Football: Rochdale AFC celebrates the success of its academy

Last week saw the English Football League (EFL) celebrate Youth Development Week, highlighting the work of EFL Clubs in promoting young, home-grown players.

Rochdale AFC have been celebrating the success of their own academy and the players it has produced in recent years.

There is a total of 123 players in the academy set-up. 109 of these play in teams ranging from under 9s to under 16s, with 14 scholars playing for the Youth Team.

21 full-time and part-time staff members work for the academy, helping to bring through the likes of Scott Hogan, Jamie Allen, Callum Camps, Andy Cannon and many more.

 

 

Camps is now the eldest former academy player at Rochdale AFC and has made 188 appearances for the first team since his debut in 2013. Camps has been joined in the first team by Aaron Morley, Matty Gillam, Brad Wade, Dan Adshead and under 16 player Luke Matheson.

Matheson, who became Rochdale’s youngster ever debutant in September at 15 years and 336 days, made his international debut on Thursday 7 February.

He started in England Under 17s match against France, appearing alongside the likes of Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood.

The full-back became the second Rochdale player and academy graduate to appear for England this season, after Adshead appeared three times for England Under 18s in November, scoring on his debut.

 

 

Since 2013, a total of 619 first team appearances have been made by Rochdale Youth Team players and academy graduates.

28 of those have come this season alone, with five academy players making their Rochdale debuts so far this campaign.