Academy Briefing: Educational success
With many of Manchester United’s young Academy players proudly representing their countries and the league schedule paused for the break, now is an excellent time to celebrate some recent educational achievements of our young players.
The Academy provides provides players with experiences that help them develop as footballers, with the end goal of representing the club’s senior sides, but also with opportunities to grow and succeed in life, including in education.
RECORD-BREAKING RESULTS
Our second-year scholars contributed to record-breaking results across the Premier League on the scholarship programme. Ten of our boys completed their apprenticeship qualification (The Sporting Excellence Professional) at Distinction Level, with particularly outstanding results for James Scanlon and Gabriele Biancheri, who achieved the top possible grade of triple distinction star. Seven achieved a Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma and three players passed A-Level exams.
At GCSE level, many of our scholars achieved grades at the top end of the scale, with Jacob Watson's six Grade 9s worthy of special mention. Noah Ajayi, Rafe McCormack and Yuel Helafu also did fantastically well, and all the boys should be very proud of their efforts.
In the Girls’ Academy meanwhile, there was a similar level of well-rounded results, while five young players secured spots at university in the United States of America, where they’ll continue to pursue football, alongside further education.
Phoebe Chadwick will attend Harvard, Liv Moulton has a spot to study at Michigan University, Anna Fletcher is headed to Rhode Island University, Aoife Farral to Eastern Florida State and Zaiba Ishaque to Wake Forest.
Congratulations and good luck to them all.
WIDER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Those results only scratch the surface in the offering provided to United’s Academy players in 2024/25, in both the Boys’ and Girls’ set-ups.
There has been significant progress in the options available to our players after their 18th birthday, and last season evidenced that. Eight players successfully completed short courses in Entrepreneurship and Cyber Security at UA92. Sonny Aljofree and Dermot Mee completed the first year of a Football and Business Management three-year part-time BA Honours degree with the PFA, and Will Murdock and Jacob Devaney have signed up to begin the course in 2025/26.
"We are proud of the educational achievements of our players across our Academies throughout 2025,” reflected Ian Smithson, head of education.
“Alongside notable successes in both GCSE and BTEC qualifications, we are especially pleased with the outcomes of our A-Level programme. This academic pathway complements our well-established vocational courses, offering players a broader curriculum and greater choice in their personal development.
“In addition, many of our Under-21 players are embracing further education by enrolling in part-time degrees and short courses. This commitment to lifelong learning reflects a strong culture of personal growth within the Academy and highlights how our evolving programme continues to support and inspire young players to reach their full potential."
DAVE BUSHELL’S BOOK CELEBRATES STORIED CAREER
At a time when we’re celebrating the achievements of our young players, it’s a good opportunity to shine a light on a key influence in their lives.
Dave Bushell is United’s Academy player liaison officer and has worked tirelessly at the club for several decades to help maximise the potential of every boy in our care. Dave has recently released a book, ‘Dreams Do Come True!’, where he reflects on an incredible life in the game, after a foreword from his old boss, Sir Alex Ferguson.
Congratulations to Dave on the recent publication!
FIXTURE ANNOUNCEMENTS
United's National League Cup fixture at Tamworth - originally postponed at the end of the first half due to a head injury suffered by Sekou Kone - has been rearranged for Tuesday 16 December (19:45 GMT).
Our upcoming Premier League 2 match against Crystal Palace, originally scheduled to be played at Leigh Sports Village on Friday 26 September, will now be played at Salford City's Peninsula Stadium on Saturday 27 September at 14:00 BST.
Finally, our National League Cup game at Rochdale, which was pencilled in for 21 October, will now take place on 28 October (19:00 GMT).
COMING UP
United’s youth sides return to league action this weekend, with the Under-18s hosting Burnley on Saturday morning (11:00 BST), live on MUTV.
Further ahead, our Under-21s’ Premier League International Cup fixtures have begun to be confirmed, starting with the exciting visit of Athletic Club to Old Trafford on Wednesday 24 September. Tickets are available here.
MUTV/TICKET INFO AT A GLANCE
Saturday 13 September | UNITED U18s v Burnley | 11:00 | Live on MUTV
Tuesday 16 September | Brackley v UNITED U21s | 19:00 | Live on MUTV, tickets available via Brackley
Saturday 20 September | Wolves v UNITED U18s | 11:30 | Live on MUTV
Sunday 21 September | Liverpool v UNITED U21s | 14:00 | Live on MUTV