SOUTHAMPTON F.C. ACADEMY

'Southampton Football Club Academy' or 'Saints Academy' is the youth organisation run by Southampton Football Club to encourage and develop young footballers in the South of England. There are currently 8 squads at the Academy.

★ Under 18

★ Under 16

★ Under 14

★ Under 13

★ Under 12

★ Under 11

★ Under 10

★ Under 9
Amongst the players who passed through the Saints Academy and went on to represent their country are:

★ Chris Baird

★ Gareth Bale

★ Wayne Bridge

★ Theo Walcott

★ Alan Shearer

★ Matthew Le Tissier
Since the start of the 2004-2005 season the Academy has been sponsored by local housebuilders Orchard Homes.
The academy manager is Matt Crocker (who played for a short time at Cardiff City). The aim of the Southampton academy is to "...produce premiership class players..."^[1] At current Southampton's academy set up is one of the best in the country and they have regularly reached the latter stages of the FA Youth Cup, as well as being successful in the FA Premier Academy League Championship.
In the past, prior to the establishment of the academy, the Southampton youth system has produced other international players, such as Matthew Le Tissier and Alan Shearer.
Four former Saints academy players featured in the England Under-21 match against Montenegro on 7 September 2007: Martin Cranie and Theo Walcott both started (with Walcott setting up the second goal) whilst Dexter Blackstock and Andrew Surman came on as second half substitutes, with Surman scoring the final goal in a 3-0 victory, tapping the ball home in stoppage time from a knock-down by Blackstock.^[2][3]

Contents

References

References

1. Introduction to the Southampton Academy
2. Montenegro U21 0-3 England U21
3. Full Monte for U21s