Spurs’ Under 18 side begin the 2021/22 season with an away Premier League South fixture against current Premier League South champions Fulham at Motspur Park on the 14th of August. New Under 18’s head coach Stuart Lewis has a very big and talented Spurs squad this season, with 25 players a part of the Under 18 side. In addition to the 25 players there are also two goalkeepers – Thimothée Lo-Tutala and Isak Solberg, who are part of the Spurs Under 23 side, but who are still eligible to play for the Under 18’s as overage goalkeepers. Spurs’ first home game of the season is against Chelsea, before they travel to the English Midlands to face a new side in competitive competition in Birmingham City. They have been promoted to category one Academy status, meaning that there are now 14 teams in this seasons Premier League South. In addition to the Premier League South, Spurs will also compete in the prestigious FA Youth Cup as always, but there has been no communication on whether the Premier League Cup will return to how it was before, when it was just for category one Under 18 sides. Fulham and Chelsea are always tough games in the league, but also Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa are in my opinion teams to watch out for this season.

Spurs’ Under 18 side played their first friendly of pre-season last Saturday when they played Ipswich Town. Spurs lost the match 3-2, with Jamie Donley and Rio Kyerematen getting our goals. Although there is technically 25 players who are part of the Under 18 side this season, I would personally expect a couple of players such as Dane Scarlett and Alfie Devine to feature rarely for them, because of their involvement with the Under 23 side and first team. Centre-forward and new first year scholar Jamie Donley already featured (Rio Kyerematen and Alfie Dorrington also featured last season) for the Under 18 side on a good number of occasions last season. A tall and physical centre-forward who is clinical in front of goal, Donley has represented both England and Northern Ireland at youth level. I personally wouldn’t at all be surprised if he even stepped up to play for the Spurs Under 23 side on occasions this season. There is a very good number of England youth internationals in the Spurs Under 18 side this season. With Aaron Maguire, Brandon Bryan-Waugh, Alfie Dorrington, Jordan Hackett and Thomas Bloxham just some of them. Although I have hardly seen any of this seasons first year Academy players play apart from Jamie Donley, I have seen a lot more of the second year Academy players over the last two seasons.

Midfielder Khalon Haysman (17) made eight competitive appearances for the Under 18 side last season, but he is in my opinion a really good player, and after impressing for the Under 23 side during pre-season I would expect him to get more starts for the Under 18 side this season. Winger Roshaun Mathurin was in excellent form for the Under 18 side last season and I wouldn’t be at all surprised were he to feature for the Under 23 side in competitive competition this season. I have a good feeling about this season for the Spurs Under 18 side, and I would like to wish them all the very best of luck for the season.

The squad: 

Goalkeepers: Aaron Maguire, Adam Hayton, Luca Gunter.

Defenders: Jahziah Linton, Brandon Bryan-Waugh, Alfie Dorrington, Jordan Hackett, William Andiyapan, Dante Cassanova, Renaldo Torraj, Maxwell McKnight.

Midfielders/wingers: Oliver Turner, Rio Kyerematen, George Abbott, Billy Heaps, Riley Owen, Jez Davies, Khalon Haysman, Alfie Devine, Axel Piesold, Thomas Bloxham, Jaden Williams, Roshaun Mathurin.

Forwards: Dane Scarlett, Jamie Donley.