Contract durations of Albion players: first team and development squad

whitelion said:

Definitely - 200+ Premier League games would be invaluable and the thing is with Sidwell (like Bruno and Rosenior) he gets better with age.

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Machiavelli said:

I've seen you've indicated that Connolly is a first-year scholar. What does that mean, for the uninitiated? Is this the same with Jayson (sp -- I know what you're like) Molumby, who I couldn't locate on your list. In terms of DS, I'm hoping that Tilley gets a new contract.

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AZ Gull said:

[I apologize if this post is long but you did ask and hopefully it is informative].
In Albion's academy there are age level sides from under-9 up to under-16. A lad's date of birth determines which age category he falls into each season (so, for 2016-17, a player born between September 1st 2000 and August 31st 2001 is an U-16. If he was born on August 10th 2000 he would be a 1st-year scholar and if he was born on September 5th 2001 he would be an U-15). Players from U-9 to U-16 are all considered to be "schoolboys" because, well, they are still at school.

Whilst a player's birthdate determines his age category, he may still play "up" a year or two if he is good enough. An U-15 player might well spend the season playing for his club's U-16 side if he is highly-rated (and even make an occasional appearance for the U-18s).

During a lad's U-16 season the club has to decide whether to offer him a scholarship. Scholarships are two-year contracts which effectively cover the U-17 (1st-year scholar) and U-18 (2nd-year scholar) age groups. In English football there is really no such thing as an U-17 team; players from both scholar years form the U-18 side (typically called the youth team) which, for a Category 1 club such as Albion, plays in the U-18 Premier League.

[Older NSC readers will remember YTS trainees and, before that, apprentices; they are all variations on the same theme, the name has simply changed over the years].

A club may not register a player as a professional before his 17th birthday. Some clubs, such as Chelsea and Arsenal, tend to sign their scholars on professional contracts on the day they reach 17. Other clubs, including Albion, tend to wait until the end of the two-year scholarship before signing their lads to professional contracts.

Once a player graduates from the youth team (U-18s) he will move up into the U-23 side (which used to be called the U-21s up until last season). Again, U-15s, U-16s, 1st- and 2nd- year scholars may all make appearances at U-23 level, but it will typically be players who are above U-18 level and are now on professional contracts.

When I wrote up my contracts list I decided to only include players that (as far as I am aware) have been signed by Albion on professional contracts. That is why there are some players listed (Luis Garcia, Rian O'Sullivan) who have made very few appearances for the U-23 side, but are professionals. There are other players not listed (Aaron Connolly, Jayson Molumby) who have had a real impact for the U-23s but have not yet (I believe) been registered on professional contracts. Connolly is a 1st-year scholar this season; Molumby is a 2nd-year.

I have done my best to show accurate information but it is hampered by the fact that the club in recent years has virtually clammed up entirely when it comes to providing information on scholars and contracts provided to young professionals. I don't think the club even published any details this season of their new scholars, which I have never known before. Fortunately we have the FA's monthly player registration documents and the Football League/Premier League end-of-season retain-and-transfer publications that fill in the gaps.

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Thunder Bolt said:

Steve Sidwell has already asked if he can stay with a new contract (Argus)

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Bob! said:

oops!

had totally forgotten Ankergren!

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