The Preston North End Academy 2025–26 season showcasing progress along the EPPP development pathway for youth players.
Preston North End runs a category 3 academy based in Lancashire.
- Academy Manager: Nick Harrison
- U21 Lead Senior Professional Development Phase Coach:
- U18/U19 Lead Development Phase Coach: Ryan Taylor
- Assistant U18/U19 Development Phase Coach: Ryan McNally
Preston North End Retained List 2025
View the complete list of Preston North End players who have been retained, released, or have returned to their parent clubs following loan spells.
Preston North End Scholars 2025/26
- Brandon Milne (Goalkeeper)
- Jonathan Swift (Goalkeeper)
- Charlie Whalley (Defender)
- Ethan Jackson (Defender)
- Harry Gerrard (Midfielder)
- Harvey Nickson (Midfielder)
- Jamie Forshaw (Midfielder)
- George Gryba (Forward)
- Marshall Longson (Forward)
- Michael Ayodele (Forward)
- Shay Reid (Forward)
- Olly Tonkin (Defender)
Preston North End Academy Players On Loan 2025/26
Youth players on loan.
- Kitt Nelson (Midfielder) Cork City
- Kaedyn Kamara (Midfielder) Cork City
- Li-Bau Stowell (Goalkeeper) Warrington Town; Hyde United
- Somto Ifezue (Forward) Bootle
- Max Wilson (Forward) Chorley
- Felipe Gentile (Forward) AFC Fylde
- Ed Nolan (Defender) Lancaster City
- Jonny Brindle (Defender) Lancaster City
- George Gryba (Forward) Bamber Bridge
- Nathan Snowball (Defender) Bamber Bridge
- Ed Nolan (Defender) Lancaster City
Preston North End Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26
- Michael Ayodele (Forward) #31
Preston North End Academy International Players 2025/26
- Shay Reid (Forward) Ireland U19
Academy Competitions
U17 Professional Development League Cup
The U17 Professional Development League Cup is an English youth football tournament created for players aged 17 and under.
U17 PDL Cup Group Stage
Preston North End U17 will play against Under-17 teams from Doncaster Rovers, Wigan Athletic and Morecambe.
- Preston North End U17 won at home against Doncaster Rovers U17 (4 – 1)
- Preston North End U17 lost away against Wigan Athletic U17 (3 – 2)
- Preston North End U17 won at home against Morecambe U17 (4 – 3)
U18 Youth Alliance League
The Football League Youth Alliance is 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 League North Winter Table 2025-26
U18 Youth Alliance Cup
The EFL Youth Alliance Cup is a youth football tournament in England, organized by the English Football League (EFL). It features under-18 teams from League One and League Two clubs that compete in the EFL Youth Alliance, the league system for these academies.
The competition follows a format like the EFL Trophy, beginning with a regional group stage before progressing to a national knockout phase.
Designed to foster young talent at lower-tier EFL clubs, the tournament provides a structured competitive environment beyond regular league matches.
U18 Youth Alliance Cup
- Preston North End U18 won at home against Bradford City U18 (4 – 2)
- Preston North End U18 won away against Chesterfield U18 (0 – 3)
- Own Goal
- George Gryba
- Marshal Longson
- Preston North End Lost away against Carlisle United (2 – 1)
- Nathan Snowball
Preston North End U18 are out of the Youth Alliance Cup.
U18 Professional Development League Cup
Established for the 2021/22 season, the Professional Development League Cup features 32 teams divided into eight groups of four.
The group winners advance to the knockout stages.
Preston North U18 are drawn in Group F against under-18 teams: Grimsby Town, Barnsley and Hull City.
Fixtures Schedule (Group F)
- Match Round 1 (Tuesday 26 August 2025) Preston North End v Grimsby Town
- Match Round 2 (Saturday 4 October 2025) Barnsley v Preston North End
- Match Round 3 (Saturday 22 November 2025) Preston North End v Hull City
U18 Professional Development League Cup Group Stage
- Preston North End U18 lost at home against Grimsby Town U18 (0 – 1)
- Preston North End U18 lost away against Barnsley U18 (2 – 1)
- Preston North End U18 won at home against Hull City U18 (3 – 2)
FA Youth Cup
Third Round Proper
Preston North End U18 have been drawn at home against West Ham U18
- Preston North End U18 lost at home against West Ham U18 (1 – 1)(4 – 5 on Pens)
- Shay Reid
Lancashire FA Professional Youth Cup
First Round
- Preston North End U18 won at home against Wigan Athletic U18 (4 – 1)
- Clayton Lescott (2)
- Shay Reid (2)
U21 Premier League Cup
The Premier League Cup was introduced in the 2013/14 season to enhance competition during the Professional Development Phase.
It added a knockout tournament alongside the regular league schedule. For the 2025/26 season, the format features nine groups.
The top team from each group automatically qualifies for the knockout stage, along with the seven best second-placed teams.
U21 Premier League Cup Group Stage
Preston North End are drawn in Group C against under 21 teams from Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Charlton Athletic.
- Preston North End U21 lost at home against Charlton Athletic U21 (1 – 2)
- George Gryba
- Preston North End U21 won at home against Leicester City U21 (2 – 0)
- Mads Frøkjær-Jensen
- Maxwell Adedeji (OG)
- Preston North End U21 drew away against Ipswich Town U21 (2 – 2)
- Jonny Brindle
- Max Wilson
- Preston North End U21 drew away against Charlton U21 (1 – 1)
- Kacper Pasiek
- Preston North End U21 lost away against Leicester City U21 (3 – 0)
- Preston North End U21 lost at home against Ipswich Town U21 (0 – 3)
Preston North End Premier League Cup campaign has come to an end in the group stages.
Central League Cup
2025/26 Central League Cup Fixtures announced.
15 teams have entered the competition, divided into four groups:
The top two teams from each group will then advance to the quarterfinals.
Preston North End Reserves Central League Group Stage 2025/26
Preston North End Reserves are drawn in Group C against Reserve teams from Blackpool and Blackburn Rovers.
- Preston North End Reserves won away against Blackpool Reserves (0 – 1)
- George Gryba
- Preston North End Reserves lost at home against Blackburn Rovers Reserves (1 – 2)
- Theo Carroll
- Preston North End Reserves lost at home against Blackpool Reserves (1 – 0)
Lancashire FA Senior Cup
- Preston North End Reserves lost at home against Blackburn Rovers U21 (1 – 3)
Preston North End Academy News
U19 Players With One-Year Option Activated
- Harry Stringfellow
- Jonny Brindle
- Theo Carroll
- Theo Mawene
- Troy Tarry
4th June 2025
Kacper Pasiek has signed his first two-year professional contract with PNE.
19th June 2025
Promising 17-year-old Theo Mawene has completed a permanent transfer from Preston North End to Brentford B.
11th August 2025
PNE academy midfielder Theo Carroll has signed his first professional contract with the club. The 18-year-old who joined at a young age, has committed to a three-year deal at Deepdale.
18th August 2025
Highly-rated striker Shay Reid has joined Preston North End from Cliftonville, signing a two-year scholarship deal with the option of a one-year professional contract to follow.
21st August 2025
Defenders Nathan Snowball and Olly Tonkin have agreed professional terms with Preston North End after leaving Morecambe.
Snowball, 17, will complete his second year as a scholar before signing a two-year professional contract, while 16-year-old Tonkin joins on a two-year scholarship followed by a one-year pro deal.
4th September 2025
Li-Bau Stowell has signed his first professional contract with Preston North End. The 17-year-old goalkeeper has committed to a three-year deal with the club.
26th November 2025
Preston North End U18s’ FA Youth Cup run came to an end after a 1-1 draw and a 4-5 defeat on penalties at home to West Ham U18s.
17th March 2026
Jonny Brindle has returned to North End following the end of his loan at Giant Axe.