This week marks the EFL’s celebration of Youth Development across the 72 League clubs. Here at Exeter City, we are no stranger to - if not renowned for - our fantastic promotion of academy players into first team football.
As a supporter-owned club, the Academy has been a vital source of first team talent, countrywide recognition, and valuable income.
After its 2006 restructure, the Exeter City Academy works on a three-tiered ‘Players Progression Pathway’ which develops the South West’s best young prospects through education and football. George Friend was the first to graduate that same year and has gone on to captain Middlesbrough in the Premier League - beginning an emphatic 18-year trend!
Not only is the Academy’s goal to produce the next generation of footballers, but Exeter City also prides itself in developing well rounded young men and women - suitably fitting our ethos as a club for the community. For Everyone.
Just last week the club announced that we are set to team up with the world’s leading sports scholarship agency FirstPoint USA to create new opportunities for its Academy players to play and study in the States.
Part of the club’s Academy pathway, the partnership is designed to provide a route for players to continue playing at a high level, while developing their education, with FirstPoint USA providing expertise and support to those considering the option of a college scholarship in the US.
As a club, we are committed to building our player care provision and this partnership allows players to explore a different pathway, but one which can be hugely beneficial to their future career. By tapping into FirstPoint’s experience and expertise, we are now in a position to further support our transitioning players.
There have been 472 First Team games in a row with at least one Academy graduate in the starting line up. The last time this was not the case was in January 2016 at Hartlepool, though even still, Jamie Reid came off the bench!
During the 2022/23 season, our first back in League One for a decade, Exeter City averaged 4.5 Club developed players in the starting 11, the average in the EFL was 1.1. These statistics (provided by the EFL), don't include Jay Stansfield who made 39 appearances.
A record breaking season saw an incredible 19 Academy graduates made first team appearances in the 2022/23 season, the most ever in one season. Eight of the Second year Scholars were offered professional contracts at the end of the 2022/23 season, the joint most ever for the Club in one season.
Eight Academy graduates made first team debuts in 2022/23, the average in the EFL was 2.32.
The 2023/24 season has continued the trend, with seven graduates having made first team debuts already this season.
Sonny Cox, who signed a new two-year deal recently, has now scored five league goals this season at the age of 19, with three of them winning goals and the other 2 being outstanding finishes to earn a 2-2 draw with promotion chasing Bolton Wanderers last week. Sonny is one of only three U19 players to have scored 5+ League goals in the EFL this season (Jobe Bellingham - Sunderland and Daniel Kanu - Charlton are the other two).
