17-21 March saw the EFL celebrate Youth Development Week, which shines a light on the work that all clubs do within their academies to prepare players for life in the professional game.
When Jake Richards made his EFL debut a few days after his 16th birthday on a scorching day at SJP against Leyton Orient, he became the next ‘off the production line’ for the Exeter City Academy that has produced an international captain, and England semi-final goal-scorer, and many more Premier and Football League players.
On that day in September 2023, Richards became City’s third ever youngest player, with only Ethan Ampadu and Ben Chrisene appearing at a younger age.
Richards’ journey to elite football hasn’t followed the usual pathway of a Grecians academy player though, with his development not utilising the non-league loan system but instead being nurtured entirely in-house at the Cliff Hill Training Ground throughout the age groups.
A player within the under-16s, Richards first came onto the radar of Gary Caldwell during the club’s pre-season friendly at Mousehole in July 2023. “He was the best player on the pitch,” Caldwell said after the match.
“Those comments gave me a lot of confidence and they really helped me with my future sessions within the first team,” Richards said.
“The night before the game I was so nervous but excited, because I’d always wanted to play in the first team. It was an opportunity that came out the blue to be honest. I was told by the old under-18s coach.”
For the then 15-year-old, it marked the start of a first team career that began with the foundations in the younger age groups at the academy. Joining the club at a relatively late stage as an under-12, after the closure of the Yeovil Town academy, Richards worked his way up.
“Then as we got to 15s, 16s they focused a lot more on the whole picture of performance and results, and I guess that’s where they saw me.”
On that hot September day against Orient, Richards chance came through a combination of first team injuries and international duties, and he settled in well on his first EFL appearance.
“I felt like I was thrown in at the deep end being so young, in a league game, against a really good opposition, and it was a really tough day that was really hot.”
If most inside the ground hadn’t heard of Richards before the game, they certainly did afterwards as he provided a sublime assists for Demetri Mitchell to volley home an impressive equaliser in front of the Big Bank.
“To get that assist for Demi, in front of the Big Bank was an absolutely amazing feeling.
“When you come into the squad you want to make an impact and I felt like I did.”
Naturally, most of Richards’ game time during the early part of the season came for the under-18s. “I didn’t really get a sniff at the first team and that was understandable and I was playing a lot of games for the 18s, but I spoke with Dan Green and I really tried to push and that’s why I was given that chance, I think.
“But I’m in a good position now, as I can still play first team, under-18s or in the under-21 cup and playing as many games as I can at the moment can only be beneficial to me.”
The Premier League Cup has proved of huge benefit to not just Richards but several of the current crop of academy stars as it builds the bridge between academy and first team football, with that stepping stone becoming that little bit easier.
“There’s loads of games at a very high level against some top level academies, and I believe we are a really good side because we went unbeaten in the group stages this season. The step-up from 18s to first team is massive, so to have this platform in between has really helped us.”
Another vital platform in the first team set up is the EFL Trophy, with Ampadu gaining his first appearance in red and white in the competition, and a certain Ollie Watkins scoring his first Grecian goal, and it was no different from Richards as he netted his first senior goal in style.
A free-kick in the closing stages, a few yards outside the penalty, gave the now 17-year-old the perfect opportunity to familiarise himself as a seasoned first teamer in front of the Big Bank. Stepping up, he hit a ferocious effort into the top corner.
“It felt like I had been working towards that moment for some time. I don’t think the game was actually my best performance but I think the goal put my name out there and it felt like a big statement to say that I was here, and who I am.
If there was any doubt that Richards had not yet announced himself in red and white, Boxing Day 2024 provided a moment he recalls gave him ‘goosebumps.’ 2-1 up against Bristol Rovers in front of a sold out festive crowd, it was Richards’ stoppage time goal that sealed the deal for the Grecians and sent the Big Bank into delirium. He ran to the crowd, arms out wide, and was swarmed by his teammates. A moment to savour.
“That felt so much better than the Spurs goal, even if the goal itself wasn’t as good. I was just ecstatic and it took a few days to set in really. All I wanted to do was go out and score as many goals as possible and I was doing it. And in front of the Big Bank as well. That was so special for me because when you come through this club and work your way up to the first team, that is something you always dream of. The roar was amazing.”