10 wins out of 10 and 102 goals scored!
The Stevenage FC Academy teams completed a clean sweep with victories all around on Academy Weekend.
Over the past few years the Academy has enjoyed great success, improving across all age bands from Under-9 to Under-16 levels, seeing some great international success stories and also seeing the growth of the youth structure with the introduction of Shadow Squads, Development Centres and Elite College Programme schemes at Marriotts School and Cheshunt. Events took place across the weekend to celebrate this progress and proved a big success:
Over 150 fans watched the Under-18s start the weekend in dramatic style by coming from behind to beat Northampton 2-1 thanks to two goals in the last six minutes from skipper Matt Smyth and a trialist. Their cause was aided by two red cards for the visitors in the second half, with the winning goal coming in the first minute of injury time after intense pressure from the hosts.
Elsewhere at Shephalbury youngsters were able to test themselves on the STS Tyre Pros 'Through the Tyre' Challenge and speed cage, whilst also enjoying a very popular BBQ and raffle, both of which raised further funds for the Academy.
Meanwhile the Under-16s, playing away at Northampton, won 3-1 in their fixture on Saturday morning.
Later that day over 300 youngsters from around the Academy structure and their families packed into the North Terrace to enjoy the Stevenage v York game, with the younger Academy age groups parading around the pitch at half-time to generous applause from home and away fans alike.
Then yesterday the Academy programme continued with fixtures against MK Dons seeing 102 goals scored in Stevenage colours. The Under-10s, Under-12s and Under-14s all won at home at Marriotts School and the Under-9s, Under-11s and Under-13s all won away in Milton Keynes. The full results are as follows:
Under-9: MK Dons 22, Stevenage 24 (2 x 5-a-side squads)
Under-10: Stevenage 48, MK Dons 25 (2 x 5-a-side squads)
Under-11: MK Dons 3, Stevenage 8
Under-12: Stevenage 8, MK Dons 1
Under-13: MK Dons 4, Stevenage 5
Under-14: Stevenage 4, MK Dons 1
Under-16: Northampton 1, Stevenage 3
Under-18: Stevenage 2, Northampton 1
The Under-18s in action against Northampton
A good crowd of 150+ watched the Under-18s game on Saturday morning
Fans enjoyed a BBQ on site
Money raised from the BBQ and raffle goes straight back into the Academy
Academy youngsters enjoying the York game from the North Terrace
The Under-9 Academy side parading at half-time
The Under-10s
The Stevenage FC Academy Under-14s against York City
Academy coach Jimmy speaks to his Under-10s before their game against MK Dons yesterday
The Under-10s in action yesterday against MK Dons