Bolton Wanderers F.C. Reserves and Academy

They participate in the Manchester Senior Cup, although in recent years the teams entered in this competition have featured an increasing number of youth players. 

Bolton Wanderers Development Squad play their home games at the County Ground in Leyland, the home ground of the Lancashire F.A.

Notable graduates of the squad include former captain Kevin Nolan. 

The Academy

The Bolton Wanderers Academy was established in 1998 and is based at the club and the main training ground.  It replaced the older, more informal youth system, and enabled the club to focus their youth development and scouting, employing new techniques and FA standards. 

It is overseen by former Bolton Wanderers F.C. player Jimmy Phillips.  It provides a stepping stone for youngsters to progress to the highest levels of football at Bolton Wanderers. 

Scouts attend many local youth matches looking for talented boys.  A boy will then be invited to attend training sessions at the Academy.  They are taken in as young as the age of eight.  At this age, the boys start by simply attending after-school training sessions, but as they reach their middle-teens, their academic needs will be taken over by the Academy if they are deemed athletically talented enough. 

Between the ages of eight and twelve the boys play in eight-a-side games of three twenty-minute periods.  It allows the boys to play as defenders or as attackers in small groups within a system and is not as physically demanding as playing eleven-a-side matches. 

The first player to graduate from the Academy to the first team was the former club captain, Kevin Nolan who had previously been on the youth books of Liverpool.  He has since been followed into the first team by Joey O'Brien, Ricardo Vaz Tê, Nicky Hunt.  Josh Vela, Zach Clough and Rob Holding amongst others. 

In December 2012, the Bolton Academy was awarded Elite status by the Premier League. 

In June 2015, it was announced that the club had sought to downgrade from a Category One status in order to save money. 

Players

Development Squad

The following players are expected to play for the Bolton development squad during the 2019–20 Professional Development League, League 2 (North Division).  They will compete in the league along with Barnsley, Birmingham City, Bristol City, Burnley, Cardiff City, Charlton Athletic, Colchester United, Coventry City, Crewe Alexandra, Crystal Palace, Hull City, Leeds United, Millwall, Nottingham Forest, Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Wigan Athletic and Watford. 

Three players over the age of 23 and players from the U18 side are also eligible to play in these fixtures and the games will usually take place on a Monday afternoon or evening.  Furthermore, at least two of the club's development fixtures must be played at the University of Bolton Stadium as per FA rules introduced in 2012.  In the case of the current season of 2019-20, there will be five matches scheduled to take place at the University of Bolton Stadium and the rest of the home fixtures will take place at the County Ground, home of the Lancashire F.A..

In August 2016, the U21 side was renamed as the U23 side, after a consultation involving all 31 clubs in the Professional Development League 2, voted in favour of the new age parameters. 

The development squad is managed by former Bolton midfielder David Lee after he was promoted to the role ahead of the 2016-17 season. 

Managerial History

Reserves/Development Squad
 1991–2000: Steve Carroll
 2000–2005: Neil McDonald
 2005–2008: Jimmy Phillips
 2008–2010: Alan Cork
 2010–2012: John Henry
 2013-2014: Jamie Fullarton
 2014-2016: Iain Brunskill
 2016-:     David Lee

Youth Team/Academy
 1985–1991: Steve Carroll
 1991–1998: Dean Crombie
 1998–2000: Martin Dobson
 2000–2008: Chris Sulley
 2008-      Jimmy Phillips

Academy (Under-18s)

As of July 2016. 

Staff

Academy Manager:  Jimmy Phillips
Academy Assistant Manager:  David Lee
Academy Assistant Manager:  Nicky Spooner
Academy Coach:  Gavin McCann
Academy Coach:  Julian Darby
Academy Coach:  Tony Kelly
Academy Coach:  Steve Ellis
Academy Goalkeeper Coach:  Ben Williams
Head Academy Physiotherapist:  Ali Gibb
Head of Education:  Lee Wood

In addition, the reserves and academy employ staff from the first-team. 

Graduates

The following players have been associated with the Bolton Wanderers Academy and have gone on to play league football for Bolton or other clubs since the Academy was founded in 1998. 

Academy Graduates who have made at least one senior appearance for the Bolton Wanderers first team. 

Other players associated with the Academy who have made at least one senior appearance for league clubs in Britain or abroad. 

Notes

External links
Bolton Wanderers FC Official Website
The Academy
Team/Reserves Squad Profiles
Reserves Fixtures and Results
Under-18s Fixtures and Results

Reserves and Academy
Category:English reserve football teams
Category:Football academies in England
Category:Lancashire League (football)
Category:Lancashire Combination
Category:West Lancashire Football League