Southampton F.C. Academy

Southampton Football Club Academy or Saints Academy is the youth organisation run by Southampton Football Club to encourage and develop young footballers in the South of England. There are currently 8 squads at the Academy.

• Under 18
• Under 16
• Under 14
• Under 13
• Under 12
• Under 11
• Under 10
• Under 9

International players

Amongst the players who passed through the Saints Academy and went on to represent their country are:

• Chris Baird
• Gareth Bale
• Leon Best
• Wayne Bridge
• Arron Davies
• Scott McDonald
• Tim Sparv
• Jake Thomson
• Theo Walcott

In the past, prior to the establishment of the academy, the Southampton youth system has produced other international players, such as Terry Paine, Mick Channon, Matthew Le Tissier and Alan Shearer.

Four former Saints academy players featured in the England Under-21 match against Montenegro on 7 September 2007: Martin Cranie and Theo Walcott both started (with Walcott setting up the second goal) whilst Dexter Blackstock and Andrew Surman came on as second half substitutes, with Surman scoring the final goal in a 3-0 victory, tapping the ball home in stoppage time from a knock-down by Blackstock.

Present structure

The academy manager is Matt Crocker (who served an apprenticeship at Cardiff City), assisted by Terry Moore.

The aim of the Southampton academy is to "...produce premiership class players..."

Currently Southampton's academy set up is one of the best in the country and they have regularly reached the latter stages of the FA Youth Cup, as well as being successful in the FA Premier Academy League championship. In season 2010-11 the U18s were only just "...Pipped to the Title..." by one point on the last day of the season of the Group A league. Southampton had to win and Fulham had to draw or lose for Southampton to come top. After winning 1-3 away to Coventry City the U18s were dismayed to discover Fulham had come back from being 0-3 down versus Leicester City to win 5-3.

Youth squad

Under 21 squad 2011–12

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

No. Position Player 32 DF Jack Stephens (DoB 27.04.94) DF Aarran Racine (DoB 30.10.91) MF Andy Robinson (DoB 16.10.92)

No. Position Player MF Lloyd Isgrove (DoB 12.01.93) FW Alberto Seidi (DoB 20.11.92) 40 FW Sam Hoskins (DoB 04.02.93)

Academy 2nd Years 2011–12

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

No. Position Player GK Steven Mowthorpe (DoB 05.01.94) DF Daniel Bowman (DoB 10.10.93) DF Conor O'Sullivan (DoB 03.11.93)

No. Position Player DF Matt Young (DoB 26.01.94) 35 MF Corby Moore (DoB 21.11.93) MF Joe Curtis (DoB 04.02.94)

Academy 1st Years 2011–12

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

No. Position Player GK William Britt (DoB 22.03.95) GK Chris Johns (DoB 13.05.95) DF Fraser Colmer (DoB 11.11.94) 34 DF Luke Shaw (DoB 12.07.95) DF Jordan Turnbull (DoB 31.10.94) MF Omar Rowe (DoB 30.10.94) MF Dominic Gape (DoB 09.09.94) MF Sam McQueen (DoB 06.02.95)

No. Position Player 30 MF James Ward-Prowse (DoB 01.11.94) MF Bevis Mugabi (DoB 01.05.95) MF Gregory Ariyibi (DoB 18.01.95) MF Calum Chambers (DoB 20.01.95) MF Harrison Reed (DoB 27.01.95) FW Jake Sinclair (DoB 29.11.94) FW Jamal Branker (DoB 25.01.95)