This week has seen the EFL celebrate Youth Development Week, highlighting the work of EFL Clubs in promoting young, home-grown players.
Across our social media channels, we have been celebrating the successes of our very own Academy and the players it has produced in recent years.
Check out the below posts for our coverage throughout the week!
Today marks the start of the @EFL's Youth Development Week! 🙌
— Rochdale AFC (@officiallydale) February 4, 2019
Over the coming days, we'll be highlighting the fantastic work of the successful @RochdaleAcademy 👏
Keep your eyes peeled for facts, figures and stories from our Academy 👀#RaisedInTheEFL #RAFC pic.twitter.com/rPFVu3N1Ci
There are a total of 1⃣2⃣3⃣ players in the @RochdaleAcademy.
— Rochdale AFC (@officiallydale) February 4, 2019
1⃣0⃣9⃣ play in teams from Under-9s to Under-16s.
We have 1⃣4⃣ scholars on our books who play for the Youth Team.
2⃣1⃣ full-time and part-time staff work tirelessly for the Academy 🙌#RaisedInTheEFL #RAFC pic.twitter.com/zGD9XdUY4e
🎥 We caught up these two - @campscal & @Dan_Adshead - as well as @Aaronmorley7 & Matty Gillam earlier today, for a feature that'll be online later this week.
— Rochdale AFC (@officiallydale) February 4, 2019
Keep your eyes peeled for lots more #RaisedInTheEFL content in the coming days!#RAFC pic.twitter.com/KdIMxbXUV7
Callum Camps is currently the eldest Academy graduate playing in the first-team at Rochdale AFC 🙌
— Rochdale AFC (@officiallydale) February 5, 2019
He joined @RochdaleAcademy at 1⃣1⃣ years of age and made his @EFL debut in April 2013 (pictured).
He has gone on to make 1⃣5⃣8⃣ @EFL appearances so far 👏#RaisedInTheEFL #RAFC pic.twitter.com/sSep9DcJUm
Academy player Luke Matheson is the youngest ever Rochdale player 🙌
— Rochdale AFC (@officiallydale) February 5, 2019
He was aged just 1️⃣5️⃣ years and 3️⃣3️⃣6️⃣ days when he made his debut in the @CheckatradeTrpy back in September 2018.
He also made his @EFL debut last month 👏#RaisedInTheEFL #RAFC pic.twitter.com/0CMYNPpZ2l
🔢 Since 2013, Youth Team players/ @RochdaleAcademy graduates have notched up a combined total of 6⃣1⃣9⃣ first team appearances 👏 #RaisedInTheEFL #RAFC pic.twitter.com/S1wmfCFofO
— Rochdale AFC (@officiallydale) February 6, 2019
🎥 Hear from Academy graduates @campscal, @Dan_Adshead, @Aaronmorley7 & Matt Gillam, who reflect on their time in the @RochdaleAcademy & share their favourite @EFL memories
— Rochdale AFC (@officiallydale) February 6, 2019
Watch the full six minute feature on our YouTube channel 👉 https://t.co/2YdvyvA528#RaisedInTheEFL #RAFC pic.twitter.com/3vUN9E8QIj
🤔 We've got a bit of #ThursdayTrivia for you...
— Rochdale AFC (@officiallydale) February 7, 2019
📸 Can you name these four Rochdale Academy graduates who made their professional debuts for the Club in the early 2000's? 👇
1⃣ ________________
2⃣ ________________
3⃣ ________________
4⃣ ________________#RaisedInTheEFL #RAFC pic.twitter.com/VnvkIAgjbr
🏴 We are both proud and delighted to announce that our Academy player, Luke Matheson, will start for England Under-17s against France Under-17s this afternoon at 2pm 🙌
— Rochdale AFC (@officiallydale) February 7, 2019
We wish Luke and England all the best.
Congratulations, Luke! 👏#RaisedInTheEFL #RAFC pic.twitter.com/sSSzr0uhJh
Well done to all those who guessed correctly! 👏
— Rochdale AFC (@officiallydale) February 7, 2019
The answers are...
1⃣ Paddy McCourt
2⃣ Scott Warner
3⃣ Stephen Hill
4⃣ Rory Patterson#RaisedInTheEFL #RAFC #ThursdayTrivia @EFL
Former Rochdale AFC scholar Kisimba Kisimba is now coaching our Academy's Under-11s 👏
— Rochdale AFC (@officiallydale) February 7, 2019
He spoke to us about his time in the Academy, the pathways open to youngsters after their scholarships, and why the @RochdaleAcademy is so successful 👇 #RaisedInTheEFL #RAFC @EFL pic.twitter.com/0WCKVhtITn
🏴 Luke Matheson made his international debut this afternoon, starting in England Under-17's win over France 👏
— Rochdale AFC (@officiallydale) February 7, 2019
He is the second Rochdale player and @RochdaleAcademy product to feature for England this season 🙌
👉 https://t.co/vpv3hI1PBb #RAFC #RaisedInTheEFL
📸 @PinatarArena pic.twitter.com/lsWDIP5sJL
🗣️ "It’s a proud day for Rochdale Football Club, for Luke and for me as a coach/manager."
— Rochdale AFC (@officiallydale) February 8, 2019
🎥 Keith Hill says he is full of pride following Luke Matheson's England call-up.
💬 Prefer to read what he has to say? Follow the link.
👉 https://t.co/ZVj8jGuIql
#RaisedInTheEFL #RAFC pic.twitter.com/7rS2WD6eJg
⚽️ The @RochdaleAcademy is a 7⃣day a week operation!
— Rochdale AFC (@officiallydale) February 8, 2019
The Youth Team train week days & play the majority of their matches on a Saturday, while the U9s-U16s train Tuesday & Thursday evenings & Saturday mornings. Their games programme is on a Sunday.
🎥👇#RaisedInTheEFL #RAFC pic.twitter.com/6tomyJENvW
Check out this blast from the past, Dale fans... A very young @JJL_Thompson!
— Rochdale AFC (@officiallydale) February 8, 2019
🎼 He’s one of our own 🎼#RaisedInTheEFL #RAFC https://t.co/2cjV48TfWi
Today marks the last day of the @EFL’s Youth Development Week.
We thought it was the perfect time to launch our brand new Academy website! 🙌
Check out the latest Academy news, fixtures, player success stories, and much more!
👉 https://t.co/oUxPVBVn7n#RaisedInTheEFL #RAFC🎥 And talking of goalkeepers, we caught up with Youth Team goalkeeper Morgan Piper earlier this week as part of our #RaisedInTheEFL content. He joined the club at U11s 👇 #RAFC pic.twitter.com/RbGtPKiNoF
— Rochdale AFC Academy (@RochdaleAcademy) 10 February 2019— Rochdale AFC (@officiallydale) February 10, 2019🎥 And talking of goalkeepers, we caught up with Youth Team goalkeeper Morgan Piper earlier this week as part of our #RaisedInTheEFL content. He joined the club at U11s 👇 #RAFC pic.twitter.com/RbGtPKiNoF
— Rochdale AFC Academy (@RochdaleAcademy) 10 February 2019
🎥 "I am ever so proud," - Joe Thompson
— Rochdale AFC (@officiallydale) February 10, 2019
Our final tweet of @EFL Youth Development Week comes from @JJL_Thompson, who reflects on a 13 year career in professional football.
It all started back in May 2006 when he made his Dale debut in the @EFL 💙#RaisedInTheEFL #RAFC pic.twitter.com/WWSpO3ceYF