

Chelsea have announced this morning that they have signed a three-year deal to enter the NextGen Series from next season. After the relative success of the inaugural campaign, the Blues have agreed to join a competition they were involved in trialling during the 2010-11 season when they played both Bayern Munich and Celtic in friendly matches. The NextGen Series is an Under-19 competition featuring some of Europe’s most prestigious names…

For the better part of the last decade, Chelsea have earned a reputation as a club which does not give youth a fair chance at senior level. Whatever the merits of that argument, it typically leads to the suggestion that players of sufficient quality are not being produced. Again, that much can be debated, but what is certain is that an ever-growing number of Blues academy products are making an…