UNDER 23 PRE-SEASON FIXTURES ANNOUNCED

Academy | U23 pre-season fixtures confirmed

Cardiff City's U23 side have arranged a number of pre-season fixtures taking place over the course of the next month.

These fixtures will be behind closed doors, with supporters urged to stay away from venues whilst matches are being played.

Highlights of selected games will follow on Cardiff City TV.

Wed 12th Aug vs. Connah's Quay Nomads

Fri 14th Aug vs. Barry Town United

Tue 18th Aug vs. Bristol Rovers

Fri 21st Aug vs. Cardiff Met Uni

Tue 25th Aug vs. Merthyr Town

Fri 28th Aug vs. Penybont

Tue 8th Sept vs. Pontypridd Town


It was recently confirmed that three players from the Academy have now signed professional contracts to join up with Steve Morison's U23 squad...

Kieron Evans, Rubin Colwill and Isaak Davies have put pen-to-paper on new deals that will see them link up with Steve Morison’s U23 squad for the 2020/21 season.

All three of our new professionals progressed through Cardiff City's Academy system from a young age.


KIERON EVANS

Kieron is a creative, athletic and tricky midfielder, capable of playing in several different roles effectively. He initially joined the Academy at the U10 age group.


RUBIN COLWILL

Rubin has also been at the Academy since the age of eight. An attacking midfielder with good physical potential, Rubin adds a creative edge to the attacking line-up.


ISAAK DAVIES

Isaak is a longstanding member of the Academy, having joined at the age of seven. A dangerous forward, Isaak has been a key part of the U18 & U23 sides across the last two season.


In January 2020, Joel Bagan and Ntazana Mayembe also signed professional contracts. Now 18, Bagan will make the step up to U23 level permanently, while the 17 year-old Mayembe is still eligible to make appearances for our U18 side for another season.

Young full-back Joel signed his professional contract in early 2020 - and made his debut for Neil Harris’ first team against Reading in the FA Cup Fourth Round replay before finishing the 2019/20 season on-loan at National League side Notts County.

‘Taz’ is a quick and explosive attacking player. He linked up with our Academy sides for the first time at the age of nine. Mayembe signed his first professional deal on January 28th 2020 - and was an unused substitute for the first team during their league match with West Bromwich Albion that same day.


Images (from top):

Keiron Evans
Rubin Colwill
Isaak Davies
Joel Bagan
Taz Myembe

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Be great to see these lads breaking into first team.

Be great to see these lads breaking into first team.

It would and people I've spoken to linked the club and two of the players themselves have big hopes for all these young guns...

We've see a glimpse of Joel Bagan already and he looked the part; and I'm told we should also be excited by the emergence of Taz Myembe, a local boy who excites with ball at his feet

Good luck to all three and I am sure to be at some of the Under 23 games to see how they get on

All of us would love to see some local youngsters come through the youth team but given the appalling record for bringing youth team players through no one will be holding their breath. In terms of producing first team players our youth set up must be one of the worst in the football league. Towards the end of last season there was a match between Leeds and Derby and Derby had three players who came through there youth set up and Leeds two. In fact Leeds could produce a pretty decent championship side from former youth team players (many sold for big money) we could just about raise a National league south team.

Not sure what is happening but maybe we are taking in talented youngsters and after a few years they are just about fit for Hereford.