3/1 To Win
Derby County Under-18s finished sixth in the Premier League – North in a season that showcased the bright future of the club.
However, judging the success of the Derby County Under-18s season is not as clear cut as the number of games won or the positioning in the table. For Justin Walker, those are a bonus, while development up the ranks is the priority.
More than 50 players made appearances for the Under-18s last term as Walker handled a balancing act of getting results on the pitch and providing the Under-23s and first-team with players that are equipped to take on the next stage.
Seven Under-18 players stepped up to Darren Wassall’s side in the Under-23s with the likes of Cameron Cresswell and Jason Knight making regular appearances.
The services of Max Bird were utilised in the first-team when the then 16-year-old made his debut in the EFL Cup against Barnsley before heading out on loan.
While 17-year-old Jayden Bogle ended the season regularly training and travelling with the first-team, making the matchday squad against rivals Nottingham Forest.
Walker told dcfc.co.uk: “It’s very much looking at the big picture, we steer away from team objective stuff and we are individually driven about each of the players and what they require in terms of preparing them for the next step.
“The measure of how successful our team is, is how our players progress, then obviously the better players you have within the team then the results should come anyway.
“We have seen a lot of progress this year with certain individuals and it comes at different times for young players.”
The fluidity of the squad means the young players regularly get their opportunity to prove they can step up. Last season it often fell to Under-16s players to grasp their chance at playing up and age group.
Louis Sibley, 16, and Tyree Wilson, 15, were two of those players. Their performances also caught the eye of Wassall and the teenagers racked up minutes for the Under-23s as well.
It may seem like a revolving door, but that’s the nature of the academy that’s mission is develop talent who can force their way into the first-team.
Although team objectives took a backseat, the young Rams squad managed a midtable finish and enjoyed impressive victories over Manchester City, who finished second in the league, Everton, Wolverhampton and an FA Youth Cup victory over Manchester United.
“We have used over 54 players throughout the season,” said Walker.
“I think that’s healthy, it tests how inline we are with the academy in terms of the players understandings of expectations, and roles and responsibilities within the team.
“Ultimately, most of them have maximised opportunities presented to them.
“Most young players surprise you, sometimes you may cast a question mark over this and that, but they have proved that they are capable.”
Walker added: “We have known that group of players for about four years now, they have all shown fantastic character this year, even when they knew the outcome that they would have to look for other clubs at the end of the season.
“The togetherness was there and epitomised the work that had gone over the past few years.”
