Blackburn Rovers Academy 2024-25

Highlights from the Blackburn Rovers Academy 2024–25 season showcasing progress along the EPPP development pathway for young players.

Blackburn Rovers FC runs a category 1 academy based in the North West.

  • Head of Academy: Stuart Jones

Blackburn Scholars 2024/25

The following first-year scholars have been announced by Blackburn Rovers ahead of the 2024/25 season.

  1. Igor Tyjon
  2. Michael Decandia
  3. Isaac Dunn
  4. Valentin Joseph
  5. Leon Kelly-Quinn
  6. Freddie Leatherbarrow
  7. Bruce Leeming
  8. Tyler Mansbridge
  9. Harvey Pates
  10. Aaron Potter
  11. Jayden Sergeant
  12. Luke Thompson
  13. Frank Vare
  14. Blake Wolsoncroft

Blackburn Academy International Players 2024/25

  1. Theo Pitt (Defender) Wales U16
  2. Harvey Higgins (Midfielder) England U16
  3. Niall Goghavala (Midfielder) Canada U16
  4. Igor Tyjon (Midfielder) England U17
  5. Nicolas Michalski (Goalkeeper) England U18
  6. Aodhan Doherty (Forward) Northern Ireland U19; U21
  7. Leo Duru (Defender) USA U20
  8. Connor O’Riordan (Defender) Republic of Ireland U21
  9. Tom Atcheson (Defender) Northern Ireland U19, U21

Blackburn Academy Players On Loan 2024/25

  1. Jake Garrett (Midfielder) Bristol Rovers; Tranmere Rovers
  2. Connor O’Riordan (Defender) Cambridge United
  3. Jake Batty (Defender) Accrington Stanley
  4. Tom Atcheson (Defender) Marine AFC
  5. Jalil Saadi (Midfielder) Ethnikos Achnas
  6. Harrison Wood (Forward) Annan Athletic; Radcliffe
  7. Dan Shaw (Midfielder) Alvechurch FC
  8. Nicholas Michalski (Goalkeeper) Bamber Bridge; City of Liverpool FC
  9. Charlie Olson (Defender) Altrincham
  10. James Edmonson (Midfielder) Macclesfield FC
  11. Solomon Honor (Goalkeeper) Clitheroe FC; Atherton Collieries
  12. Max Davies (Defender) Warrington Rylands
  13. Adam Khan (Goalkeeper) City of Liverpool FC
  14. Brandon Powell (Defender) Chorley
  15. Teddy Ramwell (Defender) City of Liverpool
  16. Jordan Eastham (Goalkeeper) Ashton United
  17. Felix Goddard (Goalkeeper) Ebbsfleet United
  18. Leo Duru (Defender) Barrow
  19. Patrick Gamble (Defender) AFC Fylde
  20. Lewis Bell (Midfielder) Marine AFC
  21. Exaucé Mafoumbi (Forward) Lierse SK
  22. Kristi Montgomery (Midfielder) Marine FC; Chorley
  23. Jack Barrett (Goalkeeper) Workington

The Blackburn Academy Products in 1st Team 2024/25

  1. Harry Leonard (Forward) #20
  2. Igor Tyjon (Midfielder) #32
  3. Matty Litherland (Defender) #40
  4. Harley O’Grady-Macken (Midfielder) #41
  5. Isaac Dunne (Midfielder) #46
  6. Brandon Powell (Defender) #50

Blackburn Rovers Academy Competitions For 2024/25

U17 and U18 Premier League Cup

In 2017, the Premier League introduced the U18 Premier League Cup and the U16 Premier League Cup, renaming the latter to the U17 Premier League Cup in 2020 for their respective age groups.

The seven group winners, along with the best runner-up determined by total points, goal difference, and then head-to-head record, will progress to the quarterfinals.

U17 Premier League Cup Group Stage

Blackburn U17 are drawn in Group F against under-17 teams from Everton, Manchester City and Fleetwood Town.

  1. Drew away against Manchester City U17 (2 – 2)
  2. Won at home against Fleetwood Town U17 (8 – 0)

U17 Group Premier League Cup Quarter-Finals

  1. Lost away against Derby County U17 (5 – 1)

U18 Premier League Cup Group Stage

Blackburn U18 are drawn in Group C against under-18 teams from Sunderland, Reading and West Brom.

  1. Lost at home against Reading U18 (4 – 2)
  2. Lost away against West Brom U18 (2 – 1)
  3. Won away against Sunderland U18 (3 – 2)

U21 Premier League Cup

The Premier League Cup was introduced in the 2013/14 season to enhance competition during the Professional Development Phase.

It added a knockout tournament alongside the regular league schedule. For the 2024/25 season, the format features nine groups.

The top team from each group automatically qualifies for the knockout stage, along with the seven best second-placed teams.

Blackburn Rovers are drawn in Group E against under 21 teams from Queens Park Rangers, Colchester United and Preston North End.

U21 Premier League Cup Group Stage

  1. Won at home against Colchester U21 (2 – 1)
    • Thomas Bloxham
    • James Edmondson
  2. Drew away against Colchester U21 (1 – 1)
    • Paul Murphy-Worrell
  3. Drew at home against Preston North End U21 (4 – 4)
    • Harley O’Grady-Macken
    • Harvey Higgins
    • Zack Stritch (2)
  4. Lost away against QPR U21 (2 – 1)
    • Harry Leonard
  5. Drew away against Preston North End U21 (1 – 1)
    • Harrison Wood
  6. Won at home against QPR U21 (1 – 0)
    • Joe Boggan

U21 Premier League Cup Round of 16

  1. Lost away against Charlton Athletic U21 (7 – 0)

Central League Cup

2024/25 Central League Cup Fixtures announced.

18 teams have entered the competition, divided into four groups:

Groups A and C contain five teams each, while Groups B and D each have four.

In the group stage, Blackburn Rovers Reserves will play each of the other four teams in Group A once. The teams are Burnley Reserves, Barrow Reserves, Morecambe FC Reserves and Carlisle United Reserves.

Blackburn Rovers Central League Cup Group Stage 2024/25
  1. Won away at Carlisle United 5 – 0
    • Igor Tyjon
    • Leonard Duru
    • Amario Cozier-Duberry (3)
  2. Lost at home to Burnley Reserves 3 – 1
    • Tom Bloxham
  3. Won away at Morecambe Reserves 1 – 0
    • Zack Stritch

The top two teams from each group will then advance to the quarterfinals.

National League Cup

The National League Cup is a 32-team midweek competition, comprising of 16 Under-21s teams participating in Premier League 2 and 16 National League club first teams.

Rovers U21s have been placed in Group B of the new National League Cup competition.

They will face Altrincham, Forest Green Rovers, Oldham Athletic, and Rochdale, with all matches being played away from home.

National League Cup Group Stage

  1. Lost against Altrincham (3 – 3) Pens (6 – 5)
    • Exaucé Mafoumbi
    • Zack Stritch
    • Freddie Leatherbarrow
  2. Lost against Rochdale (4 – 1)
    • Matthew Litherland
  3. Lost against Oldham (3 – 2)
    • Zack Stritch
    • Aodhan Doherty
  4. Lost against Forest Green (4 – 2)
    • Alex Baker
    • Aodhan Doherty

Premier League International Cup

The participating teams are split into four groups of eight, each comprising four UK-based Under-21 teams and four invited overseas clubs represented by their development squads.

Each UK team will host all four overseas clubs in their group. The results will determine the standings in each group, with the top two teams advancing to the knockout stages.

Blackburn U21 will face Athletic Club, Benfica, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Lyon in the initial phase of the tournament.

Middlesbrough, Sunderland and West Ham are the other UK-based teams in their group.

Blackburn U21 Premier League International Cup Group Stage

  1. Lost against Lyon Reserves (2 – 0)
  2. Drew against Benfica U21 (1 – 1)
    • Harry Leonard
  3. Won against Mönchengladbach U21 (3 – 1)
    • Brandon Powell
    • Harry Leonard
    • Adam Graham Caddick
  4. Lost against Athletic Club B (2 – 1)
    • Harrison Wood

Blackburn Academy News

14th September 2024

17 year old Dan Shaw scored an 84th minute winner for Alvechurch against Halesowen on his debut.

16th September 2024

Igor Tyjon at 16 years and 178 days becomes Blackburn Rovers third youngest-ever player and second youngest to make a league appearance.

25th September 2024

Nicholas Michalski has been recalled from his loan spell at Bamber Bridge after playing 11 games for the Northern Premier League – Premier Division club, Bamber Bridge.

30th September 2024

To celebrate World Heart Day, the Blackburn Rovers Academy U9s-U12s in the Foundation Development Phase (FDP) received essential basic training.

This took place before one of their football sessions at the Senior Training Centre.

15th November 2024

In the 3rd round of the FA Youth Cup, Blackburn Rovers have been drawn away to Sheffield United.

5th December 2024

Tonight’s FA Youth Cup third-round match against Sheffield United U18s has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

7th December 2024

Today marks Blackburn Rovers’ 700th consecutive league match featuring an academy player in the matchday squad.

9th December 2024

Blackburn’s FA Youth Cup match against Sheffield United has been rescheduled for Tuesday, December 17th. The game will now kick off at 7 PM at York City’s LNER Community Stadium.

10th December 2024

Rovers’ Under-16 and Under-17 teams have both advanced to the knockout phase of the Premier League Cup.

They achieved this by finishing at the top of their respective groups.

17th December 2024

Blackburn Rovers’ FA Youth Cup run ended with a 3-2 defeat away to Sheffield United in the third round.

3rd January 2025

Loanee Jake Garrett has returned to the club from his loan to Bristol City.

9th January 2025

Connor O’Riordan has been recalled from his loan stint at Cambridge United.

27th January 2025

Dominik Biniek has departed Blackburn Rovers to join Bruk-Bet Termalica Nieciecza.

The 20-year-old has signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with the Polish second-tier club.

18th March 2025

Blackburn Rovers under-18s lost at home to Bolton Wanderers under-18s 3 – 2 in the Lancashire FA Youth Cup.

23rd April 2025

Lucas Houghton has signed his first professional contract with Blackburn Rovers. The young right-back has agreed to a two-year deal that runs until June 2027, with an option to extend for an additional year.

13th May 2025

Blackburn Rovers Under-21 coach Mike Sheron reflects on what he considered a challenging season for his team, though he acknowledges there are positives to build on for the upcoming campaign.

Academy Players Released

  1. Teddy Ramwell
  2. Stephen Edmondson
  3. Nathan Willis (Joins Barnsley)
  4. Jackson Shorrocks (Joins Huddersfield Town)
  5. Bradley Taylor
  6. Lewis Bell
  7. Paul Murphy-Worrell

Young Professionals Released

  1. Adam Caddick
  2. Alex Baker
  3. Jalil Saadi
  4. Isaac Whitehall
  5. Rhys Doherty
  6. Jordan Eastham (Joins Ashton United)
  7. Tom Bloxham
  8. Patrick Gamble
  9. Zak Gilsenan