Blackpool Academy

Blackpool FC runs a category 3 academy based in Lancashire. They have an elite youth development program that nurtures young talent.

The Academy is currently located between Myerscough College and Stanley Park, with some games played at the Stanley Sports Hub.

Moving up to Category Two status is a key part of the club’s plan to improve the development pathway for young players reaching the first team.

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

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 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.
• 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 Director Ciaran Donnelly and Under-18s Head Coach Matthew Blinkhorn.

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

Josh Renton (Goalkeeper), Ollie Hunter (Defender), George Elder (Defender), Maddox Jonas-Dowling (Defender), Kian Daley (Midfielder), Harry Quinn (Midfielder), Max Wylezol (Midfielder).

Academy Players on Loan 2025/26

• Ryan Finnigan (Midfielder) – Walsall
• Kylian Kouassi (Forward) – Cambridge United
• Oluchi Nwankwo (Defender) – Bamber Bridge
• Billy Whaite (Forward) – Bradford Park Avenue
• Theo Upton (Midfielder) – Matlock Town
• Harvey Bardsley (Goalkeeper) – Trafford
• Terry Bondo (Forward) – King’s Lynn Town
• Spencer Knight (Midfielder) – Ashton United

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

Spencer Knight (Midfielder, #42).

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Professional Development League Cup, Blackpool’s Under-17s were grouped with Under-17 sides from Bolton Wanderers, Fleetwood Town and Carlisle United.

For the U18 Professional Development League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group E against Fleetwood Town, Stockport County and Wigan Athletic, with fixtures scheduled for 26 August, 12 November and 22 November 2025.

Also in the Central League Cup, Blackpool’s Reserves were drawn in Group C against Reserve sides from Blackburn Rovers and Preston North End.

Season Timeline

July 2025

• Rob Apter completed a permanent move from Blackpool to Charlton Athletic for an undisclosed fee, having joined the Seasiders as a scholar at the age of 16.
• 19-year-old Josh Miles signed with Irish side Waterford from Blackpool for an undisclosed fee.

October 2025

• Blackpool’s 16-year-old winger Gabriel Schluter made the move to Nottingham Forest.
• Blackpool’s Under-18s advanced to the second round of the FA Youth Cup, following their tie away at Carlisle United.

November 2025

• Blackpool’s Under-18s were confirmed to host Aylestone Park in the FA Youth Cup second round proper, with the tie scheduled for Tuesday 18 November.

December 2025

• Blackpool’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the third round, following their tie against Fleetwood Town.

February 2026

• James Butterworth signed his first professional contract with the club, with his deal running until June 2027 and the club holding an option to extend for a further 12 months.
• Defender Oluchukwu Nwankwo was recalled by Blackpool from his loan spell at Bamber Bridge, having made six appearances.

May 2026

• Young goalkeepers Charlie Brier and Kai Crowe both signed one-year professional contracts at Bloomfield Road, with the Seasiders retaining an option for a further 12 months.
• Under-18 right-back Kymani Leliandel also signed a professional contract.

Released Academy Players (end of 2025/26)

Harry Williamson.

2024/25 Season

A proud 2024/25 season for the Blackpool Academy saw the Under-18s finish sixth in the EFL Youth Alliance League, with six first-year scholars making their first-team debuts.

Scholars 2024/25

Kai Crowe (Goalkeeper), Derek Oshodi (Defender), Jack Panther (Defender), Ky-Mani Leliendal (Defender), Takudzwa Gwanzura (Defender), Oluchi Nwankwo (Defender), Harry Williamson (Midfielder)

Jack Richardson (Midfielder), Spencer Knight (Midfielder), Theo Upton (Midfielder), James Butterworth (Forward).

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Lennon Scholes (Forward) – Squires Gate FC
• Connor McVeigh (Defender) – Squires Gate FC
• Charlie Cox (Defender) – Squires Gate FC; Lancaster City FC
• Jibran Ahmed (Forward) – Squires Gate FC
• Taylor Bowen (Forward) – Runcorn Linnets
• Alex Lankshear (Defender) – Welling United; Ebbsfleet United
• Kwakwu Donkor (Defender) – Welling United; Mickleover
• Dan Sassi (Defender) – Rochdale; AFC Fylde
• Josh Miles (Forward) – Warrington
• Jake Daniels (Forward) – Rylands
• Jack Moore (Defender) – Tamworth; Chorley
• Luke Findlow (Defender) – Squires Gate FC

Academy Graduates in the First Team 2024/25

Rob Apter (Forward, #25), Alex Lankshear (Defender, #39), Theo Upton (Midfielder, #40), Spencer Knight (Midfielder, #42), Jake Daniels (Forward, #43), Terry Bondo (Forward, #41).

International Players 2024/25

Rob Apter (Midfielder) – Scotland U21.

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

In the U18 Youth Alliance Cup, Blackpool’s Under-18s were drawn in Group 1 against Under-18 sides from Accrington Stanley, Bolton Wanderers, Carlisle United, Morecambe and Preston North End.

Season Timeline

October 2024

• Blackpool were drawn away to Stockport County in the first round of the FA Youth Cup.

November 2024

• Blackpool secured a place in the second round of the FA Youth Cup, following their tie against Stockport County.
• Blackpool’s Under-18s were drawn away to Crewe Alexandra in the second round of the FA Youth Cup, with the match set for Thursday 21 November at the Mornflake Stadium.
• The tie against Crewe Alexandra was postponed, with a new date to be announced in due course.
• Blackpool’s Under-18s’ second-round FA Youth Cup tie against Crewe Alexandra was rearranged for Wednesday 27 November at the Mornflake Stadium.
• Blackpool’s FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the second round, following their tie away to Crewe Alexandra.

January 2025

• Spencer Knight signed his first professional contract, keeping him at Bloomfield Road until June 2027.
• Blackpool’s Under-17s progressed to the quarter-finals of the Professional Development League Cup, following their tie against Grimsby Town.

February 2025

• Takudzwa Gwanzura joined Norwich City for an undisclosed fee.
• Theo Upton signed a professional contract, securing his stay at Bloomfield Road until June 2027.
• Blackpool’s Under-18s advanced to the Lancashire FA Professional Youth Cup final, following their tie against Burnley.

March 2025

• The Under-18s were set to face Bolton Wanderers in the Lancashire FA Professional Youth Cup final on Wednesday 2 April, with a 7:30pm kick-off.
• Terry Bondo signed his first professional contract with the club; the 18-year-old striker’s deal will keep him at Bloomfield Road until June 2026, with the club holding an option for an additional 12 months.

April 2025

• Blackpool’s Lancashire FA Professional Youth Cup campaign came to an end, following their final against Bolton Wanderers.

May 2025

• Centre-back Johnson Opawole was offered a professional contract by Blackpool.

Released Academy Players (end of 2024/25)

Under-18s: Ezra Amadi-Emina, Charlie Cox, Jack Panther, Conor McVeigh, Luke Findlow, Harry Norris, Jibran Ahmed, Taylor Bowen, Lennon Scholes, Layton Campbell, Rhys Madu.

Young Professionals: Alex Lankshear (joined Boston United), Jack Moore, Jaden Jones, Tyler Hill, Kwaku Donkor, Jake Daniels.