Cheltenham Town FC Academy 2025–26 season showcasing progress along the EPPP development pathway for youth players.
Based in Gloucestershire, Cheltenham Town FC Academy runs a category 3 academy.
- Academy Manager: Pail Gardiner
- Lead Youth Development Phase Coach: Calum Wands
- Lead Professional Development Phase: Dave Palmer
Cheltenham Town Retained List 2025
View the complete list of Cheltenham Town players who have been retained, released, or have returned to their parent clubs following loan spells.
Cheltenham Town Academy Players Loan Watch 2025/26
Youth players on loan.
- Sopuruchukwu Obieri (Forward) Gloucester City
- Cameron Walters (Defender) Evesham United
- Tom King (Forward) Worthing FC
- Charlie Chaple (Defender) Malvern Town
- Mark Barber (Defender) Taunton Town
- Freddy Willcox (Defender) Hereford
- Harry Tustin (Midfielder) Heredord
Cheltenham Town Academy Products in the First Team 2025/26
- Freddy Willcox (Defender) #30
- Harry Tustin (Midfielder) #38
- Mark Barber (Midfielder) #42
- Mamadou Diallo (Goalkeeper) #41
Cheltenham Town Academy International Players 2025/26
- Leo Folley (Goalkeeper) Wales U15
Cheltenham 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
Cheltenham Town U17 will play against Under-17 teams from Walsall, Port Vale and Cardiff City.
- Cheltenham Town U17 lost at home against Walsall U17 (0 – 4)
- Cheltenham Town U17 won away against Port Vale U17 (2 – 3)
- Cheltenham Town U17 won away against Cardiff City U17 (3 – 4)
Round of 16
- Cheltenham Town U17 lost at home against Cardiff City U17 (0 – 1)
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
Second Round
- Cheltenham Town U18 won away against Cambridge United U18 (0 – 7)
Quarter-Final
- Cheltenham Town U18 lost away against Luton Town U18 (2 – 1)
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.
U18 Professional Development League Cup Group Stage
Cheltenham Town U18 are drawn in Group A against under-18 teams: AFC Bournemouth, Plymouth Argyle and Portsmouth.
Fixtures Schedule (Group A)
- Match Round 1 (Tuesday 26 August 2025) AFC Bournemouth v Cheltenham Town
- Match Round 2 (Saturday 4 October 2025) Cheltenham Town v Portsmouth
- Match Round 3 (Saturday 22 November 2025) Cheltenham Town v Plymouth Argyle
- Cheltenham Town U18 won away against AFC Bournemouth U18 (3 – 1)
- Cheltenham Town U18 won at home against Portsmouth U18 (4 – 0)
- Cheltenham Town U18 lost at home against Plymouth Argyle U18 (4 – 3)
Quarter Final
- Cheltenham Town U18 won at home against Stockport County U18 (1- 0)
FA Youth Cup
First Round Proper
Cheltenham Town U18 have been drawn away against Cardiff City U18
- Cheltenham Town U18 won away against Cardiff City U10 (0 – 1)
Second Round Proper
Cheltenham Town U18 have been drawn away against Reading U18
- Cheltenham Town U18 lost away against Reading U18 (2 – 2) (4 – 3 on Pens)
- George McNamee
- Sopuruchukwu Obieri
Cheltenham Town Academy News
3rd July 2025
Cameron Walters and Harry Tustin have both signed their first professional contracts at Cheltenham Town.
October 28 2025
Cheltenham Town U18s advanced to the second round of the FA Youth Cup with a 1 – 0 victory away against Cardiff City U18s.
4th November 2025
Cheltenham Town U18s will travel to face Reading U18 in the FA Youth Cup second round on Wednesday, November 12th, with kick-off scheduled for 7:00 pm.
11th November 2025
Academy graduate Tom King scored his first goal while on loan at Worthing this weekend.
12th November 2025
Cheltenham U18s’ FA Youth Cup run came to an end after a 2-2 draw and a 4-3 defeat on penalties away to Reading U18s.
8th April 2026
Nine apprentices will be recognised at the EFL Awards on April 19 in London for their outstanding performances on and off the pitch during the 2025/26 season, with one winner chosen per division.
The League Two nominees are Ollie Dewsbury (Bristol Rovers), Mamadou Diallo (Cheltenham Town) and Rian Silver (MK Dons).