Now operating under the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP), our Youth Team – Under-18s – will take part in the EFL Youth Alliance League North West division.
A total of ten first-year scholars have put pen to paper, and they will be complemented by further additions in the coming weeks.
Mackai Gee – Goalkeeper
Mackai was part of the Academy programme which ran last year, with teams featuring in the Junior Premier League (JPL). He has previously been on the books of Manchester United, Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers.
Lewis Platt – Defender
Centre back Lewis captained our Under-16s in last season’s JPL. A vocal and commanding defender, he was named on the bench for the First Team’s pre-season friendly at FC United of Manchester earlier this month.
Alfie Carroll – Defender
Alfie is another who was part of our Academy last season. He is a pacy defender who can play at both centre back and full back.
Tom Bradley – Defender
Tom will be known to those Dale fans who have watched our pre-season friendlies, as he has featured in the First Team games against FC United, Farnham Town and FC Halifax Town. He is an aggressive full-back who has also played in central defence and midfield.
Lucas Cunliffe – Midfielder
Lucas, who has previously been with Blackburn Rovers and Oldham Athletic, is an attacking midfielder who plays through the middle in attacking areas of the pitch.
Fabian Nowacki – Midfielder
Following a successful trial, Fabian joined Dale at the end of last season, having previously been part of our Academy when we last held Category Three status. He has played as an attacking midfielder and wide player in recent games.
Reece Leonard – Midfielder
Reece is an aggressive, box-to-box midfielder who was awarded a scholarship following a successful trial. He had been spotted featuring for Lancashire Schoolboys and was on the bench for the First Team’s friendly at FC United.
Cameron McCormack – Forward
Cameron is an attacking player who can play centrally and wide. He was part of last season’s setup and impressed on the Under-16s tour to Belgium. He featured in the second-half of the First Team friendly at FC United.
Cairo Fanning – Forward
Striker Cairo was the Under-16s top scorer last season. He is another who featured in the First Team friendly at FC United.
Ruben Pope – Forward
Formerly of Shrewsbury Town, striker Ruben joined at the end of last season following a successful trial. He has been capped at Under-16 level by Wales.
