Academy Weekly: Remembering Munich

Tuesday 08 February 2022 09:50

An exciting week approaches for the Manchester United Academy as the club’s Under-18s side engages in two important cup ties. Over the last seven days, all age-groups have paid tribute and remembered those who died in the Munich Air Disaster 64 years ago.

Read on for everything you need to know about the last week and what’s coming up...

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Academy remembers Munich Air Disaster

The Under-23s marked the 64th anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster by welcoming members of the club’s Under-13s side to lay wreaths at Saturday’s fixture against West Ham United.

On Sunday afternoon, two members of the Under-13s laid a wreath and another two read a poem at the fan-led ceremony held outside Old Trafford. The pair had written the poem in an education session held at Ashton-on-Mersey school a fortnight ago. Players all across the Academy are taught of the events of Munich in 1958 and their significance. To read more about how that process works, read the article below.

How the Academy teaches the Munich Air Disaster

 Article

Educating Academy youngsters about the club's back-story is vital, here's how it's done.

Flags at Old Trafford will remain at half-mast until the conclusion of Wednesday’s FA Youth Cup fifth-round match against Everton.

Under-23s defeat West Ham

D’Mani Mellor contributed a goalscoring double, and Shola Shoretire a pair of assists as United downed West Ham at a rainy Leigh Sports Village on Saturday afternoon.

Shoretire’s pinpoint through ball was finished by Mellor in the 13th minute to put the Reds ahead, before Dan Chesters equalised for the visitors soon after. Mellor restored United’s lead just after the hour-mark, finding the bottom right corner as he finished through the defender’s legs, before Connor Stanley sealed the victory, latching onto another fantastic pass by Shoretire and finishing well.

Stanley has recently returned from a loan spell at Atlanta United in the United States. Zidane Iqbal was also involved again, having made his senior international debut for Iraq the week before. You can watch highlights of the Under-23s' victory below.

U23s highlights: United 3 West Ham 1 Video

U23s highlights: United 3 West Ham 1

Watch back the best of the action from Saturday's Premier League 2 encounter at Leigh Sports Village...

Under-18s progress in U18 PL Cup

United have qualified for the knock-out stages of the U18 PL Cup despite goals from Archie Oliver and Reyes Cleary giving West Brom a home win in a rearranged fixture. Victories before Christmas, against Birmingham and Wolves, mean United progress as group winners. Travis Binnion’s side will play Chelsea in the next round on Saturday 12 February in an 11:00 GMT kick-off.

Loan watch

James Garner assisted one of Nottingham Forest’s four goals as the City Ground was delighted by a derby victory in the FA Cup against Leicester City. Garner’s well-delivered corner was headed home by Joe Worrall in the 32nd minute as Forest secured a spot in the last 16 with their 4-1 victory.

Brandon Williams was named Norwich City’s Player of the Month for January, and will also be involved in the fifth round of the FA Cup after his team knocked out Wolves on Saturday.

In the Championship, Teden Mengi and Di’Shon Bernard were both on the losing side at the weekend. Elsewhere, Reece Devine played 71 minutes for Walsall in a 1-0 loss to Northampton Town and Dylan Levitt played twice for Dundee United in 0-0 draws against Dundee and St Johnstone.

Academy graduate achievements

Ollie Denham made his Cardiff City debut in the Bluebirds' FA Cup fourth-round match against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday. Congratulations, Ollie!

Elsewhere across English football, Devonte Redmond was part of the Kidderminster Harriers side that held West Ham until the 121st minute in a spirited cup performance, and Ro-Shaun Williams, Tommy Rowe and Mipo Odubeko all helped Doncaster Rovers to a shock 2-1 victory over League One promotion challengers Sunderland.

 
FA Youth Cup: Reading 1 United 3 Video

FA Youth Cup: Reading 1 United 3

Watch how our ruthless Under-18s put Reading to the sword in the FA Youth Cup fourth round...

COMING UP THIS WEEK

Cup action for Under-18s

Supporters are encouraged to attend Old Trafford for United’s FA Youth Cup fifth-round clash against Everton on Wednesday night. The Under-18s have defeated Scunthorpe United and Reading to get to this stage and now face a difficult test against a talented Toffees side. The match, which begins at 19:00 GMT, will be shown live on MUTV.

The Under-18s also have an U18 PL Cup tie this week, against Chelsea on Saturday 12 February. Kick-off is at 11:00 GMT.

Fixture announcements

The Under-18s' postponed match against Blackburn Rovers, originally scheduled to be played in early January, will now be played on Tuesday 8 March 2022 in a 19:00 GMT kick-off at Altrincham. The team's U18 Premier League match away at Wolverhampton Wanderers, slated for 5 February, will now take place on Wednesday 27 April at 18:30 GMT.

The Under-23s' match at home to Chelsea in Premier League 2 will now be played on Friday 8 April at Old Trafford, in a 19:00 GMT kick-off.

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    U23s highlights: United 3 West Ham 1

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