Bristol Rovers Academy

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

The Academy’s aspiration is that, at whatever stage a player leaves the programme, they will have found the experience beneficial to their development as people as well as players.

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

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.
• Youth Alliance League (South) – the league competed in by Bristol Rovers’ Under-18 scholars across their two-year programme.
• Gloucestershire FA Senior Challenge Cup – a county knockout competition contested by Bristol Rovers’ Under-21s alongside senior sides from across Gloucestershire.

2025/26 Season

The Academy enters the 2025/26 season under Academy Manager Byron Anthony and Professional Development Phase Coach Bobby-McKenzie Black.

Scholars 2025/26

Will Wilson, Henry De-long, Excel Iwhiwhu, Adedeji Odumboni, Jack Toogood, Jay Horgan, Ciaran O’Donnell, Woody Cole.

Academy Players on Loan 2025/26

• Jed Ward (Goalkeeper) – Yeovil Town
• Charlie White (Defender) – Yate Town
• Charlie Moody (Midfielder) – Yate Town
• Tom English (Midfielder) – Taunton Town
• Kian Hill (Midfielder) – Bristol Manor Farm
• Ollie Dewsbury (Forward) – Weston-Super-Mare

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

Kian Hill (Midfielder, #47), Tom English (Midfielder, #48), Wil Turner (Midfielder, #41).

International Players 2025/26

• Raffi Budd (MF) – Canada U15
• Leo Kelleher (FW) – Wales U16
• Ollie Dewsbury (MF) – Wales U19

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Professional Development League Cup, Bristol Rovers’ Under-17s were grouped with Under-17 sides from Bristol City, Leyton Orient and Luton Town.

Season Timeline

July 2025

• 17-year-old Ollie Dewsbury committed to the club by signing his first professional contract.
• Midfielder Charlie Moody signed his first professional contract with the club.

August 2025

• 18-year-old midfielder Kofi Shaw, who joined Bristol Rovers at the age of 14, completed a move to Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee.

April 2026

• Ollie Dewsbury was named the League Two nominee for the EFL Awards’ Apprentice of the Season alongside Mamadou Diallo of Cheltenham Town and Rian Silver of MK Dons.
• The award recognises outstanding young players who have excelled on and off the pitch during the season, with one winner from each division announced at the ceremony in London.

2024/25 Season

The 2024/25 season saw the Academy achieve its greatest exposure to the First Team in recent years.

Scholars 2024/25

Jaydon Bishop (Goalkeeper), Reuben Moggeridge (Defender), Rocco Sughayer (Defender), Tom English (Defender), Kian Hill (Midfielder), Trey Cadette (Forward), Ollie Dewsbury (Forward)

Wil Turner (Forward). The scholars spent two seasons with the Under-18s, competing in the Youth Alliance League (South), the Youth Alliance Cup, and the FA Youth Cup.

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Charlie White (Defender) – Poole Town; Yate Town
• Ollie Dewsbury (Midfielder) – Yate Town
• Jerry Lawrence (Midfielder) – Yate Town; Bath City FC; Hungerford Town
• Dan Ellison (Defender) – Chippenham Town; Aldershot Town
• Josh Stokes (Midfielder) – Cambridge United
• Charlie Moody (Midfielder) – Cinderford Town; Cribbs FC; Frome Town
• Brooklyn Leipus (Midfielder) – Cinderford Town; Didcot Town
• Taelan Savage (Forward) – Shepton Mallet; Cribbs FC
• Jay Sutherland (Midfielder) – Lydney Town; Cribbs FC
• Micah Anthony (Forward) – Bath City FC
• Kofi Shaw (Forward) – Yeovil Town
• Jed Ward (Goalkeeper) – Forest Green Rovers
• Kian Hill (Midfielder) – Nailsea & Tickenham
• Rocco Sughayer (Defender) – Bridport FC
• Reuben Moggeridge (Defender) – Bridport FC
• Tom English (Defender) – Corsham Town FC

Academy Graduates in the First Team 2024/25

Jed Ward (Goalkeeper, #31), Jerry Lawrence (Midfielder, #34), Matt Hall (Goalkeeper, #35), Kofi Shaw (Forward, #37), Quincy Dixon (Midfielder, #39), Ollie Dewsbury (Midfielder, #43)

Taelan Savage (Forward, #46), Kian Hill (Midfielder, #47), Max Edwards (Midfielder, #52), Brooklyn Leipus (Midfielder, #45).

International Players 2024/25

• Raffi Budd (MF) – Canada U16
• Zane Donaghy (GK) – New Zealand U16
• Ollie Dewsbury (MF) – Wales U17
• Brooklyn Leipus (MF) – Lithuania U19

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

In the U18 Youth Alliance Cup, Bristol Rovers’ Under-18s were drawn in Group F against Under-18 sides from Exeter City, Newport County, Plymouth Argyle and Portsmouth.

Season Timeline

October 2024

• Bristol Rovers were drawn at home to Badshot Lea in the first round of the FA Youth Cup.

November 2024

• Bristol Rovers secured their spot in the second round of the FA Youth Cup, following their tie against Badshot Lea.
• Bristol Rovers were drawn away to Hertford Town in the second round of the FA Youth Cup, with the match scheduled for 26 November at Hertingfordbury Park.
• Bristol Rovers were drawn at home against Arsenal in the third round of the FA Youth Cup, contingent on progressing past Hertford Town.
• The young Gasheads were crowned winners of the Under-10s Festival, having faced Plymouth Argyle, Exeter City and Cardiff City.
• Bristol Rovers’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the second round, following their tie against Hertford Town.

January 2025

• Second-year scholars Charlie Moody, Jay Sutherland and Taelan Savage returned to Bristol Rovers following their loan spells at Cribbs FC.

April 2025

• Kofi Shaw was shortlisted by the LFE for the EFL League One Apprentice of the Season award for 2025, an award honouring exceptional young professionals at EFL clubs who have distinguished themselves both on and off the pitch throughout the season.

Released Academy Players (end of 2024/25)

Jerry Lawrence (joined Corsham Town).