Salford City FC Academy

Salford City FC runs a category 3 academy based in Greater Manchester. They have an elite youth development program that nurtures young talent.

Starting from the 2023-24 season, the Salford City FC academy achieved Category 3 status, enabling them to run teams from Under-9s to Under-18s.

“We are looking to stretch and challenge our players, so when they get the call and Karl gives them that opportunity, they are not fazed by it…” – Jamie Russell, Academy Manager.

Salford City’s Academy players and staff have now settled into their new home at Mersey Valley Sports Club.

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 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.
• Central League Cup – a reserve-team competition in which entrants are divided into groups, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the quarter-finals.

2025/26 Season

The Academy enters the 2025/26 season under Academy Manager Jamie Russell and Lead PDP Coach Chris McCann.

Full details of players retained, released, or returned from loan following the 2024/25 season can be found on the club’s official retained list.

Scholars 2025/26

Indy Stoller, Joshua James, Baillie Garner, Tyler Forsyth, Marshall Heys, Jake Arnoll, Jack Brookfield, Sam Darwin, Yaqoub Zlitini and Harvey Corrigan.

The young scholars spend two seasons with the Under-19s, competing in the Youth Alliance League, Youth Alliance Cup, and FA Youth Cup, with additional opportunities to feature in the Central League with the reserves.

Academy Players on Loan 2025/26

• Robbie Cleary (Forward) – Kerry FC
• Tosin Olopade (Defender) – Spalding United
• Harry Showman (Forward) – Atherton Collieries
• Brad Mundy (Midfielder) – Trafford
• Alfie Bairstow (Defender) – Witton Albion
• Luca Jackson (Defender) – Atherton Collieries

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

Harry Showman (Forward, #42), Jacob Lara (Defender, #36), Jai Curran-Nicholls (Midfielder, #32), Ruben Butt (Midfielder, #34).

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Professional Development League Cup, Salford City’s Under-17s were grouped with Under-17 sides from Bradford City, Hull City and Oldham Athletic, before being drawn against Stockport City in the round of 16.

In the FA Youth Cup first round proper, the Under-18s were drawn away against Wigan Athletic.

Season Timeline

July 2025

• Defender Luca Jackson linked up with the B-Team for the upcoming season; the 18-year-old joined Salford City after an impressive campaign with Burnley’s Under-18s.
• 17-year-old striker Will Wright agreed to join Liverpool from Salford City; following the transfer, Wright linked up with the club’s Under-21 squad, managed by Rob Page.

October 2025

• Salford City’s Under-17s sealed a spot in the last 16 of the Professional Development League Cup, completing their group stage campaign against Oldham Athletic.
• Salford City’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end, following their tie away to Wigan Athletic’s Under-18s.

January 2026

• Tosin Olopade sealed a permanent move to Spalding United in the Southern League Premier Central, following an impressive loan spell with the Tulips.

2024/25 Season

Based in Greater Manchester, Salford City FC ran a Category Three academy.

Scholars 2024/25

Seven Academy prospects joined Salford City FC for the 2024/25 season: James Wright (Goalkeeper), Alex Nnadede (Defender), Luke Simmons (Defender)

Will Wright (Forward), Joel Kane (Midfielder) Khadim Diop (Midfielder) and Tom Clifford (Forward).

The young scholars spend two seasons with the Under-19s, competing in the Youth Alliance League, Youth Alliance Cup, and FA Youth Cup, with additional opportunities to feature in the Central League with the reserves.

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Kamoy McNair (Forward) – Stalybridge Celtic
• Jez Davies (Midfielder) – Marine AFC; Ebbsfleet United; Welling United
• Jai Curran Nicholls (Midfielder) – Warrington Rylands; Southport
• Marcus Dackers (Forward) – Morecambe
• Robbie Cleary (Forward) – FC United of Manchester; Bamber Bridge
• Liam Humbles (Midfielder) – Altrincham FC; Gateshead
• Ben Collins (Defender) – Flint Town United
• Sandro Da Costa (Forward) – Bamber Bridge; Hyde United
• Junior Luamba (Forward) – York City
• Alfie Bairstow (Midfielder) – Hyde United
• Harry Showman (Forward) – 1874 Northwich; Hyde United
• Alfie Henderson (Midfielder) – Witton Albion

Academy Graduates in the First Team 2024/25

Kelly N’Mai (Midfielder, #10), Kyrell Malcolm (Forward, #23), Marshall Heys (Midfielder, #42), Bruno Padovani (Midfielder, #43), Will Wright (Forward, #44).

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Professional Development League Plate eighth-finals, Salford City’s Under-17s were drawn at home against Swindon Town.

In the U18 Youth Alliance Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group 2 against Under-18 sides from Rochdale, Port Vale, Shrewsbury Town, Stockport County and Wrexham.

For the Central League Cup, Salford City’s Reserves were drawn in Group C against Accrington Stanley Reserves, Bolton Wanderers Reserves, Huddersfield Town Reserves and Rotherham United Reserves.

Season Timeline

October 2024

• In the first round of the FA Youth Cup, Salford City were drawn at home to Huddersfield Town.
• Salford City secured a place in the second round of the FA Youth Cup, following their tie against Huddersfield Town.

November 2024

• Salford City’s Under-18s were drawn away to Grimsby Town in the second round of the FA Youth Cup.
• At just 15 years, 2 months, and 6 days old, Marshall Heys became the youngest player to appear in the Emirates FA Cup for a professional club.
• The FA Youth Cup journey came to an end for Salford City after their second-round tie away to Grimsby Town.

March 2025

• As part of EFL Youth Development Week, celebrated across all 72 League clubs, Salford City highlighted its strong track record of developing academy players.
• 16-year-old Will Wright was a standout performer in the Academy that season, making his senior, FA Cup, and EFL debuts.

Released Academy Players (end of 2024/25)

Liam Humbles (joined Rochdale), Ben Collins, Aiden Lancaster, Eze Bowen, Matty Cucos, Jacob Hamman, Kamoy McNair, James Carr, Jez Davies, Sandro Da Costa, Marcus Dackers (joined Kilmarnock FC).