Stevenage FC Academy

Stevenage runs a category 3 academy based in Hertfordshire. They have an elite youth development program that nurtures young talent.

Their long-term goal is to develop elite-level footballers in a safe and secure environment that also challenges players to meet their individual needs.

They believe that the success of the Academy is built on a strong partnership between players, parents, and staff, with each party actively contributing to help players achieve their goals.

The Academy’s official X (formerly Twitter) account is @StevenageYouth.

Academy Competitions

Each season, the Academy competes across the standard slate of competitions for Category Three clubs:

• 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.
• U18 Professional Development League Cup – established for the 2021/22 season, featuring 32 teams divided into eight groups of four, with group winners advancing to the knockout stages.
• 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 Jorden Gibson and Professional Development Phase Coach Nick Mountford.

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

Stevenage FC welcomed ten new scholars ahead of the 2025/26 season: Calum Barnes (Goalkeeper), Divine Okwara (Defender), Tate Millar (Defender), Elijah Saji (Defender), Dylan Suleiman (Midfielder), Leonell Sadiku (Defender), Eddie Wright (Midfielder), Reuben Johnson (Midfielder), Temi Olowojoba (Forward) and Samuel Ayolie (Forward).

Academy Players on Loan 2025/26

• Alfie Thornett (Defender) – Royston Town
• Lenny Brown (Forward) – St Ives Town
• Frank Norris (Forward) – Bishop’s Stortford

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

Ryan Doherty (Midfielder, #33), Elijah Saji (Defender, #37), Max Woodford (Goalkeeper, #36), Frank Norris (Forward, #35), Riley England (Midfielder, #38), Lenny Brown (Forward, #40).

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Professional Development League Cup, Stevenage’s Under-17s were grouped with Under-17 sides from Portsmouth, AFC Wimbledon and QPR, before being drawn at home against Lincoln City in the PDL Cup Shield round of 16.

In the U18 Youth Alliance Cup, the Under-18s were drawn against Newport County and Leyton Orient in the group stage.

The Under-18s were drawn at home against Eastbourne Borough or Northwood in the first round of the FA Youth Cup, followed by a home tie against Merstham in the second round.

They then faced Gillingham away in the third round, Bolton Wanderers away in the fourth round, and Crystal Palace at home in the fifth round.

Season Timeline

May 2025

• Stevenage reached agreements on extended contracts with academy scholars Oliver Reeve and Louie Henry.

June 2025

• 19-year-old goalkeeper Rylee Mitchell departed Stevenage to join Norwich City, signing a contract that runs until 2028 with an option for a further year.

August 2025

• 17-year-old midfielder Ryan Doherty signed his first professional contract with Stevenage.

October 2025

• Stevenage’s Under-18s were eliminated from the Youth Alliance Cup, following their tie against Leyton Orient’s Under-18s.
• Stevenage’s Under-18s advanced to the second round of the FA Youth Cup, following their tie at home against Eastbourne Borough’s Under-18s.

November 2025

• Stevenage’s Under-18s were set to host Merstham in the FA Youth Cup second round proper on Monday 10 November, with kick-off at 7:30pm.
• Stevenage’s Under-18s were set to travel to face Gillingham’s Under-18 in the FA Youth Cup third round on Wednesday 17 December at Priestfield, with kick-off scheduled for 7:00pm.

December 2025

• Stevenage’s Under-17s were eliminated from the PDL Shield, following their tie against Lincoln City, who progressed to the quarter-finals.
• Stevenage’s Under-18s booked their place in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, following their tie against Gillingham’s Under-18s; they were set to face Bolton Wanderers in the next round.

January 2026

• Stevenage’s Under-18s made club history by becoming the first FA Youth Cup side to reach the fifth round, following their tie away to Bolton Wanderers.
• Stevenage’s Under-18s were set to welcome Crystal Palace to the Stevenage FC Stadium for their fifth-round tie on Thursday 5 February, with kick-off scheduled for 7:00pm.

February 2026

• Lenny Brown signed his first professional contract with the club; the 17-year-old forward, currently in the second year of his scholarship, committed his future to Stevenage FC by agreeing professional terms.

April 2026

• Frank Norris signed his first professional contract with the club, with the 18-year-old second-year scholar striker committing his future to Stevenage.
• Nine apprentices were set to be recognised at the EFL Awards on 19 April in London, celebrating the top young players of the 2025/26 season, with one winner per division; the League One nominees were Sulyman Krubally (Burton Albion), Ryan Doherty (Stevenage) and Tegan Finn (Plymouth Argyle).

2024/25 Season

Based in Hertfordshire, Stevenage ran a Category Three academy.

Scholars 2024/25

Eight prospects joined the Stevenage FC Academy for the 2024/25 season: Max Woodford (Goalkeeper), Alfie Thornett (Defender), Frankie Impey (Defender)

Ryan Doherty (Midfielder), Lenny Brown (Midfielder), Riley England (Midfielder), Tatenda Mutunga (Midfielder) and Frank Norris (Forward).

The scholars spent two seasons with the Under-19s, competing in the Youth Alliance League (South), the Youth Alliance Cup, and the FA Youth Cup.

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Rylee Mitchell (Goalkeeper) – Oxford City
• Owen Cochrane (Defender) – Maidenhead
• David Hicks (Forward) – Potters Bar; Aveley
• Harrison Smith (Forward) – Worthing
• Makise Evans (Forward) – St Albans City; Tonbridge; Hampton & Richmond
• Ryan Doherty (Midfielder) – Potters Bar Town FC
• Lenny Brown (Forward) – Bishop’s Stortford FC
• Ellis Bates (Defender) – Bedford Town FC
• Albie O’Keefe (Midfielder) – St Ives Town FC
• Oliver Reeve (Defender) – Aveley
• Louie Henry (Defender) – Potters Bar

Academy Graduates in the First Team 2024/25

Max Woodford (Goalkeeper, #50), Makise Evans (Forward, #35), Ryan Doherty (Midfielder, #37), Alfie Thornett (Defender, #38), Riley England (Midfielder, #39), Lenny Brown (Forward, #40), Rylee Mitchell (Goalkeeper, #41), Ellis Bates (Defender, #43).

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

In the U18 Youth Alliance Cup, Stevenage’s Under-18s were drawn in Group G against Under-18 sides from Luton Town, Milton Keynes Dons, Northampton Town and Cambridge United, before progressing to the sectional quarter-finals against Oxford United.

In the U18 Professional Development League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group E against Colchester United, Charlton and QPR.

Season Timeline

October 2024

• At just 15 years old, Ryan Doherty set a new record by becoming the youngest player to ever debut for Stevenage FC.
• In the first round of the FA Youth Cup, Stevenage FC were drawn away to Milton Keynes Dons.

November 2024

• Stevenage secured a place in the second round of the FA Youth Cup, following their tie against MK Dons’ Under-18s.
• Stevenage’s Under-18s were drawn at home against Cheltenham Town in the second round of the FA Youth Cup.
• In the third round of the FA Youth Cup, Stevenage were drawn at home to either Exeter City or AFC Dunstable, contingent on Exeter’s match against Cheltenham Town.
• Stevenage advanced to the third round of the FA Youth Cup, following their tie against Cheltenham Town.
• Following Exeter’s win over AFC Dunstable in the second round, Stevenage were set to play Exeter City in the third round of the FA Youth Cup.

December 2024

• The FA Youth Cup journey came to an end for Stevenage after a third-round tie at home to Exeter City.

January 2025

• Harrison Smith joined St Albans City on a permanent deal from Stevenage.

May 2025

• Ellis Bates made his EFL League One debut against Bolton Wanderers, coming on as a substitute for club captain Carl Piergianni.

Released Academy Players (end of 2024/25)

David Hicks (joined Reading FC), Makise Evans (joined Colchester United).