The youth teams of Derby County are the Reserves and the Football Academy. Comprising of players under the age of 23, the reserve team serves as Derby County’s backup squad. The academy team consists of the under-18 players as well as players from other younger age groups. They compete in England’s top reserve team football division, Premier League 2. The Elite Player Performance Plan places Derby’s academy in Category 1, which is the highest classification available in England.
About Derby County Football Academy
With the assistance of knowledgeable and committed professionals, Derby County Football Academy provides a high-level football development and education program. Derby County Football Academy, Moor Farm Training Ground, Morley Road, Derby, DE21 4TB is where you can find Derby County Football Academy. Derby County Football Academy develops its athletes through the use of cutting-edge technology and coaching techniques. They are constantly searching for up-and-coming talent to join their academy, and because admission is competitive, they are quite picky about who gets in. with the modifications made to the football academy system. Academy Category 1 clubs are now able to hire players from around the country (U12+).
The FA reexamined this rule after reasoning that the greatest players should only be entitled to play in the top academies, regardless of their proximity to the academy. Previously, Category One teams were only allowed to hire players who could travel to the academy in 90 minutes or less. This increases our domestic talent pool for the global arena by providing the top talent with the most opportunities for success. As a result, Derby County Academy is hiring more host families to help place young, gifted students in secure homes.
The Derby County Football Academy’s Vision
The Academy’s objective is to become known as the “Academy of Choice” for young players in the community and beyond, while also continuing to supply skilled, well-rounded young professional football players for Derby County‘s first team.
The aim of this academy is to establish themselves as a perennial Category One academy so that they can play young football at the highest level both domestically and internationally.
To build the players of the future, they’ll keep making investments in their training facilities and cutting-edge technologies to boost their performance and reputation. They have committed a significant amount of money to make sure that they actively pursue the finest young players in their community and beyond for recruitment and retention.
The Academy’s Philosophy
The Derby County Academy’s guiding principle is to emphasize a deliberate passing game. This implies that the coaching staff will seek out players with this goal in mind and provide them with the tactical and technical know-how necessary for their teams to control and impact the game whether they are in possession or not. They’ll establish a setting where each player combines the physical prowess and mental toughness necessary to recover possession of the ball and, as a result, take back control of the match.
The basis of this ideology will be the academy’s values, behaviors, and coaching styles. To foster an exceptional sense of teamwork both on and off the field, they will seek out and train players and personnel that share their beliefs and work ethic. In order to create goal-scoring opportunities, the academy aims to play attack-minded football by using a positive, deliberate, and forward-thinking incisive passing game. It will do this by taking advantage of space on the pitch and moving forward when it is possible to approach the final third. When not in possession, play with organization, discipline, and a defensive mentality while pressing forward.
Members of the Academy technical board are capable of managing and executing the Academy’s playing philosophy in addition to the first team. This will make it easier to make sure that everyone is using the same strategies to work toward the same objectives.
The Under-21 Squad has reached a consensus to emulate the first team’s training and match preparation strategies, with the aim of readying development squad players for eventual first team opportunities. The Under-18 age group and younger players receive the chance to improve every facet of their game, providing them with a comprehensive football education.
Know more about the academy here.
How To Get A Trial At Derby County Football Academy
Players must be noticed in the appropriate locations at the appropriate times in order to be chosen for a trial at Derby County Football Academy. Some players would rather take a more direct approach, sending links to videos of themselves playing football. However, it’s important to remember that clubs receive thousands of these videos every week. And they therefore don’t have time to watch them all while going about their regular business. As a result, joining a Derby County Soccer School is the most efficient way to be scouted for a trial at Derby County Football Academy.
Scouts frequently choose young athletes from their soccer school sessions and provide invitations for them to try out at Derby County Academy’s development centers. Since anyone may participate in their soccer schools, it’s an open opportunity for everyone to get their skills seen. Since their competitors will be attending soccer schools as soon as they are old enough, it is also a very smart idea to enroll your child as soon as possible. This will allow them to develop their skills on pace with their peers. Learn about the Derby County Football Academy scouting process here.
How Do I Get Into Derby County Football Academy?
Scouts from Derby County Football Academy give players the opportunity to try out. While many players are fortunate enough to be in the correct positions when scouts are watching games, Derby County is also well aware that talented players might elude them; therefore, they do provide players with the opportunity to get in touch with them directly using the information below. Due to the large number of applications, it is understandable that they are unable to reply to every applicant. However, this is a useful method of informing scouts about players who want to improve their football skills and have a trial at Derby County Football Academy. Simply email Derby County Football Academy the following details to be considered for a trial:
- Players’ Resume and Cover Letter
- Players’ Vitals: Position, age, date of birth, height, weight, phone number, email address, current club, past clubs, information about trials previously attended, and any honors as a representative of the school, district, county, etc.
- Players’ place of education
- Provide the scout with a fixture list of your current squad, along with the location and kickoff time.
After compiling the previously mentioned data, send Derby County Academy an email at this address: Derby County Trial Request. After reviewing your application, Derby County Football Academy will look into sending a scout or not to observe the game.
Notable Graduates of This Academy
Riis Jakobsen
After making an impression for the Randers youth team in Denmark, Riis Jakobsen, then just 17 years old, joined Derby’s training program in 2015. However, despite his promotion in 2018, the forward failed to play a game for the senior squad. The now 23-year-old returned to Randers in 2018 following a loan period with VVV Venlo of the Netherlands. Following a successful stretch of play at Randers, Riis Jakobsen returned to England, joining Preston North End of the Championship.
Lowe
After turning pro for the first time in 2015, Lowe missed the majority of the Rams’ championship run due to a hamstring injury that season. In August 2016, the now 24-year-old made his EFL Cup debut, participating in a 1-1 tie with Carlisle United in the second round. Lowe even scored on a penalty kick as the team won a 14–13 shootout to go to the next round of play. The midfielder, who spent time on loan at Shrewsbury Town and Aberdeen, left the team in 2020 to join Sheffield United. However, Lowe has since moved to Nottingham Forest, Derby’s bitter rivals, where he has been on loan for the entire season.
Mutch
Despite graduating from the Derby County academy, Mutch did not have his breakout season at Pride Park. Because of his age at the time, the midfielder had to pay a compensation fee when he joined Birmingham City in 2007. However, Mutch only made 24 appearances for the Blues during his four-year stay before leaving once more to play for Cardiff City. After then, the now 30-year-old moved on to teams like QPR and Crystal Palace. Mutch joined Macarthur FC in 2021 and is currently a player for the Australian team.
Hughes
Under Nigel Clough, Hughes achieved his breakthrough at Pride Park in 2012 at the tender age of sixteen. Before joining Watford, the midfield player played more than 150 games with the Rams between 2011 and 2017. After spending four happy years with the Hornets, the former England U21 international moved to Crystal Palace before the current season began, where he is currently a player under Patrick Vieira.
Bogle
On this list, Bogle is the most recent academy graduate, having only made his breakthrough at Pride Park in 2018. In his debut season of senior football, the team made it to the play-off final, and the fullback under Frank Lampard established himself as a constant in the lineup. Although Bogle played one more season with the Rams before leaving for Sheffield United, Derby lost that championship match to Aston Villa in the end. This Championship season, the 21-year-old has made 18 appearances for the Blades
.See More: How to Apply to the Brighton FC Academy
How to join Aston Villa FC Academy
The Olympique de Marseille Academy
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