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Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
A look at City's record-breaking four PL2 titles
Earlier this month, Ben Wilkinson's Elite Development Squad etched the Academy's name in the history book by becoming the first club to win four Premier League 2 titles. And not just a record-breaking four, but four trophy lifts in five seasons, which included a recent restructuring of the competition's format. Advertisement To mark this moment in the Club's history, we take a look back on the four titles and what makes each one special… 2020/21 – THE FIRST OF FOUR In the old format of the Premier League 2, the champion was decided after 24 Gameweeks. City's closest race for the title dated back to 2016/17 when we finished second behind Everton. But in 2020/21, our first title win, City cruised to the title in outstanding fashion, securing the league summit with two games left to play. Our young boys in blue won 17, drew five and lost two games to total 56 points en route to the trophy. City boasted a goal difference of 49 thanks to our 79 strikes versus 30 conceded. Advertisement WATCH: Crowning glory for City's EDS Aged 18, Liam Delap scored an impressive 24 goals in 20 appearances, which would see him earn the Premier League 2 Player of the Season award when the curtain fell on the campaign. Tommy Doyle topped the assist chart with 10 in 18 matches, with Cole Palmer also tallying impressive numbers at 19 years old. He scored 13 and assisted six in 16 games. In his debut season in charge, Enzo Maresca's EDS side went on a 17-game unbeaten run to complete the season as City leapfrogged Liverpool, Chelsea and Derby County after a tight start to the campaign. And this campaign's success would be the catalyst for more to come… 2021/22 – BACK-TO-BACK Looking to defend the title for the first time in the Club's history, the team undoubtedly rose to the occasion. Advertisement Also, in his debut campaign as EDS Lead Coach, Brian Barry-Murphy led the squad to City's second PL2 title. With 16 wins, six draws and four defeats, our young boys in blue topped the table with 54 points with second-place West Ham totalling 48. WATCH: Watch City's EDS squad lift the PL2 trophy! Leading the way for City in front of goal was James McAtee who bagged 18 in 23 games. And Oscar Bobb totalled the second highest number of assists in the league, teeing up his team-mates 10 times in 26 appearances. Goalkeepers Cieran Slicker and Mikki van Sas helped City remain solid at the back as they kept five and four respective clean sheets. Advertisement What perhaps made this title win so special was the togetherness of the squad, with every player leaving their mark on the trophy lift. 24 players scored or assisted in City's second PL2 triumph. 2022/23 – HISTORIC THREE-PEAT In the final campaign of the previous PL2 format, City claimed the title for a third successive season, becoming the first Club to achieve the feat. And Barry-Murphy also became the first City coach to win two Premier League 2 titles. Another young squad was ready to take centre stage and find ways in which to better the previous two seasons, if at all possible. They broke City's previous record tally, reaching 59 points from 18 wins, five draws and three defeats. Advertisement Our EDS scored a staggering 80 goals in 26 games, averaging three per game, and conceded just 31 for a goal difference of 49. Carlos Forbs couldn't stop scoring goals, completing the campaign with 21 in 24 appearances. And wasn't shy of teeing up his team-mates too with 11 assists to boast 32 goal involvements. At 18 years old, Adedire Mebude also enjoyed finding the back of the opposition's net, scoring 11 goals as he featured in every PL2 game. He also totalled 13 assists, but topping the chart was Oscar Bobb in his second season with the EDS with 16. Mikki van Sas was once again a formidable force in goal, keeping seven clean sheets from 15 games, all vital as City closed in on the third title. Advertisement Whilst silverware isn't at the top of the priority list, the environment of pushing for a historic title and being chased by talented teams just below created a vital learning experience for our young boys in blue. And they did hold their nerve, lifting the title in April 2023 to be the final team to win the PL2 in its old format. 2024/25 – REACHING NEW HEIGHTS Debut seasons for Lead Coaches continue to show a positive success rate. In his first campaign in charge of the EDS, Wilkinson led our young boys in blue to the record-breaking fourth title earlier this month. After a season of adjusting to the new PL2 format, City's squad, whilst still the youngest in the competition, was ever so slightly older and more mature than the campaign prior. Advertisement WATCH: Watch: City EDS lift the Premier League 2 trophy! And that proved a key part in our journey to success with Wilkinson's side showing resilience on a handful of occasions, clawing back 10 points from losing positions in the league phase. For the first part of the season, City led the charge for the league title, winning 15 games out of 20 to set a new points record of 47. Our boys in blue found the back of the net 61 times, with Divin Mubama bagging the most (11), to average just over three a game. At the other end of the pitch, City were also just as strong. Wilkinson's squad conceded just 23 and totalled seven clean sheets to boast more impressive numbers. Advertisement Helping City shut out our opponents was Jahmai Simpson-Pusey who was named the PL2 Player of the Season, following in the footsteps In the new format, City then progressed to the play-offs for the first time since the competition's restructure. And it was no easy route to further silverware. An extra-time win over Liverpool was followed by another extra-time win over Arsenal. One step away from the final City welcomed our rivals Manchester United to the Joie Stadium. A comfortable 2-0 win saw us progress where we faced Southampton in the last game of the season. And another 2-0 win completed a fantastic season for the EDS as we became PL2 champions.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Youth captain Simpson-Pusey keeps options open
Manchester City's Premier League 2 winning captain Jahmai Simpson-Pusey has kept his options open for next season as he wants to "play first-team football". Simpson-Pusey, 19, led City to a record fourth title in the competition and also became the first defender to claim the PL2 player of the season award. City's injury crisis allowed Simpson-Pusey to break into the first team this season, making six appearances in the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup. Now he feels he has completed his business at academy level, saying: "I feel like I've done what I've needed to do with the under-21s. I just want to play first team football." Asked if it would be at another club, Simpson-Pusey told BBC Sport: "I guess we'll see [what happens]. That's not on my mind yet. I'm definitely ready. "I've not spoken to anyone about it. I'm sure some people will feel the same, especially after winning the league." City's elite development squad coach Ben Wilkinson told the Manchester Evening News: "He has had a great season. Who knows what is next but he probably wants to leave U21 football. "The fact he can leave it having lifted the Youth Cup at the end of last year and the PL2 trophy this year means he can be really proud of his academy journey."
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Youth captain Simpson-Pusey keeps options open
Manchester City's Premier League 2 winning captain Jahmai Simpson-Pusey has kept his options open for next season as he wants to "play first-team football".Simpson-Pusey, 19, led City to a record fourth title in the competition and also became the first defender to claim the PL2 player of the season injury crisis allowed Simpson-Pusey to break into the first team this season, making six appearances in the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao he feels he has completed his business at academy level, saying: "I feel like I've done what I've needed to do with the under-21s. I just want to play first team football."Asked if it would be at another club, Simpson-Pusey told BBC Sport: "I guess we'll see [what happens]. That's not on my mind yet. I'm definitely ready."I've not spoken to anyone about it. I'm sure some people will feel the same, especially after winning the league."City's elite development squad coach Ben Wilkinson told the Manchester Evening News:, external "He has had a great season. Who knows what is next but he probably wants to leave U21 football."The fact he can leave it having lifted the Youth Cup at the end of last year and the PL2 trophy this year means he can be really proud of his academy journey."
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
City v Southampton: PL2 play-off final match preview
Everything you need to know ahead of our Premier League 2 play-off final against Southampton. WHEN AND WHERE For one final time in 2024/25, the Joie Stadium will host our Premier League 2 play-off final on Thursday 22 May. Advertisement Kick-off is scheduled for 19:15 (UK) and will be available to watch live on CITY+. BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE - CITY V SOUTHAMPTON Ben Wilkinson's squad confirmed City's place in the final for the first time since the competition's restructure following a Manchester derby win in the semi-final earlier this month. Prior to our triumph over United, City overcame extra-time wins against Liverpool and Arsenal in the play-offs in what has been an already fantastic season for our young boys in blue. Our opponents overcame Crystal Palace, Fulham and Leicester en route to the prestigious final. Both teams will be looking to win the PL2 play-off final trophy for the first time since the competition's restructure in 2023/24. Advertisement A win for City would mean we become the most successful PL2 team with four title wins. An hour and a half before kick-off, our PL2 final Matchday Centre will get underway with City-centric updates to guide you through the evening before, during and after the game. Regular updates of the match will be available on X: @ManCityAcademy once the game begins. A detailed match report and post-match reaction will be on and the Official Man City App shortly after the final whistle. WATCH: Highlights | City EDS 2-0 Man Utd PREVIOUS MEETING Southampton are one of the five PL2 teams City didn't encounter in the league phase earlier this season. Advertisement Our last game against the Saints dates back to the 2020/21 campaign. On home soil we beat Southampton 7-1 with Liam Delap bagging a hat-trick to help City win the PL2 title. In the reverse fixture prior, Southampton ran out with a 5-2 win. LAST TIME OUT Compared to the two previous play-off games, City fought off United inside 90 minutes. After a tightly contested first half in the semi-final, Divin Mubama gave City a well-deserved lead on 66 minutes, nodding home from close range after a fantastic Lakyle Samuel cross. The game continued to be a tight and difficult affair until the 89th minute when Mubama struck again, putting the game out of reach for the Red Devils with a clever backheel. WATCH: PL2 Pitcam highlights: City EDS 2-0 Manchester United
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
City v Manchester United: PL2 semi-final match preview
Everything you need to know ahead of City's Premier League 2 play-off semi-final against Manchester United. WHEN AND WHERE Ben Wilkinson's Elite Development Squad will welcome the Red Devils to the Joie Stadium for a 19.00 kick-off on Friday, May 9. Advertisement This game will be shown live on CITY+. buy your tickets now! City confirmed our place in the final four after a dramatic 3-2 extra-time triumph over Arsenal last weekend. And our opponents advanced to the semi-final after completing a 4-1 comeback win over West Ham United. The usual knockout rules will still apply where if a winner cannot be decided in 90 minutes, the game will go to extra-time. If the additional 30 minutes still can't separate the two sides, the game will go to a penalty shootout. Both teams will be looking to battle it out with a place in the final on the line and, in turn, extend the 2024/25 campaign by one final week. The winner of our semi-final will face Crystal Palace or Southampton in the final. Advertisement Regular updates of the match will be available on X: @ManCityAcademy once the get begins. A detailed match report and post-match reaction will be available on and the Official Man City App after the final whistle. PREVIOUS MEETING The two sides met in a regular PL2 league clash at Carrington back in September, 2024 with City taking the derby bragging rights thanks to a 3-1 victory. Goals from Farid Alfa-Ruprecht, Jaden Heskey and Will Dickson were enough to counter Ethan Wheatley's United strike and so seal all three points. LAST TIME OUT The City youngsters secured our place in the last four thanks to a dramatic 3-2 quarter-final win over Arsenal after extra time. Advertisement In what was a pulsating encounter at the Joie Stadium, the young Gunners had raced into a 2-0 lead before Ashton Muir narrowed the deficit early in the second half. Lakyle Samuel then headed home deep into injury time to level affairs and sent the play-off into extra time. There, for the second week in a row, Divin Mubama struck to secure victory for Ben Wilkinson's side. United meanwhile sealed their place in the semi-finals with a 4-1 home win over West Ham on Bank Holiday Monday.
