Youth & Reserves

Chelsea’s Reserve team opened their 2011 pre-season schedule with a 6-1 defeat to League Two new boys Crawley Town. A mixed team which included experience in the likes of Jacob Mellis alongside the youthful endeavour of first year Adam Nditi went down courtesy of goals from Matt Tubbs (2), John Akinde, Wes Thomas (2) and Tyrone Barnett. The Reds have already been in preparation mode for over a fortnight and…

Southampton have this evening confirmed that they have secured the permanent services of Chelsea’s England Under-21 midfielder Jack Cork on what is thought to be a long-term contract. It brings an end to over a decade at the club for the 22 year-old, who never made a senior appearance at Stamford Bridge. Cork now returns to a club he spent six months on loan at in 2008, and will also…

Steve Holland’s promotion from Reserve Team Coach to work with Andre Villas-Boas’ first team staff has led to a re-shuffle of roles in the academy’s coaching structure. Speaking to Chelsea TV, Academy Manager Neil Bath revealed that Dermot Drummy would be moving up from his Under-18 post to take charge of the Reserve team, with Under-16 boss Adrian Viveash stepping up to replace the former Arsenal man. Viveash’s promotion would…

The English Reserve League structure is an ever-changing one, with the landscape never quite clear year on year. For 2011-12, things are set to change again as Chelsea prepare to defend their title. According to News Wales, sixteen of the twenty Premier League teams will enter the competition, with Manchester City, Queens Park Rangers, Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur electing not to take part. Things have been made slightly easier…

It’s that time of year again. Back in March, a group of teenagers signed their first full-time contracts in football, putting pen to paper on two-year scholarship deals which will see them continue their footballing – and scholastic – eductation at Chelsea. They will make up much of Dermot Drummy’s Under-18 squad for the coming season, and whilst many names will already be familiar to regular readers, let’s take a…

Four young Chelsea players put pen to paper on their first ever professional contracts on Monday morning. Having returned from their summer break, Todd Kane, Archange Nkumu, Amin Affane and Jamal Blackman all secured themselves senior deals to train at the club full time. It follows on from last summer’s group of eight first-time professionals and means that the vast majority of the club’s bright talents are now secured to…

According to Spanish reports this morning, Chelsea have moved quickly to snap up recently released Barcelona academy youngster Gael Etock. The 17 year-old Cameroonian, who made his way to Spain as part of the Eto’o Foundation along with half a dozen other compatriots, reportedly departed ‘La Masia’ last week with no sign of a new contract. It is not clear as to whether he chose to leave or was released….

In the past few weeks, Yeovil boss Terry Skiverton has taken to Twitter to ask his followers for ‘scouting’ advice on new signings. Upon recommendations from a number of his followers, the Glovers’ boss secured the signature of striker Kieran Agard, formerly of Everton. In keeping with that sort of thinking, TheChels presents five young Chelsea players who are likely to head out on loan during the 2011-12 season and…

With June coming to an end, impatient domestic football fans are turning their attentions towards pre-season football. Whilst Chelsea’s first team are heading off to Asia for much of the month, their youth and reserve teams are in action on domestic shores and there will be plenty of action to look out for. Players have been returning in dribs and drabs throughout this week ahead of a full scale return…