Walsall FC Academy

Walsall FC Academy runs a category 3 academy based in West Midlands. They have an elite youth development program that nurtures young talent.

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

Walsall FC runs an Academy Alumni Project, designed to help players stay connected with the club after they leave the Academy, ensuring every academy graduate can maintain a lasting bond with Walsall FC.

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.
• FA Youth Cup – the traditional nationwide knockout competition open to academy sides across English football.
• Walsall Senior Cup – a local knockout competition contested by Walsall’s development squad alongside senior sides from the area.
• Birmingham Senior Challenge Cup – a county knockout competition contested by Walsall’s Under-18s alongside senior sides from across the West Midlands.

2025/26 Season

The Academy enters the 2025/26 season under Academy Manager Martyn Bowles, Professional Development Phase Coach Ryan Simmonds, and Youth Development Phase Coach Scott Lowrie.

Bowles, who joined the club’s academy setup in June 2024 as Head of Coaching, was appointed to the Academy Manager role in November 2025, succeeding Williams, who departed after nearly four years with the club having first joined in March 2022.

In September 2025, former Saddler Paul Downing returned to the club, coaching in the Youth Development Phase (Under-15s and Under-16s) and supporting the Under-18s alongside Ryan Simmonds.

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

Fraser Hamilton-Wright (Goalkeeper), Rocco Lenney (Defender), Sam Oliver (Defender), Ellis Harris (Defender), Archie Bunn (Midfielder), Ethan Khan (Midfielder), Lincoln Hunt (Forward), Oliver Nash (Forward).

Academy Players on Loan 2025/26

• Ronan Maher (Midfielder) – Tamworth
• Stan Straw (Defender) – Halesowen Town
• Louie Webb (Midfielder) – Coleshill Town FC
• Sam Oliver (Defender) – Dudley Town
• Ollie Nash (Forward) – Smethwick Rangers
• Lincoln Hunt (Forward) – Worcester Raiders
• Will Etheridge (Midfielder) – Darlaston Town; Stourbridge
• Paul Makavore (Defender) – Darlaston Town
• McLloyd Oben (Midfielder) – Rugby Town
• Jakub Pawlowski (Defender) – Rugby Town
• Marley Roberts (Defender) – Racing Club Warwick
• Ellis Harris (Defender) – Tividale
• Fraser Hamilton-Wright (Goalkeeper) – Smethwick Rangers
• Charlie Wragg (Forward) – Stratford Town
• Jenson Kilroy (Goalkeeper) – Alvechurch

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

Charlie Wragg (Forward, #34), McLloyd Oben (Midfielder, #56), Stan Straw (Defender, #59), Paul Makavore (Defender, #55), Jenson Kilroy (Goalkeeper, #21)

Ronan Maher (Midfielder, #16), Will Etheridge (Midfielder, #53).

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

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

Season Timeline

October 2025

• Walsall scholar Paul Makavore made his first-team debut in a Vertu Trophy match against Chelsea’s Under-21s.

November 2025

• Walsall’s Under-18s were confirmed to travel to Wigan Athletic in the FA Youth Cup second round, with the tie scheduled for Friday 21 November.
• Academy Manager Williams was confirmed to be departing Walsall after nearly four years with the club, having first joined the Category Three side in March 2022.
• Martyn Bowles was appointed as Walsall’s new Academy Manager.
• Walsall’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end, following their tie against Wigan Athletic.

December 2025

• The young Saddlers advanced to the semi-finals of the Youth Alliance Cup, following their tie against Oldham Athletic.
• Walsall’s Under-17 Professional Development League Cup campaign came to an end in the Round of 16, following their tie against Oxford United.
• Walsall’s Birmingham Senior Cup third-round clash against Stourbridge FC was confirmed for Wednesday 28 January.
• Walsall were confirmed to travel to Dales Lane to face Rushall Olympic in the quarter-final of the Walsall Senior Cup, with the tie scheduled for Tuesday 20 January.

March 2026

• Stan Straw signed his first professional contract with the Saddlers.

May 2026

• Tyler Smith, a product of the Walsall FC Academy, was confirmed to leave the club to begin a new chapter with Premier League outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers, after an agreement was reached between the two clubs.

2024/25 Season

The Saddlers faced strong Under-18 sides throughout the 2024/25 season, often without their second years due to loan spells, resulting in a team largely made up of first years, Under-16s, and Under-15s.

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Douglas James-Taylor (Forward) – Drogheda United
• Charlie Wragg (Forward) – Bromsgrove Sporting; Alvechurch FC; Halesowen Town FC
• Jaiy Leydon (Midfielder) – Redditch United
• Jenson Kilroy (Goalkeeper) – Hereford Pegasus; Stratford Town
• Tom Owen (Defender) – Dudley Town
• Jackson Preece (Midfielder) – Newcastle Town
• Cayden Bennett (Defender) – Romulus
• McLoyd Oben (Midfielder) – Romulus
• Dylan Thomas (Midfielder) – Redditch United
• Stan Straw (Defender) – Alvechurch FC
• Ronan Maher (Midfielder) – Tamworth
• Josh Essen (Midfielder) – Redditch United
• Kobe Wilkes (Defender) – Bedworth United

Academy Graduates in the First Team 2024/25

Dylan Thomas (Midfielder, #27), Charlie Wragg (Forward, #34).

International Players 2024/25

Younusa Kanyi – England U15 Camp.

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

In the U18 Youth Alliance Cup, Walsall’s Under-18s were drawn in Group E against Under-18 sides from Forest Green Rovers, Oxford United, Swindon Town and Cheltenham Town.

Season Timeline

October 2024

• Walsall’s Under-18s were drawn away to Chesterfield in the first round of the FA Youth Cup.
• Walsall’s FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the first round, following their tie against Chesterfield.

December 2024

• Walsall Academy welcomed over 100 grassroots coaches from 50 different clubs, offering them an inside look at the work being done at the club.

April 2025

• Walsall’s Under-15s were crowned winners of the Premier League’s Coaching Craft Competition, beating Blackburn Rovers in a dramatic final.

May 2025

• The Saddlers’ development team’s Walsall Senior Cup campaign came to an end, following their tie against Rushall Olympic.
• The club formally offered Jenson Kilroy his first professional contract, while exercising the option to extend Charlie Wragg’s scholarship.