Matt Hale believes Derby County can look back on ‘another really positive’ campaign for the Academy in 2024/25.
Hale, who is approaching two years in charge of the Rams’ youth set-up, believes there have been plenty of encouraging signs right through the age groups at Moor Farm Training Ground.
At the top end of the Academy conveyer belt, Hale believes the Under-18s’ performances in Premier League - North under the guidance of Danny Maye and Bradley Johnson have been particularly impressive.
The side achieved a fourth-place finish in the league standings, with only Manchester City, Manchester United and Everton picking up more points over 24 matches.
Cruz Allen, Tristan Gill, Niall McAndrew, Jerome Richards and Jack Thompson are already joining the Under-21 squad on a permanent basis while Demiane Agustien, Luke Banks, Owen Eames, Isaac Gordon, Justin Oguntolu, Adisa Osayande, Johnson Osong, Harley Price and Marsel Tola have also been rewarded with the offer of professional terms.
Other notable stories during the campaign saw Academy graduate Will Hughes achieve FA Cup glory with Crystal Palace, first-team defender Eiran Cashin seal a move to Premier League Brighton & Hove Albion and striker Dajaune Brown score his first Derby goal in a 1-1 draw with Hull City in October 2024.
Speaking to RamsTV to look back on the season, Hale commented: “It has been another really positive season in the Academy.
“The highlight is probably the Under-18s’ success. The way they competed in the league has been pleasing and we also saw the Under-17s and Under-18s reach the Premier League Cup semi-finals, as well as having a good run in the FA Youth Cup.
“That group in particular has been a stand-out for us and we’ve offered professional terms of all the second-year scholars.”
Hale added: “That alone is a great recognition for the talent we’ve got there. It is rare that all of them are offered contracts, but we are excited about that age group.
“They’ve all deserved it. They are different types of players and play in various positions, and stepped up at times to feature for the Under-21s.”
The season also saw a number of players from the Academy train with the first team squad and named in the matchday squad on several occasions.
Under-21s quartet Freddie Turley, Lennon Wheeldon, Daniel Cox and Keilan Robinson and Under-18s players Johnson Osong, Charles Ebuka Agbawodikeizu (pictured below), Cruz Allen and Owen Eames featured on the bench for the first team at various stages during the campaign.
Wheeldon got match action in Derby’s 1-0 loss at Swansea City in April and, in addition to the eight players making matchday squads, several of the Rams’ young guns had the opportunity to train with the squad over the course of the campaign.
Hale believes those experiences is not only a positive for the players themselves, but everyone in the Academy.
He said: “It is brilliant for some of those lads to be in-and-around the first team and get good exposure for five or six of the lads.
“Training with them on a daily basis and being part of the matchday is only good for the group and shows everyone in the Academy what is possible.
“It is a real lift for everyone when it happens; it’s what we are all here for to support the players as they strive to get themselves into the first team.”
The latter months of the season saw Under-21s Lead Coach Jake Buxton step up to the senior set-up under Head Coach John Eustace and, alongside his coaching duties, help the transition process for players from top end of Academy into the senior environment.
As a former team-mate of Eustace’s during his time at Derby as a player, that familiarity was understandably important to building a relationship between the Academy staff and the senior set-up.
Hale said: “We have a good, strong relationship with John Eustace and his staff. There are daily conversations and meetings with them about our young players.
“It has been a good environment for the players to work in, either with the first team or on the pitch next to them.
“When John Eustace came in, the first team’s focus was to stay in the Championship, and they achieved that.
“We left them alone as much as we could, but we’ve still had positive conversations. After the summer break, we will get an even stronger relationship - I am sure.”
