Rotherham United Academy

Rotherham United Academy runs a category 3 academy based in South Yorkshire. They focus on elite youth development to nurture young talent.

Academy Competitions

Each season, the Academy competes across the following competitions:

• 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.
• 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 Lead Professional Development Phase Coach Donovan Gethfield and First Team Coach and Reserves Richard Wood.

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.

Academy Players on Loan 2025/26

• James Clarke (Midfielder) – Brighouse Town
• Kane Richardson (Midfielder) – Brighouse Town
• Ciaran McGuckin (Forward) – Eastleigh
• Josh Ayres (Forward) – Cleethorpes Town; Gainsborough Trinity; Alfreton Town
• Ben Hatton (Midfielder) – North Ferriby
• Reece Wilson (Forward) – Brighouse Town

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

Ciaran McGuckin (Forward, #35), James Clarke (Midfielder, #37), Dean Gardner (Forward, #43), Josh Ayres (Forward, #41), Reece Wilson (Forward, #42), Cohen Lee (Midfielder, #51).

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

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

In the U18 Youth Alliance Cup group stage, Rotherham United’s Under-18s were drawn against Notts County and Walsall.

For the FA Youth Cup, the Under-18s were drawn at home against Huddersfield Town in the first round proper, before being drawn at home against Fleetwood Town in the second round proper.

In the Central League Cup, Rotherham United’s Reserves were drawn in Group A against Reserve sides from Bolton Wanderers, Stoke City and Wigan Athletic.

Season Timeline

May 2025

• Rotherham United offered first-year professional contracts to young players Kane Richardson, James Clarke, and Reece Wilson.

June 2025

• Hamish Douglas and Ben Hatton, both young prospects, agreed to renewed terms presented by Rotherham United. Josh Ayres also extended his stay with the Millers for a further year.

October 2025

• Rotherham United’s Under-18s advanced to the second round of the FA Youth Cup, following their tie at home against Huddersfield Town’s Under-18s.

November 2025

• Rotherham United’s Under-18s were set to host Fleetwood Town in the FA Youth Cup second round proper on Tuesday, November 18th, with kick-off at 7:00 pm.
• Rotherham United’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end, following their tie at home to Fleetwood Town’s Under-18s.

2024/25 Season

Based in South Yorkshire, Rotherham United Academy ran a Category Three academy.

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Ciaran McGuckin (Forward) – Yeovil
• Josh Ayres (Forward) – Buxton; Sheffield FC; Matlock Town; Emley AFC
• Hamish Douglas (Defender) – Warrington Town
• Ben Hatton (Midfielder) – Warrington Town

Academy Graduates in the First Team 2024/25

Ciaran McGurkin (Forward, #34), Ben Hatton (Midfielder, #35), Jake Hull (Defender, #37), Kane Richardson (Midfielder, #38), Harrison Duncan (Defender, #39)

Josh Ayres (Forward, #41), Reece Wilson (Forward, #42), Dean Gardner (Forward, #43), Louis Bassett (Goalkeeper, #44).

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

In the U18 Youth Alliance Cup, Rotherham United’s Under-18s were drawn in Group D against Under-18 sides from Chesterfield, Lincoln City, Mansfield Town, Notts County and Burton Albion.

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

Season Timeline

October 2024

• In the first round of the FA Youth Cup, Rotherham United’s Under-18s were drawn at home to Bolton Wanderers.
• The FA Youth Cup journey came to an end for the young Millers after a first-round tie at home to Bolton Wanderers.

January 2025

• Ciaran McGuckin returned to Yeovil Town on loan for the rest of the season.

March 2025

• As part of EFL Youth Development Week, celebrated across all 72 League clubs, Rotherham United highlighted its strong track record of developing academy players.