Academy Briefing: EFL Trophy tickets available
A convincing win at Under-18s level headlines our latest round-up of action from Manchester United’s world-famous Academy; here’s all you need to know…
UNDER-18s DEFEAT NEWCASTLE
Two goals from Gabriele Biancheri and one each for James Scanlon, Amir Ibragimov and Jim Thwaites led our Under-18s to an emphatic 5-1 victory over Newcastle United on Saturday morning.
Watch every goal from the encounter below.
U18s match action: Newcastle v United
Our Under-18s beat Newcastle 5-1 on Saturday - watch the goals...
HUGILL STARS ON LOAN
Joe Hugill netted twice for loan club Wigan Athletic in the Latics’ 4-0 win against Bristol Rovers in League One. The 20-year-old is enjoying his third loan spell away after time spent at Altrincham and Burton Albion in the past.
While Hugill’s was the headline-grabbing performance, the majority of our players out on loan were involved over the weekend across several leagues in Europe.
Radek Vitek kept a clean sheet in victory for Blau Weiss against LASK Linz in the Austrian Bundesliga and Elyh Harrison did the same for Chester FC as they saw off Hebburn Town in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round. Tom Myles made several good saves but his Runcorn Linnets side were beaten by in-form Trafford FC in the Northern Premier League while Tom Wooster wasn’t involved for Farsley Celtic.
As for outfielders, James Nolan and Rhys Bennett started for Inverness Caledonian Thistle (Scottish League One) and Fleetwood Town (English League One) respectively. Sonny Aljofree wasn’t in the squad for new club Accrington Stanley, for whom he signed on the final day of the August window after penning a new long-term United contract.
Meanwhile, Cameron Byrne-Hughes agreed a youth loan with Bolton Wanderers before the deadline.
INSIDE OUT DAY
Academy players and staff participated in the ‘Inside Out Campaign’ last week, marking World Suicide Prevention Day. Individuals were asked to wear an item of clothing inside out, with the goal of sparking conversation and highlighting the importance of talking in bringing ‘What’s on the inside, out’.
The fundamental objective of the day and the campaign is to help improve the health and wellbeing of young people, including those in our Academy.
Education on mental health and well-being forms a core part of 'A United Education' but specific pegs in the calendar like this one bring that emphasis more firmly into view.
“This is an excellent campaign and we’re delighted to support one of our long-standing life skills partners, IF U Care Share, in raising awareness of these important issues,” said Ian Smithson, Head of Education.
EFL TROPHY RETURNS
After a stunning three-goal second-half comeback in the opening group-stage game at Barnsley, United’s U21s are back in EFL Trophy action next week, taking on Doncaster Rovers. Kick-off is 19:00 BST on Tuesday 24 September. Fans can buy tickets here.
“Alongside the Youth Cup for the Under-18s, the EFL Trophy is our biggest regular competition,” explained Travis Binnion, lead U21s coach, recently.
“We feel like we find the most out about the players in that arena and they’re unique games, playing against senior opposition, the format of it, going away, it offers a lot. The lads definitely look forward to it and we, as a staff, feel like we find the most out about the players in those sorts of games.
“My two fondest memories so far are the FA Youth Cup final, in front of a record attendance, it was unbelievable for the players and staff that night, and then away at Stockport [County] last season [in the EFL Trophy], winning a penalty shootout in front of over 1,000 fans in effectively a youth game for us.
“As I said multiple times before, there’s not many clubs that put their Academy at that level of importance and there’s not many clubs’ fans that hold their Academy as a key part of the club and their so passionate about seeing young players play. So, we’re really grateful as a staff, but I know the players are really grateful to play for a club with the fans that we’ve got.”
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COMING UP
Before the EFL Trophy tie at Doncaster, our U21s first host Manchester City in the mini-derby on Saturday lunchtime. The Premier League 2 fixture is a midday kick-off.
The Under-18s travel to Middlesbrough on Saturday in a 12:30 BST kick-off. Neither the U18s nor U21s league game can be shown live on MUTV as United Women’s opening WSL fixture of the season, against West Ham at Old Trafford, kicks off at the same time.