Blackpool Academy 2025–26 season showcasing progress along the EPPP development pathway for youth players.
Based in Lancashire, Blackpool FC operates a Category 3 academy that focuses on developing young talent through a structured coaching programme and competitive match experience.
- Academy Director: Ciaran Donnelly
- Under 18s Head Coach: Matthew Blinkhorn
Blackpool Retained List 2025
View the complete list of Blackpool players who have been retained, released, or have returned to their parent clubs following loan spells.
Blackpool Scholars 2025/26
- Josh Renton (Goalkeeper)
- Ollie Hunter (Defender)
- George Elder (Defender)
- Maddox Jonas-Dowling (Defender)
- Kian Daley (Midfielder)
- Harry Quinn (Midfielder)
- Max Wylezol (Midfielder)
Blackpool Academy Players On Loan 2025/26
Youth players on loan.
- Ryan Finnigan (Midfielder) Walsall
- Kylian Kouassi (Forward) Cambridge United
- Oluchi Nwankwo (Defender) Bamber Bridge
- Billy Whaite (Forward) Bradford Park Avenue
- Theo Upton (Midfielder) Matlock Town
- Harvey Bardsley (Goalkeeper) Trafford
- Terry Bondo (Forward) King’s Lynn
- Spencer Knight (Midfielder) Ashton United
Blackpool Academy Products in the First Team 2025/26
- Spencer Knight (Midfielder) #42
Blackpool 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
Blackpool U17 will play against Under-17 teams from Bolton Wanderers, Fleetwood Town and Carlisle United.
- Blackpool U17 won at home against Bolton U17 (3 – 0)
- Blackpool U17 won away against Fleetwood Town U17 (2 – 4)
- Blackpool U17 lost away against Carlisle United U17 (5 – 0)
Round of 16
- Blackpool U17 lost at home against Wrexham U17 (0 – 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 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.
Blackpool U18 are drawn in Group E against under-18 teams: Fleetwood Town, Stockport County and Wigan Athletic.
Fixtures Schedule (Group E)
- Match Round 1 (Tuesday 26 August 2025) Wigan Athletic v Blackpool
- Match Round 2 (Wednesday 12 November 2025) Blackpool v Stockport County
- Match Round 3 (Saturday 22 November 2025) Blackpool v Fleetwood Town
U18 Professional Development League Cup Group Stage
- Blackpool U18 won away against Wigan U18 (4 – 1)
- Shay Mannix
- James Butterworth (3)
- Blackpool U18 lost at home against Stockport County U18 (2 – 4)
- James Butterworth
- Billy Whaite
- Blackpool U18 won at home against Fleetwood Town U18 (1 – 0)
- James Butterworth
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
2nd Round
- Blackpool U18 won at home against Morecambe U18 (8 -0)
Sectional Quarter Final
- Blackpool U18 won away against Grimsby Town U18 (1 – 4)
Sectional Semi Final
- Blackpool U18 won away against Mansfield Town U18 (2 – 4)
Sectional Final
- Blackpool U18 won at home against Carlisle United U18 (2 – 1)
National Final
- Blackpool U18 lost at home against AFC Wimbledon U18 (1 – 1) (1 – 4 on Pens)
FA Youth Cup
First Round Proper
Blackpool U18 have been drawn away against Carlisle United U18
- Blackpool U18 won away against Carlisle United U18 (0 – 1)
Second Round Proper
Blackpool U18 have been drawn at home against Aylestone Park U18
- Blackpool won at home against Aylestone Park (4 – 1)
- James Butterworth (3)
- Theo Upton
Third Round Proper
Blackpool U18 have been drawn away against Fleetwood Town U18
- Blackpool U18 lost away against Fleetwood Town U18 (2 – 0)
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.
Blackpool Reserves Central League Cup Group Stage 2025/26
Blackpool Reserves are drawn in Group C against Reserve teams from Blackburn Rovers and Preston North End.
- Blackpool Reserves lost at home against Preston North End Reserves (0 – 1)
- Blackpool Reserves won away against Blackburn Rovers Reserves (3 – 4)
- George Elder
- James Butterworth (2)
- Max Wylezol
- Blackpool Reserves won away against Preston North End Reserves (0 – 1)
- Shay Mannix
- Blackpool Reserves won away against Blackburn Rovers Reserves (1 – 6)
- Terry Bondo (3)
- James Butterworth (3)
Blackpool Academy News
5th May 2025
Centre-back Johnson Opawole has been offered a professional contract by Blackpool.
16th July 2025
Rob Apter has completed a move from Blackpool to Charlton Athletic for an undisclosed fee.
He joined the Seasiders as a scholar at the age of 16 and has been with the club ever since.
25th July 2025
19-year-old Josh Miles has signed with Irish side Waterford from Blackpool for an undisclosed fee.
13th October 2025
Blackpool’s 16-year-old winger Gabriel Schluter has made the move to Nottingham Forest.
28th October 2025
Blackpool U18s advanced to the second round of the FA Youth Cup with a 1–0 victory away at Carlisle United.
4th November 2025
Blackpool U18s will host Aylestone Park in the FA Youth Cup second round proper on Tuesday, November 18th, with kick-off at 7:00 pm.
11th December 2025
Blackpool U18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the third round with a defeat to Fleetwood Town U18s.
6th February 2026
James Butterworth has put pen to paper on his first professional contract with the Club.
The striker’s deal runs until June 2027, with the Club holding an option to extend for a further 12 months.
20th February 2026
Defender Oluchukwu Mwankwo has been recalled by Blackpool from his loan spell at Bamber Bridge after making six appearances.
18th May 2026
Young goalkeepers Charlie Brier and Kai Crowe have both signed one-year professional contracts at Bloomfield Road, with the Seasiders retaining an option for a further 12 months.
Under-18 right back Kymani Leliandel has also signed a professional contract.
Released Academy Players
- Harry Williamson