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Claret and Blue Rising - The Villa Academy Newsletter
Lots to cover in the second edition of Claret and Blue Rising including Villa's European exploits and a penalty marathon in the Vertu Trophy...
academyavfc.substack.com
The second edition of Claret and Blue Rising is here! Tune in for this month's round-up of all things Villa Academy including:
🇪🇺 Last-second lift off in Leipzig
🎢 Penalty Pleasure by the Beach
🏆 Birmingham Senior Cup Defence Underway
academyavfc.substack.com/p/claret-and...
🇪🇺 Last-second lift off in Leipzig
🎢 Penalty Pleasure by the Beach
🏆 Birmingham Senior Cup Defence Underway
academyavfc.substack.com/p/claret-and...
All the best to Aidan Borland who joins Swindon Town on loan for the rest of the season! 🤝
January 3, 2026 at 6:18 PM
All the best to Aidan Borland who joins Swindon Town on loan for the rest of the season! 🤝
🔴 Exeter 1-0 Luton
Sil Swinkels returned to the starting XI and picked up a clean sheet, playing the 90 as Exeter saw off Luton at home.
Sil Swinkels returned to the starting XI and picked up a clean sheet, playing the 90 as Exeter saw off Luton at home.
January 1, 2026 at 8:39 PM
🔴 Exeter 1-0 Luton
Sil Swinkels returned to the starting XI and picked up a clean sheet, playing the 90 as Exeter saw off Luton at home.
Sil Swinkels returned to the starting XI and picked up a clean sheet, playing the 90 as Exeter saw off Luton at home.
Ready to attack the new year. 🎆
January 1, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Ready to attack the new year. 🎆
Congratulations to Jamal Jimoh-Aloba and George Hemmings on their Premier League debuts. 💜
December 31, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Congratulations to Jamal Jimoh-Aloba and George Hemmings on their Premier League debuts. 💜
A magical year. 🏆
December 30, 2025 at 10:30 AM
A magical year. 🏆
🔴 Cardiff 1-0 Exeter
Sil Swinkels was an unused sub as Exeter lost on their travels to Wales.
Sil Swinkels was an unused sub as Exeter lost on their travels to Wales.
December 26, 2025 at 7:24 PM
🔴 Cardiff 1-0 Exeter
Sil Swinkels was an unused sub as Exeter lost on their travels to Wales.
Sil Swinkels was an unused sub as Exeter lost on their travels to Wales.
🗓️ Fixture details for our FA Youth Cup Fourth Round tie away at Fleetwood have now been confirmed.
We’ll travel to Highbury Stadium on Tuesday 20th January, kick off 7:00pm.
We’ll travel to Highbury Stadium on Tuesday 20th January, kick off 7:00pm.
December 22, 2025 at 12:03 PM
🗓️ Fixture details for our FA Youth Cup Fourth Round tie away at Fleetwood have now been confirmed.
We’ll travel to Highbury Stadium on Tuesday 20th January, kick off 7:00pm.
We’ll travel to Highbury Stadium on Tuesday 20th January, kick off 7:00pm.
⚪️ Naxara 1-3 Real Union
Thierry Katsukunya started and was replaced after 58 minutes as Union claimed an away win.
Thierry Katsukunya started and was replaced after 58 minutes as Union claimed an away win.
December 21, 2025 at 10:15 PM
⚪️ Naxara 1-3 Real Union
Thierry Katsukunya started and was replaced after 58 minutes as Union claimed an away win.
Thierry Katsukunya started and was replaced after 58 minutes as Union claimed an away win.
Leon Routh is named in a Premier League squad for the first time, joining George Hemmings on today’s bench. 👏
December 21, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Leon Routh is named in a Premier League squad for the first time, joining George Hemmings on today’s bench. 👏
🔴 Swindon 1-0 Crawley
Fin Munroe completed the 90 and racked up another clean sheet as Swindon saw off a test from Crawley to claim the points and sit join top of the League Two table.
Fin Munroe completed the 90 and racked up another clean sheet as Swindon saw off a test from Crawley to claim the points and sit join top of the League Two table.
December 20, 2025 at 4:59 PM
🔴 Swindon 1-0 Crawley
Fin Munroe completed the 90 and racked up another clean sheet as Swindon saw off a test from Crawley to claim the points and sit join top of the League Two table.
Fin Munroe completed the 90 and racked up another clean sheet as Swindon saw off a test from Crawley to claim the points and sit join top of the League Two table.
🔴 Crewe 1-1 Bristol Rovers
Tommi O’Reilly played the 90 in Crewe’s home draw against the Gas.
Tommi O’Reilly played the 90 in Crewe’s home draw against the Gas.
December 20, 2025 at 10:10 AM
🔴 Crewe 1-1 Bristol Rovers
Tommi O’Reilly played the 90 in Crewe’s home draw against the Gas.
Tommi O’Reilly played the 90 in Crewe’s home draw against the Gas.
🇵🇱 Oliwier Zych in the Europa Conference League League Phase:
🔢 4 games played
🧤 3 clean sheets
🔒 94% save percentage
📈 2.99 xGOT (expected goals prevented)
🔢 4 games played
🧤 3 clean sheets
🔒 94% save percentage
📈 2.99 xGOT (expected goals prevented)
December 18, 2025 at 10:30 PM
🇵🇱 Oliwier Zych in the Europa Conference League League Phase:
🔢 4 games played
🧤 3 clean sheets
🔒 94% save percentage
📈 2.99 xGOT (expected goals prevented)
🔢 4 games played
🧤 3 clean sheets
🔒 94% save percentage
📈 2.99 xGOT (expected goals prevented)
🔴 Omonia Nicosia 0-1 Raków Częstochowa
Yet another clean sheet in the bank for Oliwier Zych as Rakow completed an unbeaten Europa Conferece League League Phase with an away victory in Cyprus to secure a second placed finish in the League Phase table.
Yet another clean sheet in the bank for Oliwier Zych as Rakow completed an unbeaten Europa Conferece League League Phase with an away victory in Cyprus to secure a second placed finish in the League Phase table.
December 18, 2025 at 10:03 PM
🔴 Omonia Nicosia 0-1 Raków Częstochowa
Yet another clean sheet in the bank for Oliwier Zych as Rakow completed an unbeaten Europa Conferece League League Phase with an away victory in Cyprus to secure a second placed finish in the League Phase table.
Yet another clean sheet in the bank for Oliwier Zych as Rakow completed an unbeaten Europa Conferece League League Phase with an away victory in Cyprus to secure a second placed finish in the League Phase table.
Our U21 players organised a Christmas Jumper day in early December, raising £800 which was used to purchase gifts for children at Birmingham Children’s Hospital with leftover funds spent on supplies for a local homeless shelter. 🎁
December 16, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Our U21 players organised a Christmas Jumper day in early December, raising £800 which was used to purchase gifts for children at Birmingham Children’s Hospital with leftover funds spent on supplies for a local homeless shelter. 🎁
Great to see our U21 squad spread some festive cheer with a visit to Birmingham Children’s Hospital! 🎅
www.avfc.co.uk/news/2025/de...
www.avfc.co.uk/news/2025/de...
Under-21s visit Birmingham Children’s Hospital
Young Lions help spread festive cheer
www.avfc.co.uk
December 16, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Great to see our U21 squad spread some festive cheer with a visit to Birmingham Children’s Hospital! 🎅
www.avfc.co.uk/news/2025/de...
www.avfc.co.uk/news/2025/de...
Jack McGrath’s delicate ball gives Brad Burrowes time to compose himself and work onto his right and book our spot in Round Four with number four against Doncaster! ⚡️
December 16, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Jack McGrath’s delicate ball gives Brad Burrowes time to compose himself and work onto his right and book our spot in Round Four with number four against Doncaster! ⚡️
Junior Wilson’s defence splitter finds Brad Burrowes who squares for Jack McGrath to add number three! 💪
December 16, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Junior Wilson’s defence splitter finds Brad Burrowes who squares for Jack McGrath to add number three! 💪
Markie Meade collects the loose ball and works it to Max Jenner who puts us in charge of last night’s FA Youth Cup tie on his return from injury. 💪
December 16, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Markie Meade collects the loose ball and works it to Max Jenner who puts us in charge of last night’s FA Youth Cup tie on his return from injury. 💪
Brilliant from Meade and McGrath before Rodrigo Fortes’ inch perfect cross allows Brad Burrowes to put us back on terms! 🎯
December 16, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Brilliant from Meade and McGrath before Rodrigo Fortes’ inch perfect cross allows Brad Burrowes to put us back on terms! 🎯
Full Time | Doncaster Rovers U18 1-4 Aston Villa U18
Richard Beale's side recover from an early setback to book a Round Four date away at Fleetwood courtesy of a first half flurry with goals coming from Brad Burrowes (2), Max Jenner and Jack McGrath.
Top work, lads. 👏
Richard Beale's side recover from an early setback to book a Round Four date away at Fleetwood courtesy of a first half flurry with goals coming from Brad Burrowes (2), Max Jenner and Jack McGrath.
Top work, lads. 👏
December 15, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Full Time | Doncaster Rovers U18 1-4 Aston Villa U18
Richard Beale's side recover from an early setback to book a Round Four date away at Fleetwood courtesy of a first half flurry with goals coming from Brad Burrowes (2), Max Jenner and Jack McGrath.
Top work, lads. 👏
Richard Beale's side recover from an early setback to book a Round Four date away at Fleetwood courtesy of a first half flurry with goals coming from Brad Burrowes (2), Max Jenner and Jack McGrath.
Top work, lads. 👏
82’ | A huge block from the skipper Woody Burgess to deny Doncaster their second of the night!
🔴 1-4 ⚫️
🔴 1-4 ⚫️
December 15, 2025 at 8:48 PM
82’ | A huge block from the skipper Woody Burgess to deny Doncaster their second of the night!
🔴 1-4 ⚫️
🔴 1-4 ⚫️
80’ | Two more changes as Fin Barnard and Vinnie Hayward are on for Rodrigo Fortes and Jack McGrath.
Top shifts, boys! 💪
🔴 1-4 ⚫️
Top shifts, boys! 💪
🔴 1-4 ⚫️
December 15, 2025 at 8:46 PM
80’ | Two more changes as Fin Barnard and Vinnie Hayward are on for Rodrigo Fortes and Jack McGrath.
Top shifts, boys! 💪
🔴 1-4 ⚫️
Top shifts, boys! 💪
🔴 1-4 ⚫️
68’ | McGrath forces another save and Meade spins in the rebound and stikes against the post!
🔴 1-4 ⚫️
🔴 1-4 ⚫️
December 15, 2025 at 8:34 PM
68’ | McGrath forces another save and Meade spins in the rebound and stikes against the post!
🔴 1-4 ⚫️
🔴 1-4 ⚫️
63’ | Richard Beale makes his first swap of the night:
⬆️ Cole Ramsey
⬇️ Max Jenner
Great to see you back out there, Max! 💪
🔴 1-4 ⚫️
⬆️ Cole Ramsey
⬇️ Max Jenner
Great to see you back out there, Max! 💪
🔴 1-4 ⚫️
December 15, 2025 at 8:30 PM
63’ | Richard Beale makes his first swap of the night:
⬆️ Cole Ramsey
⬇️ Max Jenner
Great to see you back out there, Max! 💪
🔴 1-4 ⚫️
⬆️ Cole Ramsey
⬇️ Max Jenner
Great to see you back out there, Max! 💪
🔴 1-4 ⚫️
51’ | An excellent long-range Fletcher Boyd effort is inches wide! 😔
🔴 1-4 ⚫️
🔴 1-4 ⚫️
December 15, 2025 at 8:17 PM
51’ | An excellent long-range Fletcher Boyd effort is inches wide! 😔
🔴 1-4 ⚫️
🔴 1-4 ⚫️