Grimsby Town Academy 2025–26 season showcasing progress along the EPPP development pathway.
The academy, located in Lincolnshire, is part of Grimsby Town and holds Category 3 status, providing training and development for young players.
- Academy Manager: Neil Woods
- Lead Professional Development Phase Coach: Callum Lester
- Lead Youth Development Phase Coach: Ben Davies
Grimsby Town Retained List 2025
View the complete list of Grimsby Town players who have been retained, released, or have returned to their parent clubs following loan spells.
Grimsby Town Scholars 2025/26
- Lennon Peterson (Midfielder)
- George Smith (Midfielder)
- Kristian Catchpole (Midfielder)
- Ted Sharp (Forward)
- Charlie Elliot (Defender)
- Josh Edwards (Defender)
- Harvey Booth (Forward)
- Tyler Pratt (Forward)
Grimsby Town Academy Players On Loan 2025/26
Youth players on loan
- Sebastian Auton (Goalkeeper) Grimsby Borough
- Zak Gilsenan (Midfielder) Buxton; Gateshead
- Henry Brown (Midfielder) Gainsborough Trinity
The Grimsby Town Academy Products in the First Team 2025/26
- Sebastian Auton (Goalkeeper) #41
- Henry Brown (Midfielder) #23
- Cameron Gardner (Midfielder) #22
- Evan Khouri (Midfielder) #8
- Alex Graham (Defender) #26
- Fortune Onoh (Defender) #27
- Elliott Smith (Forward) #35
Grimsby Town Academy International Players 2025/26
- Cameron Gardner (Midfielder) Scotland U21
Academy Competitions
U17 Professional Development League Cup
The U17 Professional Development League Cup is an English youth football tournament created for players aged 17 and under.
U17 PDL Cup Group Stage
Grimsby Town U17 will play against Under-17 teams from Stockport County, Mansfield Town and Barnsley.
- Grimsby Town U17 lost at home against Stockport County U17 (1 – 4)
- Grimsby Town U17 won away against Mansfield Town U17 (0 – 2)
- Grimsby Town U17 lost away against Barnsley U17 (3 – 2)
Round of 16
- Grimsby Town won away at Oldham Athletic U17 (0 – 2)
U18 Professional Development League Cup
Established for the 2021/22 season, the Professional Development League Cup features 32 teams divided into eight groups of four.
The group winners advance to the knockout stages.
Grimsby Town U18 are drawn in Group F against under-18 teams: Barnsley, Hull City and Preston North End.
Fixtures Schedule (Group F)
- Match Round 1 (Tuesday 26 August 2025) Preston North End v Grimsby Town
- Match Round 2 (Saturday 4 October 2025) Grimsby Town v Hull City
- Match Round 3 (Saturday 22 November 2025) Grimsby Town v Barnsley
U18 Professional Development League Cup Group Stage
- Grimsby Town U18 won away against Preston North End U18 (0 – 1)
- Grimsby Town U18 won at home against Hull City U18 (6 – 1)
- Grimsby Town U18 lost at home against Barnsley U18 (1 – 2)
U18 Youth Alliance League
The Football League Youth Alliance is an English youth football competition made up of two regional divisions, serving as the League Two tier within the U18 Professional Development League system.
U18 Youth Alliance League North Winter Table 2025-26
Below are the team standings at the winter break, marking roughly the halfway point of the season.
U18 Youth Alliance Cup
The EFL Youth Alliance Cup is a youth football tournament in England, organized by the English Football League (EFL). It features under-18 teams from League One and League Two clubs that compete in the EFL Youth Alliance, the league system for these academies.
The competition follows a format like the EFL Trophy, beginning with a regional group stage before progressing to a national knockout phase.
Designed to foster young talent at lower-tier EFL clubs, the tournament provides a structured competitive environment beyond regular league matches.
U18 Youth Alliance Cup
- Grimsby Town U18 won away against Port Vale U18 (0 – 3)
- Grimsby Town U18 lost at home against Blackpool U18 (1 – 4)
FA Youth Cup
First Round Proper
Grimsby Town U18 have been drawn away against Loughborough Students U18
- Grimsby Town U18 won away against Loughborough Students (1 – 6)
Second Round Proper
Grimsby Town U18 have been drawn at home against Doncaster Rovers U18
- Grimsby Town U18 lost at home against Doncaster Rovers U18 (1 – 2)
- Elliot Smith
Central League Cup
2025/26 Central League Cup Fixtures announced.
15 teams have entered the competition, divided into four groups:
The top two teams from each group will then advance to the quarterfinals.
Grimsby Town Reserves Central League Group Stage 2025/26
Grimsby Town Reserves are drawn in Group B against Reserve teams from Derby County, Chesterfield and Mansfield Town.
- Grimsby Town Reserves won away against Chesterfield Reserves (0 – 1)
- Elliot Smith
- Grimsby Town Reserves lost at home against Derby County B (2 – 3)
- Danny Rose
- Jude Soonsup-Bell
- Grimsby Town Reserves won at home against Mansfield Town Reserves (2 – 1)
- Jude Soonsup-Bell
- Elliot Smith
Grimsby Town Academy News
30th May 2025
Henry Brown and Seb Auton have put pen to paper on their first professional contracts with Grimsby Town.
30th July 2025
Grimsby Town’s Under-17s and Under-19s both clinched the Peter Handyside Cup titles with victories over Stoke City.
31st October 2025
Grimsby Town U18s advanced to the second round of the FA Youth Cup with a 6-1 victory away against Loughborough Students U18s.
4th November 2025
Grimsby Town U18s will host Doncaster Rovers U18 in the FA Youth Cup second round proper on Monday, November 17th, with kick-off at 7:00 pm.
17th November 2025
Grimsby Town U18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end with a 1-2 defeat at home to Doncaster Rovers U18s.
16th December 2025
The Mariners edged past local rivals Scunthorpe United with a 5–4 victory on penalties to book their place in the Lincolnshire County Senior Cup semi-final.