Doing the 92: A Journey Through Derby County’s Academy Success
Doing the 92 is Daniel Storey’s extraordinary expedition to visit every English football league club within a single season. To stay updated on his journey, consider subscribing here.
In May 2019, Derby County’s Under-18 team triumphed with a resounding 5-2 victory over Arsenal at Pride Park, clinching the title of national champions. Notably, Arsenal’s two goals were netted by none other than Bukayo Saka. Derby’s youth squad had showcased their prowess, having already secured the Premier League North title just a week prior. The subsequent season saw Derby compete in the UEFA Youth League, where they achieved an impressive victory over Borussia Dortmund on home soil.
The remarkable aspect of that U18 team lies in the sheer number of players who successfully transitioned to the first team. Typically, even at Championship clubs, only a couple of players from each youth lineup make the leap (Saka remains the sole player from Arsenal’s squad to establish himself at the Emirates).
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Lee Buchanan, Max Bird, Louie Sibley, Jason Knight, Eiran Cashin, Jordan Brown – all of these talented individuals have made league appearances for Derby County. Players who departed before reaching first-team age, such as Morgan Whittaker and Archie Brown, are now carving their paths elsewhere, with Whittaker at Middlesbrough and Brown at Gent in Belgium. The transformation of these youngsters into professional players has been nothing short of remarkable.
Later that same month, Derby faced Aston Villa at Wembley for the Championship play-off final. The financial stakes of this match were amplified to almost mythic proportions by the media, but in that year, the hype felt grotesquely justified. The victor would secure a lucrative Premier League opportunity and a chance for stability, while the loser would be left grappling with uncertainty about their future.
As fate would have it, two years post-Wembley defeat, Derby found themselves in a precarious situation, entering a period of administration that lasted nine months. This ultimately led to the club’s relegation to the third tier and posed a significant threat of bankruptcy and liquidation. Administrators issued stark warnings about dire consequences until local businessman David Clowes stepped in to save the club.
This era of enforced austerity meant transfer budgets vanished, and first-team players were regularly sold or released. While this was a bleak time for many at Derby, it also opened a door for the 2019 class of academy graduates, allowing them to make the leap to the first team in a way that had become increasingly rare.
Derby’s success stories extended beyond the 2019 final. The academy also produced talents in the 2020-2023 cohorts, including Jayden Bogle (now at Leeds United), Festy Ebosele (currently with Istanbul Basaksehir, after stints at Udinese and Watford), Malcolm Ebiowei (at Crystal Palace), and Liam Delap (at Ipswich Town after his time with Manchester City).
Match Report: Derby County 0-1 Sunderland (Tuesday 21 January)
- Game no.: 58/92
- Miles: 38
- Cumulative miles: 9,670
- Total goals seen: 164
- The one thing I’ll remember in May: The latest in a series of goalkeepers suffering what seem to be phantom minor muscle injuries, leading to unusual game interruptions for team talks.
The percentage of academy graduates still competing at Championship level or above during this period is impressively high. Buchanan has since moved to Werder Bremen and is now performing brilliantly at Birmingham City, topping League One. Knight and Bird have found new homes at Bristol City, while Sibley is currently at Oxford United. Recently, Cashin was sold to Brighton for £9 million, marking Derby’s ability to command a significant transfer fee after years of financial struggles.
Derby’s academy has played a pivotal role in securing the club’s survival. Clowes has consistently acknowledged its importance, both symbolically and practically, between 2019 and 2022. More than just a developmental platform, the academy instilled a sense of hope among supporters during some of the club’s darkest days. While no one would wish for such overwhelming adversity, the progress of academy players to the first team has become a source of immense pride. For those players, it has been an avenue to forge successful senior careers.
In July 2023, Derby proudly announced the retention of their academy’s category one status. Following a season where they narrowly missed the play-offs in League One, they stood out as the lowest-ranked club in the country with the highest academy ranking. The club received commendations for its productivity rates, educational and welfare provisions, and top-notch training facilities.
Derby continues to compete vigorously in Premier League competitions at the U21, U18, and U16 levels. This season, their U18 team is currently positioned just behind the two Manchester giants in the Premier League North standings. Liam Thompson has made strides to join the first team in recent years, and Darren Robinson made his debut this season.
Currently, Derby is pursuing outside investment once again, with Clowes reportedly considering selling his 80 percent stake after rescuing the club from financial turmoil. Recent accounts revealed a staggering £14.2 million loss in their promotion season from League One. As the season approaches its final three months, Derby finds itself once more in a precarious position within the Championship, recently appointing John Eustace to help avert relegation.
In the wake of the latest financial constraints, some supporters are beginning to question whether funding a category one academy, which costs around £6 million annually, is the best course of action. They might prefer a player trading model that focuses on acquiring low-cost talents, developing them, and selling them for profit, aiming for a more immediate approach given the club’s unstable league position.
Seeking a Sustainable Future
The concern here lies in the potential for a repetitive cycle of chasing fleeting glory rather than establishing a solid foundation for long-term success. The Derby starting XI in that 2019 play-off final, managed by Frank Lampard, featured notable players like Fikayo Tomori, Ashley Cole, Mason Mount, Tom Huddlestone, and Harry Wilson, with Wayne Rooney later joining the ranks. This wage bill proved unsustainable, as did the budgets that accompanied such high-profile signings.
When Derby shifted away from their academy graduate strategy, opting instead to spend heavily in pursuit of the Premier League dream, the consequences were severe. The inherent risk in speculative spending is clear; if every club engages in this practice, those that fail to secure promotion will ultimately face financial ruin. For any true supporter who has experienced the club’s tumultuous journey, the desire to avoid repeating past mistakes is paramount.
Ultimately, pursuing shortcuts fundamentally misses the essence of the club’s identity. Similar to Reading, another club that, while currently struggling, boasts a youth development structure that rivals many in the top flight, Derby’s academy is a crucial part of their identity and something that deserves protection above all.
If the academy continues to thrive, it can pave the way for future sustainability. Meanwhile, if budgets remain tight, the club has demonstrated its ability to look inward for solutions, just as it did in the past.
When Clowes presents Derby to potential investors or buyers, he will undoubtedly highlight the club’s illustrious history, its devoted fanbase, and the stadium that is no longer under third-party ownership. However, it would be wise for him to emphasize an academy that has consistently proven its worth, producing valuable talent even amid adversity.
That academy once saved the club and provided hope during the hardest times. Now, it deserves the chance to guide Derby County into a new era, a time free from financial woes. This journey may require patience, and the club may face further challenges before it rises again. However, if it is pursued with sustainability in mind, it will offer something tangible for supporters to take pride in.
Daniel Storey has set himself the ambitious goal of visiting all 92 grounds across the Premier League and EFL this season. Stay tuned for his progress via our interactive map and explore every article (so far) here.
