Youth & Reserves

If ever a match could be described as a cagey affair, whilst simultaneously being played at breakneck pace and featuring numerous chances, then it was this first leg of the latest instalment of the Manchester City vs Chelsea FA Youth Cup franchise. In the opening gambit of the third year in a row in which the country’s two leading academies go head-to-head in the Under-18 showpiece occasion, it’s very much…

For many, a third consecutive FA Youth Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester City will only serve to confirm their fears that the financial largesse that exists at the top of the English game has well and truly made its way down to the academy ranks, with the two biggest-spending clubs in the country now dominant at junior level as well. Others will view it as a positive thing; almost…

Chelsea’s 26-match unbeaten run at Under-18 level came to an end on Saturday morning as they were beaten 2-0 by Manchester City at the City Academy Stadium. Tom Dele-Bashiru’s first-half goal and a late stoppage-time second from Taylor Richards proved enough to earn all three points for the hosts in the Merit Stage of Under-18 Premier League competition despite a missed penalty by Reece James, but neither team played anywhere…

The last few games of the season tends to offer time for reflection on the campaign, particularly at youth level, and so as Chelsea’s Development Squad beat Sunderland 3-0 at Stamford Bridge on Friday evening, the hard work of the previous eight months started to come to mind. The Blues don’t finish their schedule for another fortnight yet, but as 16 and 17 year-old prospects dominated from start to finish…

Academy football returned on Saturday with a seven-goal thriller as Chelsea’s Under-18s edged out Manchester United 4-3 at Cobham to remain a perfect two-out-of-two in the Merit Stage of competition. A fascinating contest in the warmth of a sunny April morning swung to and fro, with the visitors establishing an early lead through Ethan Hamilton only to trail at the break as Juan Castillo and Conor Gallagher, from the penalty…

Chelsea came out of the first leg of their FA Youth Cup Semi Final against Tottenham on Tuesday evening feeling short-changed that they only had a 2-1 advantage to show for their dominance at White Hart Lane. They sure made up for that on Saturday evening. A rampant display of attacking saw the Blues run out 7-1 winners on the day, 9-2 on aggregate, and book their place in a…