Wolverhampton Wanderers | Team | Academy Profiles

Academy Squad 2011/12

Posted on: Tue 23 Aug 2011

Information correct as at start of 2011/12 season.

SECOND YEAR GROUP

OLIVER BASHFORD

Birmingham born and bred, Oliver attended Fairfax school in Sutton Coldfield, and signed for Wolves in 2006. Consistently good performances in the Under 16 side throughout the season and on the trip to the Aspire Academy in Qatar helped him achieve his scholarship status at Wolves.

ALJAZ COTMAN

Slovenian schoolboy and Youth International, Aljaz was recruited by Wolves as an Under 16 player. He has now settled in Wolverhampton and is making great progress with his English language. This follows on from an 18-month spell registered with Empoli in Italy where he learned his second language.

JORDAN CRANSTON

A local Wolverhampton boy who attended Heath Park School, Jordan has been at the club since he was just eight years old. He represented the City of Wolverhampton Schools FA at various age groups, before excelling at Wolves and gaining his scholarship. A Welsh U17 International.

ANTHONY FORDE

A Republic of Ireland Schoolboy International, Anthony came to join us full time as an Under 16 player on the completion of his Junior Certificate. After playing in Ireland for Kingdom Boys and Ballingarry he has made great progress whilst featuring for the Wolves U16 and U18 teams.

ZELI ISMAIL

A local lad who settled in Wolverhampton from the age of eight after travelling here with his family from Serbia, Zeli joined Wolves Academy as an Under 11 player. He was part of England U16 schoolboys successful Victory Shield squad in 2009 and was Player of the Tournament at the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland in the same year.

JORDAN KEANE

Jordan is from Nottingham and attended a school in Arnold. He was recruited at the start of this season following his decision to opt for a scholarship at Wolves after previously being registered at Derby County Academy. He has settled in very quickly at Wolves. His elder brother Callum is a professional player who has represented the Republic of Ireland. Jordan will be hoping to do similar whilst here at Wolves.

JAKE KEMPTON

From Warlingham in Surrey. Jake was previously at Fulham football club but he made a big impression during a spell with Wolves U16 sides at the back end of last season that secured him a place on our scholarship programme.

KRISTIAN KOSTRNA

Kristian was recruited from Slovakian side Spartac Tanarva during his U16 year where he was playing in U17 Academy Football. He is a regular Slovakian international and was a key figure in their Under 17 European Championship campaign held in England in 2009. His English is rapidly improving.

LIAM McALINDEN

Liam is another local lad, from Cannock who has been at the club since he was eight years old. He has made great progress and he has secured over the past 12 months a place in the Northern Ireland International set up thanks to his Irish grandfather. He scored the winner against Belgium in a European championship U17 game in March 2010.

JOSH SHEPHERD

After previous spells with Walsall and West Bromwich Albion, Josh impressed in U16 games for Wolves enough to gain himself a scholarship at the club. Hailing from Bradley in Bilston he attended Coseley School & Sports College.

SAM WHITTALL

Sam has been at the club since the end of 2004 when he joined our Under 11 squad following a successful trial. Formerly from Perton he attended Codsall High School and he now travels in from Shifnal.

* * *

FIRST YEAR GROUP

DOMINIC DELL

Dominic is from Wolverhampton. He registered as a Wolves Academy player at the age of nine in April 2003 and he has been a key member of our squads since that time. He attended Woden Primary and Heath Park Schools in the Wednesfield/Heath Town area of the city and played regularly for the City Schools team and West Midlands County schoolboys side.

JONATHAN FLATT

Another local lad and close friend of Dominic, 'Flatty' has also been with us since he was nine and signed on the same day as Dominic back in April 2003. Jonathan has been a very consistent goalkeeper for Wolves Academy sides and combined his formative years at the club with attending Dormston School and playing for Dudley & Brierley Hills Schools representative sides.

JACOB GIBSON

Jacob attended Baverstock School in Birmingham and he had been playing for Maypole Juniors when he was invited into Wolves to join our Under 12 squad. He had played at Maypole Juniors from the age of Under 7 and he went onto play for his primary schools district team, South Birmingham PSFA.

JAMES KELLERMANN

Jim from Worcestershire attended Wolverley School. He was playing for Kidderminster Lions and also Stourport Swifts during the Spring of 2009 when he was spotted by Jeff Gregory, one of our Wolves scouts. He joined Wolves at the very end of the Under 14 season and he has been a hard working midfield player in our squads since then.

LUKE IFIL

From Willesden in North London, Luke attended Queens Park Community School, and spent many years at Arsenal's Academy before joining Wolves this year. Luke impressed during his trial period and was invited to join the group of Wolves Apprentices and started with us in June of this year.

DOMINIC IORFA

Dominic joined us full time last year as an Under 16 player following negotiations with his school in Southend, St Thomas More High School. He was registered with Southend United and played for their Youth team in the FA Youth Cup v Liverpool at Anfield last season. He hopes to follow in the footsteps of his father who played professionally.

GARY O'NEIL

Gary is another who spent a lot of time at Wolves last season as an Under 16 player from the Republic of Ireland after completing his Junior Certificates at Mercy Secondary School Mounthawk in County Kerry. Gary is a regular member of his National teams and he has captained the team on several occasions. He was recommended to us by our scout based in Ireland, Willie Byrne.

ROBBIE PARRY

Robbie is a Welsh International player who joined us from Wrexham Football Club. He chose to come and complete his education in Wolverhampton last season after studying at the Ysgol John Bright School in his home town Llandudno.

RYAN SCHOFIELD

Ryan is from Wigan where he attended the Standish High School. He spent several years at the Manchester City Academy before taking up his Apprenticeship at Wolves in June. He is another player who hopes to follow a similar path to his Dad Mark who played professionally.