The competition is new for the 2020/21 season, replacing the under-18 and under-16 versions, and offers an opportunity for some of the younger members of Steve Davis’ under-18 squad to get some competitive games under their belt.
As Wolves under-18s is quite a young side already, with plenty of under-17s, under-16s and even under-15s already part of the squad this season, the matches against Derby, West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa will be a welcome opportunity for first-year scholars and schoolboys who haven’t yet had a chance to flourish in the league, to stake their claim for a place in the U18 Premier League North line-up.
The U17 PL Cup will feature seven regionalised groups - with Wolves among the sides in Group B - each consisting of four teams, with each team playing each other once, either home or away, totalling three group stage games.
The winner of each group, plus the best runner-up from across the seven groups, will advance to the knockout stages. There will be one-legged quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final, to decide the inaugural competition champion.
Wolves’ group stage fixtures are as follows:
Derby vs Wolves
- Tuesday 27th October
- 7pm
- Derby County Training Ground
Wolves vs West Brom
- Wednesday 25th November
- 7pm
- Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground
Wolves vs Aston Villa
- Wednesday 20th January
- 7pm
- Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground
Elite player development coach Darren Ryan, who has managed the under-18s in Davis’ recent absence, is looking forwards to his side getting their cup campaign underway this evening.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to play against Villa and West Brom who are not in our league this season after the restructure which took place in the summer, so we’re really looking forwards to it.
“The majority of our team this season are under-17. We are known as the under-18s, but apart from two or three players, we are an under-17s team really. We have a few under-16s, under-15s and a few first-year scholars that are in the team.
“This competition will be really good for the lads, having the experience of going into a really good competitive cup competition, and we’re really looking forwards to embracing it, taking on the challenge, and hopefully doing well.
“With it being an under-17 tournament, we looked at it being an opportunity for a few of our younger players to come into the team.
“It’s difficult for us to change our league team at the moment off the back of two wins, but three of the team will have to come out on Tuesday night because of their age, so that gives players like Ty Barnett, who came on and scored on Saturday, and Amarie Brown an opportunity to start and play in a good, competitive environment.”
