Port Vale Academy

Port Vale runs a category 3 academy based in Stoke-on-Trent. They have an elite youth development program that nurtures young talent.

Getting youth players ready for the first team is a key focus. With no Under-21 squad at Port Vale, the route to first-team football is even more accessible for these young players.

To accommodate those in the transition phase, as well as first-team players needing game time, matches are arranged with other clubs’ B teams or non-league sides to support their development.

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

During the 2024/25 season, Academy graduates played a combined total of 4,918 minutes in the Port Vale first team.

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 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.
• 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 Director Will Ryder, Head of Academy Football Danny Lloyd, and PDP Lead Coach Leo Donnellan.

Full details of players retained or released at the end of the 2024/25 season can be found on the club’s official retained list.

Scholars 2025/26

Liam Brazier, Logan Cousins and Zayn Sadiq were extended into a third year of their scholarships.

Charlie Bussell, Clayton Malbon, Dougie Blight, Eddie Lake, George Barker, Georgie Jenkins, Joseph Hunter, Karl Agnero, Keaton Moseley, Miracle Orisakwe Nwoko and Tomasi Wara.

Academy Players on Loan 2025/26

• Liam Brazier (Midfielder) – Warrington Town; Stourbridge
• Logan Cousins (Midfielder) – Kidsgrove Athletic; Stafford Rangers; Kidsgrove Athletic
• Zayn Sadiq (Defender) – Kidsgrove Athletic
• James Plant (Midfielder) – Yeovil Town
• Arron Davies (Goalkeeper) – Stafford Rangers
• Tomasi Wara (Defender) – Stafford Rangers
• Jack Shorrock (Midfielder) – Chester

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

Arron Davies (Goalkeeper, #29).

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Professional Development League Cup, Port Vale’s Under-17s were grouped with Under-17 sides from Walsall, Cheltenham Town and Cardiff City.

In the U18 Professional Development League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group G against Bolton Wanderers, Crewe Alexandra and Coventry City, with fixtures scheduled for 26 August, 4 October and 22 November 2025.

For the U18 Youth Alliance Cup, the Under-18s were drawn at home against Grimsby Town.

In the FA Youth Cup, the Under-18s were drawn away against Burton Albion in the first round proper, away against Northampton Town in the second round proper, and away against Wrexham in the third round proper.

Season Timeline

May 2025

• Defender Joe Williams was offered his first professional contract with the club following an exceptional season with the Under-18 team.

October 2025

• Academy Analyst Tom Hitchings left Port Vale to take up a new role elsewhere in the game.
• Logan Cousins and Zayn Sadiq were both recalled by Port Vale following their successful loan spells at Kidsgrove Athletic FC.
• Port Vale’s Under-18s advanced to the second round of the FA Youth Cup, following their tie away at Burton Albion.

November 2025

• Port Vale’s Under-18s were set to travel to face Northampton Town’s Under-18 in the FA Youth Cup second round on Tuesday, November 18th, with kick-off scheduled for 7:00 pm.
• Port Vale’s Under-18s were set to travel to face Wrexham’s Under-18 in the FA Youth Cup third round on Wednesday, December 3 at the STōK Cae Ras, with kick-off scheduled for 7:00 pm.

December 2025

• Port Vale’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the third round, following their tie away to Wrexham’s Under-18s.

January 2026

• Logan Cousins rejoined Kidsgrove Athletic on a work experience agreement for the remainder of the 2025/26 season.

March 2026

• Midfielder Charlie Bussell signed his first professional contract with Port Vale.

2024/25 Season

Based in Stoke-on-Trent, Port Vale ran a Category Three academy.

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• James Plant (Forward) – Yeovil Town
• Andrew Buah (Forward) – Congleton Town; Belper Town
• Diamond Edwards (Midfielder) – Weymouth FC; Hampton and Richmond
• Ben Lomax (Defender) – Peterborough Sports; Redditch United

Academy Graduates in the First Team 2024/25

James Plant (Forward, #21), Jack Shorrock (Midfielder, #23), Diamond Edwards (Midfielder, #25), Ben Lomax (Defender, #30), Karl Agnero (Midfielder, #35), Arron Davies (Goalkeeper, #29).

International Players 2024/25

• Theo Morgan – England U15 Camp

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

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

Season Timeline

September 2024

• Baylee Dipepa joined Southampton after nine years at the club.

October 2024

• In the first round of the FA Youth Cup, Port Vale were drawn at home to Burton Albion.

November 2024

• The FA Youth Cup journey came to an end for Port Vale’s Under-18s after a first-round tie at home to Burton Albion.

March 2025

• As part of EFL Youth Development Week, celebrated across all 72 League clubs, Port Vale highlighted its strong track record of developing academy players.
• The club spotlighted Jack Shorrock, who became Port Vale’s youngest-ever player and goalscorer at just 15 years old.

April 2025

• Jack Shorrock was shortlisted by LFE for the 2025 EFL League Two Apprentice of the Season award.
• The award recognises exceptional young professionals at EFL clubs who have distinguished themselves both on and off the pitch throughout the 2024/25 season.

Released Academy Players (end of 2024/25)

Young Professional Players Released: Diamond Edwards, Andrew Buah.

Released Following Scholarship: Alessandro Trapasso-Tully, Joao Silva Pevide, Louis Francis.