Watford F.C. Under-21s and Academy

Football club
Watford Football Club Under-23s and Academy
Full nameWatford Football Club Under-23s and Academy
Nickname(s)The Hornets, The Golden Boys, Yellow Army, The 'Orns
GroundThe UCL Sports Ground, Shenley, Hertfordshire, England
OwnerGino Pozzo
ChairmanScott Duxbury
ManagerOmer Riza
WebsiteClub website
Home colours
Away colours
Third colours

Watford F.C. Under-23s and Academy is the youth setup of Watford. The Under-23 team is effectively Watford's second-string side, but is limited to three outfield players and one goalkeeper over the age of 23 per game following the introduction of new regulations from the 2012–13 season.[1] The Under-18 side is the most senior team in the Academy.

Home fixtures are contested at the UCL Sports Ground, based in Bell Lane, Shenley, Hertfordshire.

Players

Players who will qualify as under-21s in season 2023–24 (i.e. born on or after 1 January 2002) and who are outside the first-team squad. Players born after 1 September 2005 are scholars, who can play for the under-18 team.

As of 18 February 2024.[2][3]
Nat. No. Pos. Name Status Date of Birth Contract Exp. Notes[a] Ref.
South Africa GK Roraigh Browne Under-21 (2005-09-12) 12 September 2005 (age 18) 2026 Option 2027 [4]
Sweden 50 GK Jonathan Macaulay Under-21 (2005-03-17) 17 March 2005 (age 19) 2025 Option 2026 [5][6]
England 41 GK Alfie Marriott Under-21 (2004-03-26) 26 March 2004 (age 20) 2025 Option 2026 [7][6]
Cyprus GK Gabriel Ortelli Under-21 (2006-06-19) 19 June 2006 (age 18) 2026 Option 2027 [8]
England 40 GK Myles Roberts Under-21 (2001-12-09) 9 December 2001 (age 22) 2025 On loan to Partick Thistle F.C. [9][6]
Wales 51 DF George Abbott Under-21 (2005-01-22) 22 January 2005 (age 19) 2025 Option 2026 [10][6]
England DF Freddie Buers Under-21 (2005-12-05) 5 December 2005 (age 18) 2025 [11][12]
Russia DF Aaron Burton Under-21 (2005-09-24) 24 September 2005 (age 18) 2024 [13]
England 56 DF James Clarridge Under-21 (2004-05-08) 8 May 2004 (age 20) 2025 [14][15]
Australia DF Aidan Coyne Under-21 (2004-05-12) 12 May 2004 (age 20) 2025 Option 2026 [16][6]
England 44 DF Albert Eames Under-21 (2005-09-20) 20 September 2005 (age 18) 2027 [17]
Scotland DF Alistair Gould Under-21 (2005-07-26) 26 July 2005 (age 19) 2025 [18]
England DF Joshua Mullins Under-21 (2005-11-16) 16 November 2005 (age 18) 2026 Option 2027 [19]
England MF Zak Fraser-Grante Under-21 (2005-04-05) 5 April 2005 (age 19) 2025 Option 2026 [20][6]
Brazil MF Luigi Gaspar Under-21 (2004-03-11) 11 March 2004 (age 20) 2025 [21][6]
England MF Josh Keyes Under-21 (2006-04-26) 26 April 2006 (age 18) 2026 Option 2027
Republic of Ireland MF Prince Sikiru Under-21 (2006-04-10) 10 April 2006 (age 18) 2025 Option 2026 [22]
England 54 FW Tobi Adeyemo Under-21 (2005-03-14) 14 March 2005 (age 19) 2026 [23][24]
England 49 FW Michael Adu-Poku Under-21 (2005-09-22) 22 September 2005 (age 18) 2025 Option 2026 [25][26]
England FW Bentley Assiedou Under-21 2026
England 42 FW Shaq Forde Under-21 (2004-05-05) 5 May 2004 (age 20) Undisclosed (signed July 2022) [27][28][29]
Spain FW Ignacio Garcia-Romero Under-21 (2007-06-19) 19 June 2007 (age 17) 2025 Option 2026 [30]
England 59 FW Jack Grieves Under-21 (2004-12-05) 5 December 2004 (age 19) 2026 On loan to Ross County F.C. [31][26]
Nigeria FW Jonathan Lawson Under-21 (2005-10-16) 16 October 2005 (age 18) 2025 [18]
Spain FW Laken Torres Under-21 (2005-01-15) 15 January 2005 (age 19) 2025 Option 2026 [32][6]
England FW Jake Watkiss Under-21 (2005-03-15) 15 March 2005 (age 19) 2025 Option 2026 [18]
England GK Zack Braverman Under-18 2025
England GK Sam Morris Under-18 (2006-10-23) 23 October 2006 (age 17) 2025 [33]
England GK Sebastian Thrussell Under-18 2025
England DF Tom Georgiou Under-18 (2006-09-07) 7 September 2006 (age 17) 2025 [33]
England DF Conrad Hunt Under-18 (2007-06-19) 19 June 2007 (age 17) 2025 [34]
England DF Tyler Notley Under-18 2025
England DF Joel Sala Under-18 (2006-10-30) 30 October 2006 (age 17) 2025 [33]
England DF Jonny Scriven Under-18 2025
England DF Ollie Stephenson Under-18 (2006-09-18) 18 September 2006 (age 17) 2025 [33]
England DF Raul Vancea Under-18 2025
England MF Tobi Akinyimika Under-18 2025
England MF Hayden Barrett Under-18 (2007-04-18) 18 April 2007 (age 17) 2025 [33]
England MF Charlie Bolding Under-18 (2006-09-27) 27 September 2006 (age 17) 2025 [33]
Latvia MF Marats Galajevs Under-18 2025 [33]
England MF Jai-Dea Moulton Under-18 2025
England 52 MF Leo Ramirez-Espain Under-18 (2006-10-02) 2 October 2006 (age 17) 2026 Option 2027 [33]
England MF Josh Riza Under-18 (2006-11-06) 6 November 2006 (age 17) 2025 [33]
England MF Amar Sanghrajka Under-18 (2006-10-23) 23 October 2006 (age 17) 2025 [33]
England FW Amani Bowlin Under-18 (2007-03-30) 30 March 2007 (age 17) 2025 [33]
England FW Tony Cowie Under-18 2025
England 47 FW Zavier Massiah-Edwards Under-18 (2007-01-16) 16 January 2007 (age 17) 2027 [33]
Afghanistan 53 FW Amin Nabizada Under-18 (2007-06-21) 21 June 2007 (age 17) 2025 [33]
England FW Jael Norville Under-18 2025
England FW Kash Odiase Under-18 (2007-04-17) 17 April 2007 (age 17) 2025 [33]
Ukraine FW Kristian Shevchenko Under-18 (2006-11-10) 10 November 2006 (age 17) 2025 [33]
England FW Max Smith Under-18 (2007-06-16) 16 June 2007 (age 17) 2025 [33]
England FW Kymani Smith-Daley Under-18 2025
  1. ^ For loans in non-national English leagues, see 2023–24 Watford F.C. season.

Overseas loan group

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

No. Pos. Nation Player

References

  1. ^ "Barclays U21 Premier League: Competition Format explained". premierleague.com. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  2. ^ "Under-21 Team players". Watford F.C. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  3. ^ "Under-18 Team players". Watford F.C. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Roraigh Browne". Watford F.C. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Jonathan Macaulay". Watford F.C. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "Academy: New Deals Confirmed". Watford F.C. 6 July 2023. Archived from the original on 14 July 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Alfie Marriott". Watford F.C. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Gabriel Ortelli". Watford F.C. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  9. ^ "Myles Roberts". Watford F.C. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  10. ^ "George Abbott". Watford F.C. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  11. ^ "Freddie Buers". Watford F.C. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Official: Buers Joins Academy". Watford F.C. 26 January 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Aaron Burton". Watford F.C. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  14. ^ "James Clarridge". Watford F.C. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Academy: Clarridge Joins Hornets". Watford F.C. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  16. ^ "Aidan Coyne". Watford F.C. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  17. ^ "Albert Eames". Watford F.C. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  18. ^ a b c "Academy: Lawson, Gould & Watkiss Sign On". Watford F.C. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Joshua Mullins". Watford F.C. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  20. ^ "Zak Fraser-Grante". Watford F.C. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  21. ^ "Luigi Gaspar". Watford F.C. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  22. ^ "Prince Sikiru". Watford F.C. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  23. ^ "Tobi Adeyemo". Watford F.C. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  24. ^ "Official: Adeyemo Agrees Pro Deal". Watford F.C. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  25. ^ "Michael Adu-Poku". Watford F.C. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  26. ^ a b "Official: Grieves & Adu-Poku Agree Pro Deals". Watford F.C. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  27. ^ "Shaqai Forde". Watford F.C. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  28. ^ "Official: Forde Signs Professional Contract". Watford F.C. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  29. ^ "Official: Forde Joins Leyton Orient On Loan". Watford F.C. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  30. ^ "Ignacio Garcia-Romero". Watford F.C. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  31. ^ "Jack Grieves". Watford F.C. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  32. ^ "Laken Torres". Watford F.C. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Academy: New Scholars For 2023/24 Announced". Watford F.C. 26 July 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  34. ^ "Conrad Hunt". Watford F.C. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  • Watford Under-23s at watfordfc.com
  • Watford Under-18s at watfordfc.com
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