Youth & Reserves

Chelsea begin their defence of their Reserve League title this Monday at home to Sunderland as another campaign which promised much change kicks off with the status quo having been maintained. Once again, four of the twenty Premier League sides have opted not to participate in this year’s league structure, whilst a small group of others may find themselves distracted by involvement in the Next Generation League, a European Under-19…

Chelsea’s Under-18s continued their pre-season schedule with a keenly contested and engaging affair against Derby County which finished 1-1. Adie Viveash’s boys began their summer with a win over Colchester and followed it with a victory on tour in Austria, but suffered defeat against a very talented Nottingham Forest team in midweek. East Midlands opposition travelled to Cobham for the second time in a week and the Rams, much like…

Reports breaking this evening suggest that Chelsea have finalised a deal this week for Celtic’s young forward Islam Feruz. The Somalian-born Scottish youth international hit the headlines two years ago when playing in the Sky Sports Victory Shield aged just 13 and has long since played above his age group at Celtic Park. Now, sources at Scotzine – with plenty of other talk to go with it – claim that…

Chelsea’s Reserve team recorded their first win of pre-season with a 3-0 victory over Blue Square South outfit Hampton & Richmond Borough on Saturday afternoon. A brace from Adam Phillip followed Philipp Prosenik’s opener in what was an impressive display from Dermot Drummy’s boys. Following a 6-1 reverse at Crawley Town a fortnight ago, the group took in a week of training in Austria which culminated in a fixture against…

As many of you will know by now, Sam Hutchinson played 45 minutes for Chelsea’s Reserve team at Crawley Town yesterday afternoon. It came as quite a surprise given that the young defender announced his retirement from the game last summer as he battled a chronic knee problem. The question now being asked, of course, is whether he is attempting a return on a full time basis or if he…

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…