"Sunderland's promotion to the Premier League this summer was impressive on a number of levels. A head coach in Regis Le Bris, in his first season in English football, laying waste to the theory of needing significant time to adapt working within the cut and thrust of the Championship. A club who had only returned to the second tier in 2022, without parachute payments to boost spending on transfer fees and wages. But all underpinned by an incredibly youthful squad - their average starting age of 23 years and 316 days was the youngest in the division - with academy graduates forming a consistent core."
"Goalkeeper Anthony Patterson and midfielders Chris Rigg and Dan Neil all made 40+ appearances in the league, while forward Tommy Watson delivered the winning goal in the play-off final, with Brighton & Hove Albion having previously agreed a 10m deal to sign him. The quartet have helped set a template for which the English Football League (EFL) hopes other clubs can follow, or the very least take notice of as a proof of concept."
""There was a lot of clubs getting into the play-offs and getting promoted that were the epitome of youth development," said the EFL's head of youth development Darren Wassall, speaking at the end of the EFL's Youth Development Week. "You have to expel the myth that if you play experienced players, you're guaranteed promotion or win a trophy. Now, more than ever, developing your own players should be a crucial part of your strategy.""
Sunderland secured Premier League promotion with a remarkably young, academy-centred squad led by Regis Le Bris in his first English season. The club returned to the second tier in 2022 and operated without parachute payments, yet relied on homegrown talent to compete. Their average starting age of 23 years and 316 days was the youngest in the division, and key academy graduates featured heavily across the season. Players including Anthony Patterson, Chris Rigg and Dan Neil exceeded 40 league appearances, while Tommy Watson scored the play-off final winner and attracted a prior £10m agreement from Brighton. The EFL promotes youth development as a strategic pathway for clubs.
Read at www.bbc.com
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