Post by QPR Report on Dec 16, 2008 12:38:37 GMT
This ties into the other thread about QPR's scouting/development
qprreport.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=893
This is what we should be aiming for. Instead of caring (too much) about whether our youth team wins any particular game; should care about whether these players are going to develop (or are good enough in the first place to develop) into First Team players at QPR. The past decade is hopefully not prologue.
SQUARE FOOTBALL - Whatever Happened To: Middlesbrough 2004 FA Youth Cup Winners
The press speculation last week that Adam Johnson was on Real Madrid's radar pointed again to the phenomenal success of Middlesbrough's youth development programme. Boro won the FA youth Cup in 2004 and were runners up in 2003. A very high proportion of their players have made it to the their first team.
To illustrate the point, Boro lost to Manchester United in the 2003 Final but none of that side is currently at Old Trafford. For Middlesbrough , four of their 16 against Arsenal last weekend participated in the two Youth Cup runs- Ross Turnbull, Anthony McMahon, Adam Johnson and Matthew Bates.
In addition, thw two most prominent graduates were not available for that game-David Wheater, who Fabio Capello called up to an England squad and Andrew Taylor who appears for the under 21 side.
Six first team squad members is a tremendous conversion rate from a group of young players but the success is even better when James Morrison and Chris Brunt are added to the balance sheet. Both played for the first team at the Riverside before being sold to West Bromwich Albion where they are established Premiership players this season.
Andrew Davies moved to Southampton initially but is now at Stoke. The defender made 53 first team appearances at Boro and also got one cap at under-21 level for England.
Apart from these nine graduates to the Premiership there are players like Josh Walker who played with this group in the 2004 Final ,though he's about two years younger than most of them. He recently signed contract extension with Boro but is on loan to Aberdeen for experience.
As well as the players listed above, others have left Middlesbrough but are enjoying professional careers locally at Hartlepool and Darlington. It is an astounding record enhanced by the knowledge that this group supplements several other home grown stars from the cadre in front. These include England international Stuart Downing , along with Lee Cattermole and Stuart Parnaby who left the club but still played at Premiership level.
If any Premiership club can still claim to be community-based it is Middlesbrough. A high proportion of these succesful graduates are North-East born and though a lot of people have worked hard to achieve this, credit must go to Steve Gibson, probably the most admired Club Chairman in the game, for his vision and commitment to the local area.
articles.squarefootball.net/squarefootball/2008/12/whatever-happ-1.html
BOROUGH MANIA A look back on the 2004 FA Youth Cup winning team
By Shaun • Jul 17th, 2008 • Category: Reserves & Academy
2004 was a vintage year for Middlesbrough FC. Captain Gareth Southgate became the first ‘Boro captain to lift a major tropy as we beat Bolton Wanderers in the League Cup 2-1. It was also the year our Academy produced an FA Youth Cup winning team containing players like David Wheater, Adam Johnson and Tony McMahon.
Four years have passed since that group of talented young playes beat Aston Villa (a team that included Gabriel Agbonlahor, Luke Moore and Gary Cahill), so Boro Mania decided to take a look at the squad and what each player was doing now.
After each players name there is a quote from the captain, Tony McMahon, these originally appeared in the Evening Gazette in an interview with Philip Tallentire. (Link Here)
David Knight (keeper) dob: 15/1/87 born: Sunderland
David’s a good all-round keeper and has made the No.1 position his own with Dale Roberts being out through injury.
We give him stick for having a dodgy barnet, though.
David Knight was the starting goalkeeper in both legs of the final and had represented England at Under-15 up to Under-18 levels. Following the youth cup victory he was handed a professional contract by Boro and was loaned out to lower league clubs including Darlington and Oldham.
In August 2007 Knight was released from Middlesbrough and picked up by Swansea City, the club he is currently contracted to.
Tony McMahon (right-back) dob: 24/3/86 born: Bishop Auckland
I like to play off the front foot, I don’t give my opponents any time on the ball.
Myself, Andrew Taylor and James Morrison are the jokers in the team. All the crack in the dressing room comes from us three.
Tony McMahon
Tony McMahon burst onto the Middlesbrough first team scene making his debut at Old Trafford and going on to start 12 more Premiership matches and 4 UEFA Cup ties until injury struck. During this run in the first team he came under high praise from Match Of The Day pundit Alan Hansen, who tipped him to play for England one day!
Since those days McMahon’s career at Middlesbrough has not progressed in the way he and fans would’ve liked due to a series of injuries. He damaged knee ligaments playing in the UEFA cup game against Sporting in Lisbon and following his return from that he damaged his shoulder in a reserve game, an injury that required surgery and months of rehab.
His long awaited first team return came against Charlton and a rash challenge from Bryan Hughes left Tony McMahon with medial knee ligament damage and another lengthy spell on the treatment table.
Tony McMahon made a comeback to first team action on the final day of the 2007/08 season, coming on as a substitute in the 8-1 demolition of Manchester City. He recently signed a new one-year contract with the club and we hope to see him in first team action, injury free in 2008/09.
Peter Masters (left-back) dob: 19/7/86
He’s probably been our best, most consistent player during the Youth Cup run.
Peter always gives 100%
Peter Masters was one of only a few players that were not offered professional contracts by Middlesbrough following the Youth Cup triumph.
Peter left the Boro Academy and went to America on a Scholarship, he played for the Embry-Riddle Eagles in Florida. We currently do not know if Peter Masters is still involved with football, if you have any information let us know in the comments below.
Matthew Bates (centre-back) dob: 10/12/86 born: Stockton
He’s a highly-rated player who’s already been on the bench for the first-team.
He’s good in the air and on the deck, he can certainly play. He does like to moan on the pitch, though.
Matty Bates is another highly thought of young defender that has seen his career stall due to a spate of bad injuries.
His Premiership debut came against Spurs at White Hart Lane and he continued to perform for the first team throughout the 05/06 campaign at both right-back and his usual centre-back roles.
The 2006/07 season saw him sent on loan to Ipswich Town where he picked up a cruciate knee ligament injury that forced him to miss the rest of that season. He was set back further in July 07 when he injured the other knee in a pre-season game at Darlington. In February 2008, whilst on loan at Norwich City, he injured the original knee again putting him out for the rest of the season.
2008/09 will be a big season for Bates as he battles to regain full fitness and fight his way into the first team squad again. Don’t be suprised to see him loaned out again next season.
Seb Hines (centre-back) dob: 29/5/88 born: Wetherby
He’s already represented England and from what I’ve seen I’ve seen of him he’s a great player. He can also push up into midfield.
To be fair, Seb Hines was not massively involved in the Youth Cup final winning team, being a couple of years younger than most of the others but he was involved in the quarter and semi finals.
Seb Hines has represented England at Under-16, 17 and 19 sides though is also eligible to play for the US.
He capped his full Boro debut with the first goal of the game during Boro’s 4-3 FA Cup win over Hull City after a mazy run through the Tigers’ defence.
However, in a running theme in this article, Seb’s progress has been hampered due to injuries. Including an arm broken three times and a knee ligament problem which prematurely ended his 2007/08 season. A highly rated young player, with a physical presence who can play at the heart of the defence or in a central midfield role Seb Hines will be looking to be involved in the Boro first team squad this year.
David Wheater (centre-back) dob: 14/2/87 born: Middlesbrough
He’s a big lad and a good player.
He’s also the most laid back person I’ve ever met, he never gets nervous and nothing phases him.
David Wheater
David Wheater starred for the FA Youth cup winning team, the 6′5” centre-back playing all eight games and scoring 3 goals in the competition. He was also involved the previous year, as a schoolboy, when Boro lost in the final to Manchester United.
Wheater made his first team debut when going on as replacement for Stuart Parnaby a couple of minutes from the end of the UEFA Cup last 16 game away to Sporting Lisbon in March 2005. He followed that up with some impressive displays in the backend of the 2005/06 season.
He went out on loan to Doncaster Rovers in the 2005-06 season playing seven games, scoring once. He also made just one appearance when on loan with Wolves for a month early in the 2006-07 season, later that campaign he also went on loan to Darlington making 16 appearances and scoring twice.
The following season he was handed his first team chance, following a spate of injuries to first team players, and he grabbed it with both hands. His form was sufficient to earn him a regular place in the team and Gareth Southgate even allowed England star Jonathan Woodgate to move on as David became one of the first names on the team-sheet. His impressive club form also caught the eye of new England coach Fabio Capello and Wheater was called into a couple of England squads.
The 2008/09 season will be a big one for Wheater as he looks to firmly cement his position as Boro’s top centre back and force his way into the international reckoning.
Jason Kennedy (midfield/striker) dob: 11/9/86 born: Stockton
He had a really good game in the semi-final second-leg against Crewe playing as a holding midfielder. He can also play in attack and has scored some important goals for us.
Jason Kennedy was Boro’s joint top scorer in the FA Youth Cup campaign in 2004, scoring four goals in the eight games, including the all-important winning goal in the 1-0 home leg victory over Aston Villa in the final, when he latched onto David Wheater’s flick-on and kept his cool to delicately chip the goalkeeper.
Following the Youth Cup final Kennedy was handed a contract by Boro and went on to make a handful of first team appearances. He spent the next few years on loan to Bury, Boston United and Scottish League One side Livingston. Kennedy spent last season on loan at Darlington where he enjoyed a successful spell in League Two. Kennedy scored for the Quakers in the first leg of their playoff semi-final against Rochdale, unfortunately in the second leg he missed the crucial penalty that sent Darlington out of the playoffs. Jason Kennedy recently signed a permanent two year contract with Darlington Football Club.
Gary Liddle (midfield) dob: 15/6/86 b: Middlesbrough
Gary’s another 100% player, he always gives his all.
We sometimes call him traitor because he was picked for Ireland and played for them and now he’s playing for England.
Gary Liddle signed a professional contract with Middlesbrough but due to serious back injury was unavailable for a long period of time. In 2006 he was performing well for the reserves and getting near the fringes of the first team when Hartlepool boss expressed an interest. Liddle decided to leave Boro and signed a two year deal with Hartlepool.
Liddle made an instant impact at The Victoria Ground, being named joint Player of the Year in the promotion season of 2006/2007. He remains at Hartlepool and is considered one of their highly rated players.
Andrew Taylor (midfield/left-back) dob: 1/8/86 born: Hartlepool
Another very good player who’s versatile.
His position is left-back but he’s been playing in midfield and doing a very good job.
Andrew Taylor has represented England at U17, U18 and U19 level. He was called into the Boro first team squad for the Premiership game against Bolton in April 2004.
2005/06 saw him move to Bradford on loan and have a very successful period for them. He deputised at left-back after Julio Arca broke his foot in the first game of the 2006/7 season at Reading, instantly becoming a fans’ favourite and making the position his own.
The 2007/08 season saw Taylor miss a number of games due to a niggling foot injury and lose his place to Pogatetz and Jonathan Grounds but Boro have extended his contract by a further year keeping him at the club until 2011.
James Morrison (midfield) dob: 25/5/86 born: Darlington
He’s different class. I think he can go all the way in football.
He’s so quick and has bags of skill. James has already made his first team debut.
James Morrison
James Morrison was widely regarded as the star of the 2004 crop of youngsters, he scored two goals in the first leg of the final.
He made his first-team debut on 3 January 2004, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 FA Cup victory against Notts County. His Premiership debut came four months later, when he replaced Stewart Downing in a 5–1 defeat away at Portsmouth on the final day of the 2003-04 season.
Morrison’s first European action for Boro was on 30 September 2004 in a UEFA Cup tie away at Banik Ostrava. He marked the occasion by scoring his first goal for the club, a last-minute equalizer that secured a 1–1 draw in the second leg and a 4–1 aggregate victory. He went on to cement his place as a regular in the first team squad and many Boro fans were excited about his prospects, however on 7 August 2007, Morrison signed a four-year contract with West Bromwich Albion, for an initial £1.5 million fee. This fee could rise by a further £700,000, depending on Morrison’s appearances for the Baggies. Middlesbrough will also receive 15% of any sell-on fee.
Anthony Peathingy (midfield) dob: 06/09/85 born: Middlesbrough
He’s a bit like Juninho in that he’s small and tricky.
He also likes to play behind the front men and run at the opposition. He’s also very strong and very hard to knock off the ball.
The diminutive Anthony Peathingy signed professional terms with Darlington in the 2005.06 season, however after initially impressing with Darlington he lost his place in the first team and was loaned out to Blyth Spartans.
Peathingy was released from Darlington in 2007 and it is no unknown whether he remains in football, though it is thought he had trials with a Norwegian club in 2007.
Lee Cattermole (midfield) dob: 21/03/88 born: Stockton
Lee’s a hard-tackling midfielder who played in the win over Newcastle.
Lee Cattermole, like Seb Hines, is a couple of years younger than some of the players in the 2004 winning team. He has, however, enjoyed a similar rise to fame as players like Wheater, Taylor and McMahon.
Cattermole made his full Premiership debut in a 2-2 draw at Newcastle United on January 2 2006. Many pundits gave him the Man of the Match award and comparisons were made to George Boateng.
He continued to impress throughout the remainder of his first season, earning a UEFA Cup runners-up medal as a substitute against Sevilla in Eindhoven in May 2006.
The 2007/08 season saw Cattermole battling for playing time with more experienced central midfielders and he often found his playing time limited to substitute appearances. A dynamic player who gives his all in every match.
There has been speculation recently over alleged interest in Cattermole from Premiership clubs, as of now Lee remains a Boro player.
Tom Craddock (striker) dob: 14/10/86 born: Darlington
He’s done really well this season, he’s a good finisher and holds the ball up well.
He used to be a defender but now he’s playing up front and has scored something like 20 Academy goals
Following the Youth Cup victory Tom Craddock was awarded a contract and stepped up to the Boro reserves.
He went on loan to Wrexham in October 2006 after hitting form for Boro Reserves and opened his scoring account with a late goal in a 2-0 win over Bristol Rovers. However, a knee injury picked up during the same game required extensive rehabilitation back at Middlesbrough and he returned to action for the Reserves late in the 2006-07 season.
Another loan spell, this time at Hartlepool, followed early in 2008 but opportunities were scarce and he returned to Boro after a month. Craddock recently signed a one year contract extension, with the competition for places ahead of him from the likes of Alves, Mido, Aliadiere and Tuncay he will struggle for first team action this year and may well find himself loaned out.
Adam Johnson (midfield) dob: 14/7/87 born: Sunderland
Mark Proctor calls him Giggsy because he’s a tricky left-winger in the mould of Ryan Giggs.
Adam “Jinky” Johnson is a highly rated left winger who loves to run at and attack full backs. Johnson made his senior debut aged seventeen on 17 March 2005 in the UEFA Cup in the 1–0 defeat away to Sporting Lisbon. Almost six months later he made his Premiership debut, and first senior start, deputising for an injured Stewart Downing in a 2–1 home win against Arsenal.
Johnson 1st goal for Middlesbrough came in a midweek English Premier League game against Bolton Wanders on the 3rd of May 2006.He was playing due to Middlesbrough invovlement in the UEFA Cup final which was to be played a week later as Steve McClaren rested most of the 1st team squad.
In September 2007 Johnson joined Championship side Watford on a three month loan which was cut short. Johnson played very well for the Hornets playing 12 games for the club, scoring 5 times, before being recalled to Middlesbrough.
At present time it seems the major stumbling block between Johnson and a regular first team spot is England International Stewart Downing. Both players play left wing and many fans believe if Johnson is to remain at Boro Gareth Southgate will need to find a way to accomodate both players in the starting 11.
Chris Pennock (keeper) dob: 12/9/87 born: Spennymoor
He’s still very young but looks a good goalie.
All the keepers in the Academy are excellent and we have a fantastic coach in Stephen Pears
Chris Pennock went on to play for the Academy the following year, however not a lot is known after that. We do not know whether Chris remained in football or not.
Michael van Geele (midfield) dob: 01/08/86 b: Berchem St Agathe, Belgium
Michael’s an attacking midfielder who’s a good distributor of the ball.
He played for Belgium against England recently and James (Morrison) was determined to make his presence felt against him!
Michael Van Geel left Middlesbrough after playing a bit part role in the Youth Cup success to return to his native Belgium. He currently plays for RC Waasland who, we believe, play in the Belgian Second division.
Danny Reed (striker) dob: 04/01/87 born: Middlesbrough
Very skilful, probably the most skilful player in the Academy. He’s just come back from a serious knee injury.
Danny Reed was a highly rated, very skillful forward that had terrible luck with injuries. Released by Middlesbrough, we now do not know if he is still involved with football at any level.
boromania.com/a-look-back-on-the-2004-fa-youth-cup-winning-team/
qprreport.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=893
This is what we should be aiming for. Instead of caring (too much) about whether our youth team wins any particular game; should care about whether these players are going to develop (or are good enough in the first place to develop) into First Team players at QPR. The past decade is hopefully not prologue.
SQUARE FOOTBALL - Whatever Happened To: Middlesbrough 2004 FA Youth Cup Winners
The press speculation last week that Adam Johnson was on Real Madrid's radar pointed again to the phenomenal success of Middlesbrough's youth development programme. Boro won the FA youth Cup in 2004 and were runners up in 2003. A very high proportion of their players have made it to the their first team.
To illustrate the point, Boro lost to Manchester United in the 2003 Final but none of that side is currently at Old Trafford. For Middlesbrough , four of their 16 against Arsenal last weekend participated in the two Youth Cup runs- Ross Turnbull, Anthony McMahon, Adam Johnson and Matthew Bates.
In addition, thw two most prominent graduates were not available for that game-David Wheater, who Fabio Capello called up to an England squad and Andrew Taylor who appears for the under 21 side.
Six first team squad members is a tremendous conversion rate from a group of young players but the success is even better when James Morrison and Chris Brunt are added to the balance sheet. Both played for the first team at the Riverside before being sold to West Bromwich Albion where they are established Premiership players this season.
Andrew Davies moved to Southampton initially but is now at Stoke. The defender made 53 first team appearances at Boro and also got one cap at under-21 level for England.
Apart from these nine graduates to the Premiership there are players like Josh Walker who played with this group in the 2004 Final ,though he's about two years younger than most of them. He recently signed contract extension with Boro but is on loan to Aberdeen for experience.
As well as the players listed above, others have left Middlesbrough but are enjoying professional careers locally at Hartlepool and Darlington. It is an astounding record enhanced by the knowledge that this group supplements several other home grown stars from the cadre in front. These include England international Stuart Downing , along with Lee Cattermole and Stuart Parnaby who left the club but still played at Premiership level.
If any Premiership club can still claim to be community-based it is Middlesbrough. A high proportion of these succesful graduates are North-East born and though a lot of people have worked hard to achieve this, credit must go to Steve Gibson, probably the most admired Club Chairman in the game, for his vision and commitment to the local area.
articles.squarefootball.net/squarefootball/2008/12/whatever-happ-1.html
BOROUGH MANIA A look back on the 2004 FA Youth Cup winning team
By Shaun • Jul 17th, 2008 • Category: Reserves & Academy
2004 was a vintage year for Middlesbrough FC. Captain Gareth Southgate became the first ‘Boro captain to lift a major tropy as we beat Bolton Wanderers in the League Cup 2-1. It was also the year our Academy produced an FA Youth Cup winning team containing players like David Wheater, Adam Johnson and Tony McMahon.
Four years have passed since that group of talented young playes beat Aston Villa (a team that included Gabriel Agbonlahor, Luke Moore and Gary Cahill), so Boro Mania decided to take a look at the squad and what each player was doing now.
After each players name there is a quote from the captain, Tony McMahon, these originally appeared in the Evening Gazette in an interview with Philip Tallentire. (Link Here)
David Knight (keeper) dob: 15/1/87 born: Sunderland
David’s a good all-round keeper and has made the No.1 position his own with Dale Roberts being out through injury.
We give him stick for having a dodgy barnet, though.
David Knight was the starting goalkeeper in both legs of the final and had represented England at Under-15 up to Under-18 levels. Following the youth cup victory he was handed a professional contract by Boro and was loaned out to lower league clubs including Darlington and Oldham.
In August 2007 Knight was released from Middlesbrough and picked up by Swansea City, the club he is currently contracted to.
Tony McMahon (right-back) dob: 24/3/86 born: Bishop Auckland
I like to play off the front foot, I don’t give my opponents any time on the ball.
Myself, Andrew Taylor and James Morrison are the jokers in the team. All the crack in the dressing room comes from us three.
Tony McMahon
Tony McMahon burst onto the Middlesbrough first team scene making his debut at Old Trafford and going on to start 12 more Premiership matches and 4 UEFA Cup ties until injury struck. During this run in the first team he came under high praise from Match Of The Day pundit Alan Hansen, who tipped him to play for England one day!
Since those days McMahon’s career at Middlesbrough has not progressed in the way he and fans would’ve liked due to a series of injuries. He damaged knee ligaments playing in the UEFA cup game against Sporting in Lisbon and following his return from that he damaged his shoulder in a reserve game, an injury that required surgery and months of rehab.
His long awaited first team return came against Charlton and a rash challenge from Bryan Hughes left Tony McMahon with medial knee ligament damage and another lengthy spell on the treatment table.
Tony McMahon made a comeback to first team action on the final day of the 2007/08 season, coming on as a substitute in the 8-1 demolition of Manchester City. He recently signed a new one-year contract with the club and we hope to see him in first team action, injury free in 2008/09.
Peter Masters (left-back) dob: 19/7/86
He’s probably been our best, most consistent player during the Youth Cup run.
Peter always gives 100%
Peter Masters was one of only a few players that were not offered professional contracts by Middlesbrough following the Youth Cup triumph.
Peter left the Boro Academy and went to America on a Scholarship, he played for the Embry-Riddle Eagles in Florida. We currently do not know if Peter Masters is still involved with football, if you have any information let us know in the comments below.
Matthew Bates (centre-back) dob: 10/12/86 born: Stockton
He’s a highly-rated player who’s already been on the bench for the first-team.
He’s good in the air and on the deck, he can certainly play. He does like to moan on the pitch, though.
Matty Bates is another highly thought of young defender that has seen his career stall due to a spate of bad injuries.
His Premiership debut came against Spurs at White Hart Lane and he continued to perform for the first team throughout the 05/06 campaign at both right-back and his usual centre-back roles.
The 2006/07 season saw him sent on loan to Ipswich Town where he picked up a cruciate knee ligament injury that forced him to miss the rest of that season. He was set back further in July 07 when he injured the other knee in a pre-season game at Darlington. In February 2008, whilst on loan at Norwich City, he injured the original knee again putting him out for the rest of the season.
2008/09 will be a big season for Bates as he battles to regain full fitness and fight his way into the first team squad again. Don’t be suprised to see him loaned out again next season.
Seb Hines (centre-back) dob: 29/5/88 born: Wetherby
He’s already represented England and from what I’ve seen I’ve seen of him he’s a great player. He can also push up into midfield.
To be fair, Seb Hines was not massively involved in the Youth Cup final winning team, being a couple of years younger than most of the others but he was involved in the quarter and semi finals.
Seb Hines has represented England at Under-16, 17 and 19 sides though is also eligible to play for the US.
He capped his full Boro debut with the first goal of the game during Boro’s 4-3 FA Cup win over Hull City after a mazy run through the Tigers’ defence.
However, in a running theme in this article, Seb’s progress has been hampered due to injuries. Including an arm broken three times and a knee ligament problem which prematurely ended his 2007/08 season. A highly rated young player, with a physical presence who can play at the heart of the defence or in a central midfield role Seb Hines will be looking to be involved in the Boro first team squad this year.
David Wheater (centre-back) dob: 14/2/87 born: Middlesbrough
He’s a big lad and a good player.
He’s also the most laid back person I’ve ever met, he never gets nervous and nothing phases him.
David Wheater
David Wheater starred for the FA Youth cup winning team, the 6′5” centre-back playing all eight games and scoring 3 goals in the competition. He was also involved the previous year, as a schoolboy, when Boro lost in the final to Manchester United.
Wheater made his first team debut when going on as replacement for Stuart Parnaby a couple of minutes from the end of the UEFA Cup last 16 game away to Sporting Lisbon in March 2005. He followed that up with some impressive displays in the backend of the 2005/06 season.
He went out on loan to Doncaster Rovers in the 2005-06 season playing seven games, scoring once. He also made just one appearance when on loan with Wolves for a month early in the 2006-07 season, later that campaign he also went on loan to Darlington making 16 appearances and scoring twice.
The following season he was handed his first team chance, following a spate of injuries to first team players, and he grabbed it with both hands. His form was sufficient to earn him a regular place in the team and Gareth Southgate even allowed England star Jonathan Woodgate to move on as David became one of the first names on the team-sheet. His impressive club form also caught the eye of new England coach Fabio Capello and Wheater was called into a couple of England squads.
The 2008/09 season will be a big one for Wheater as he looks to firmly cement his position as Boro’s top centre back and force his way into the international reckoning.
Jason Kennedy (midfield/striker) dob: 11/9/86 born: Stockton
He had a really good game in the semi-final second-leg against Crewe playing as a holding midfielder. He can also play in attack and has scored some important goals for us.
Jason Kennedy was Boro’s joint top scorer in the FA Youth Cup campaign in 2004, scoring four goals in the eight games, including the all-important winning goal in the 1-0 home leg victory over Aston Villa in the final, when he latched onto David Wheater’s flick-on and kept his cool to delicately chip the goalkeeper.
Following the Youth Cup final Kennedy was handed a contract by Boro and went on to make a handful of first team appearances. He spent the next few years on loan to Bury, Boston United and Scottish League One side Livingston. Kennedy spent last season on loan at Darlington where he enjoyed a successful spell in League Two. Kennedy scored for the Quakers in the first leg of their playoff semi-final against Rochdale, unfortunately in the second leg he missed the crucial penalty that sent Darlington out of the playoffs. Jason Kennedy recently signed a permanent two year contract with Darlington Football Club.
Gary Liddle (midfield) dob: 15/6/86 b: Middlesbrough
Gary’s another 100% player, he always gives his all.
We sometimes call him traitor because he was picked for Ireland and played for them and now he’s playing for England.
Gary Liddle signed a professional contract with Middlesbrough but due to serious back injury was unavailable for a long period of time. In 2006 he was performing well for the reserves and getting near the fringes of the first team when Hartlepool boss expressed an interest. Liddle decided to leave Boro and signed a two year deal with Hartlepool.
Liddle made an instant impact at The Victoria Ground, being named joint Player of the Year in the promotion season of 2006/2007. He remains at Hartlepool and is considered one of their highly rated players.
Andrew Taylor (midfield/left-back) dob: 1/8/86 born: Hartlepool
Another very good player who’s versatile.
His position is left-back but he’s been playing in midfield and doing a very good job.
Andrew Taylor has represented England at U17, U18 and U19 level. He was called into the Boro first team squad for the Premiership game against Bolton in April 2004.
2005/06 saw him move to Bradford on loan and have a very successful period for them. He deputised at left-back after Julio Arca broke his foot in the first game of the 2006/7 season at Reading, instantly becoming a fans’ favourite and making the position his own.
The 2007/08 season saw Taylor miss a number of games due to a niggling foot injury and lose his place to Pogatetz and Jonathan Grounds but Boro have extended his contract by a further year keeping him at the club until 2011.
James Morrison (midfield) dob: 25/5/86 born: Darlington
He’s different class. I think he can go all the way in football.
He’s so quick and has bags of skill. James has already made his first team debut.
James Morrison
James Morrison was widely regarded as the star of the 2004 crop of youngsters, he scored two goals in the first leg of the final.
He made his first-team debut on 3 January 2004, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 FA Cup victory against Notts County. His Premiership debut came four months later, when he replaced Stewart Downing in a 5–1 defeat away at Portsmouth on the final day of the 2003-04 season.
Morrison’s first European action for Boro was on 30 September 2004 in a UEFA Cup tie away at Banik Ostrava. He marked the occasion by scoring his first goal for the club, a last-minute equalizer that secured a 1–1 draw in the second leg and a 4–1 aggregate victory. He went on to cement his place as a regular in the first team squad and many Boro fans were excited about his prospects, however on 7 August 2007, Morrison signed a four-year contract with West Bromwich Albion, for an initial £1.5 million fee. This fee could rise by a further £700,000, depending on Morrison’s appearances for the Baggies. Middlesbrough will also receive 15% of any sell-on fee.
Anthony Peathingy (midfield) dob: 06/09/85 born: Middlesbrough
He’s a bit like Juninho in that he’s small and tricky.
He also likes to play behind the front men and run at the opposition. He’s also very strong and very hard to knock off the ball.
The diminutive Anthony Peathingy signed professional terms with Darlington in the 2005.06 season, however after initially impressing with Darlington he lost his place in the first team and was loaned out to Blyth Spartans.
Peathingy was released from Darlington in 2007 and it is no unknown whether he remains in football, though it is thought he had trials with a Norwegian club in 2007.
Lee Cattermole (midfield) dob: 21/03/88 born: Stockton
Lee’s a hard-tackling midfielder who played in the win over Newcastle.
Lee Cattermole, like Seb Hines, is a couple of years younger than some of the players in the 2004 winning team. He has, however, enjoyed a similar rise to fame as players like Wheater, Taylor and McMahon.
Cattermole made his full Premiership debut in a 2-2 draw at Newcastle United on January 2 2006. Many pundits gave him the Man of the Match award and comparisons were made to George Boateng.
He continued to impress throughout the remainder of his first season, earning a UEFA Cup runners-up medal as a substitute against Sevilla in Eindhoven in May 2006.
The 2007/08 season saw Cattermole battling for playing time with more experienced central midfielders and he often found his playing time limited to substitute appearances. A dynamic player who gives his all in every match.
There has been speculation recently over alleged interest in Cattermole from Premiership clubs, as of now Lee remains a Boro player.
Tom Craddock (striker) dob: 14/10/86 born: Darlington
He’s done really well this season, he’s a good finisher and holds the ball up well.
He used to be a defender but now he’s playing up front and has scored something like 20 Academy goals
Following the Youth Cup victory Tom Craddock was awarded a contract and stepped up to the Boro reserves.
He went on loan to Wrexham in October 2006 after hitting form for Boro Reserves and opened his scoring account with a late goal in a 2-0 win over Bristol Rovers. However, a knee injury picked up during the same game required extensive rehabilitation back at Middlesbrough and he returned to action for the Reserves late in the 2006-07 season.
Another loan spell, this time at Hartlepool, followed early in 2008 but opportunities were scarce and he returned to Boro after a month. Craddock recently signed a one year contract extension, with the competition for places ahead of him from the likes of Alves, Mido, Aliadiere and Tuncay he will struggle for first team action this year and may well find himself loaned out.
Adam Johnson (midfield) dob: 14/7/87 born: Sunderland
Mark Proctor calls him Giggsy because he’s a tricky left-winger in the mould of Ryan Giggs.
Adam “Jinky” Johnson is a highly rated left winger who loves to run at and attack full backs. Johnson made his senior debut aged seventeen on 17 March 2005 in the UEFA Cup in the 1–0 defeat away to Sporting Lisbon. Almost six months later he made his Premiership debut, and first senior start, deputising for an injured Stewart Downing in a 2–1 home win against Arsenal.
Johnson 1st goal for Middlesbrough came in a midweek English Premier League game against Bolton Wanders on the 3rd of May 2006.He was playing due to Middlesbrough invovlement in the UEFA Cup final which was to be played a week later as Steve McClaren rested most of the 1st team squad.
In September 2007 Johnson joined Championship side Watford on a three month loan which was cut short. Johnson played very well for the Hornets playing 12 games for the club, scoring 5 times, before being recalled to Middlesbrough.
At present time it seems the major stumbling block between Johnson and a regular first team spot is England International Stewart Downing. Both players play left wing and many fans believe if Johnson is to remain at Boro Gareth Southgate will need to find a way to accomodate both players in the starting 11.
Chris Pennock (keeper) dob: 12/9/87 born: Spennymoor
He’s still very young but looks a good goalie.
All the keepers in the Academy are excellent and we have a fantastic coach in Stephen Pears
Chris Pennock went on to play for the Academy the following year, however not a lot is known after that. We do not know whether Chris remained in football or not.
Michael van Geele (midfield) dob: 01/08/86 b: Berchem St Agathe, Belgium
Michael’s an attacking midfielder who’s a good distributor of the ball.
He played for Belgium against England recently and James (Morrison) was determined to make his presence felt against him!
Michael Van Geel left Middlesbrough after playing a bit part role in the Youth Cup success to return to his native Belgium. He currently plays for RC Waasland who, we believe, play in the Belgian Second division.
Danny Reed (striker) dob: 04/01/87 born: Middlesbrough
Very skilful, probably the most skilful player in the Academy. He’s just come back from a serious knee injury.
Danny Reed was a highly rated, very skillful forward that had terrible luck with injuries. Released by Middlesbrough, we now do not know if he is still involved with football at any level.
boromania.com/a-look-back-on-the-2004-fa-youth-cup-winning-team/
