Oldham Athletic AFC

Oldham Athletic AFC runs a category 3 academy based in Greater Manchester. They have an elite youth development program that nurtures young talent.

The Latics academy has been awarded a Category 3 Licence by the EFL, marking its return to EPPP status following promotion back to the Football League.

This milestone supports the club’s long-term vision for growth and aligns with the goals of the SportsTown project.

The project centres around “Little Wembley” – a redeveloped training facility featuring a new 3G pitch, now serving as the home of the Oldham Athletic Academy.

Academy Competitions

Each season, the Academy competes across the following competitions:

• U17 Professional Development League Cup – an English youth football tournament for players aged 17 and under.
• U18 Youth Alliance League – 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 Cup – an EFL-organised youth tournament for Under-18 teams from League One and League Two clubs competing in the EFL Youth Alliance. It follows a format similar to the EFL Trophy, beginning with a regional group stage before progressing to a national knockout phase.
• FA Youth Cup – the traditional nationwide knockout competition open to academy sides across English football.

2025/26 Season

The Academy enters the 2025/26 season under Academy Manager Phil Arbelo-Dolan, Youth Team Manager Danny Philliskirk, and Head Coach of the Football Excellence Centre Chris Taylor.

Scholars 2025/26

Solomon Butterfield-Mokone, Alfie Hughes, Harry Johnson, Jack Steele, Kian McCrory, Zac Potts, Charlie Kershaw and David Amos.

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Professional Development League Cup, Oldham Athletic’s Under-17s were grouped with Under-17 sides from Bradford City, Hull City and Salford City.

The Under-18s also competed in the U18 Youth Alliance League North division.

In the U18 Youth Alliance Cup, the Under-18s progressed to the quarter-final against Walsall.

In the FA Youth Cup first round proper, the Under-18s were drawn away against FC Halifax Town.

Season Timeline

July 2025

• Oldham Athletic had its academy regain EPPP status and been awarded a Category 3 Licence by the EFL, following the club’s return to the Football League.

October 2025

• Oldham Athletic confirmed that promising 17-year-old midfielder David Amos had committed to a two-year scholarship with the club.
• Oldham Athletic’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end, following their tie away to FC Halifax Town’s Under-18s.

December 2025

• Oldham Athletic’s Under-18s’ Youth Alliance Cup run came to an end at the quarter-final stage, following their tie against Walsall.