Stockport County Academy 2025–26 season showcasing progress along the EPPP development pathway for youth players.
Based in Greater Manchester, Stockport County runs a category 3 academy
- Academy Manager: Damien Allen
- Lead Professional Development Phase Coach: Jamie Crowther
Stockport County Retained List 2025
View the complete list of Stockport County players who have been retained, released, or have returned to their parent clubs following loan spells.
Stockport County Scholars 2025/26
- Ben Buckley (Goalkeeper)
- Nathan Hughes (Goalkeeper)
- Israel Pither (Defender)
- Harley Windsor (Defender)
- James Lewis (Midfielder)
- Sam Lennon (Midfielder)
- Jacob Maher (Midfielder)
- Joe Astles (Forward)
- Jayden Nkodia (Forward)
- Alfie Jones (Forward)
- Newton Udoette (Forward)
- Mohamed Sheriff (Forward)
- Daniel Marshall (Defender)
Stockport County Academy Players On Loan 2025/26
Youth players on loan.
- Jid Okeke (Defender) Walsall
- Cian O’Shea (Goalkeeper) Avro FC
- Christy Grogan (Defender) Aldershot Town
Stockport County Academy International Players 2025/26
- Rhys Watson (Defender) Wales U19
Stockport County 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
Stockport County U17 will play against Under-17 teams from Grimsby Town, Mansfield Town and Barnsley.
- Stockport County U17 won away against Grimsby Town U17 (1 – 4)
- Stockport County U17 won at home against Barnsley U17 (3 – 0)
- Stockport County U17 won away against Mansfield Town (0 – 2)
Round of 16
- Stockport County won at home against Salford City U17 (3 – 2)
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
Below are the team standings at the winter break, marking roughly the halfway point of the season.
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.
Stockport County U18 are drawn in Group E against under-18 teams: Fleetwood Town, Blackpool and Wigan Athletic.
Fixtures Schedule (Group E)
- Match Round 1 (Tuesday 26 August 2025) Stockport County v Fleetwood Town
- Match Round 2 (Wednesday 12 October 2025) Blackpool v Stockport County
- Match Round 3 (Saturday 22 November 2025) Wigan Athletic v Stockport County
U18 Professional Development League Cup Group Stage
- Stockport County U18 won at home against Fleetwood Town U18 (7 – 1)
- Stockport County U18 won away against Stockport County U18 (2 – 4)
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
- Stockport County U18 won away against Salford City U18 (2 – 5)
FA Youth Cup
First Round Proper
Stockport County U18 have been drawn away against Fleetwood Town U18
- Stockport County U18 lost away against Fleetwood Town U18 (2 – 1)
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.
County’s U21 team participated in the U21 Premier League Cup for the first time since the Academy was reinstated in 2022.
U21 Premier League Cup Group Stage
Stockport County U21 are drawn in Group F against under 21 teams from Cardiff City, QPR and Burnley.
- Stockport County Reserves lost at home against QPR U21 (1 – 3)
- Matthew Whittingham
- Stockport County Reserves lost away against Burnley U21 (3 – 2)
- Collins Nino
- Jacob Maher
- Stockport County Reserves lost away against QPR U21 (2 – 1)
- Stockport County Reserves lost away against Cardiff City U21 (7 – 2)
- Joe Astles
- Jack Kingdon
- Stockport County Reserves won at home against Cardiff City U21 (2 – 1)
- Corey Edwards (2)
Cheshire Senior Cup
- Stockport County Reserves won away against Congleton (0 – 1)
Stockport County Academy News
29th May 2025
Stockport County has secured the signatures of three promising young talents—Marcus Kouam, Rhys Watson, and Christy Grogan—on professional contracts ahead of the 2025/26 season.
23rd July 2025
Nathaniel Mapengu has signed his first professional contract with Stockport County, committing his future to Edgeley Park until 2027.
9th August 2025
Lee Williams has completed a move to Vietnamese top-flight side The Cong-Viettel FC following his departure from Stockport County.
The 18-year-old forward impressed during his loan spell at Warrington Town last season, where he netted three goals in 16 appearances.
1st September 2025
Talented midfielder Corey Edwards joins from National League side Rochdale, linking up with County’s U21s on loan until January.