Academy graduates hit 50

The Irish teenager became the 50th graduate of the Wolves Academy to play British league football since the youth system was set up in 1995 – and the 29th to appear for the Wolves first team.

Included in the list of alumni are eight senior internationals, 24 under-21 internationals and nine players who have figured for the Molineux men this season.

Even some of those who didn't make it into the Wolves first team are enjoying success this season, with Gavin Mahon captaining Premiership Watford and striker Jermaine Easter winning his first senior cap for Wales last month.

Director Chris Evans has hailed the hard work of his Compton Park coaching staff for what he believes is a "phenomenal" record given the scale of Wolves Academy in comparison to others.

The latest recruit from the conveyor belt is Gleeson – an Irish playmaker who forced his way into Molineux first team reckoning after a superb loan spell at Stockport earlier in the season.

He was so successful at Edgeley Park that the Hatters' supporters made the last game of his loan spell "Stephen Gleeson day" to mark his contribution to their promotion push.

And he seemed unfazed by the step up in class when he replaced Michael McIndoe on 78 minutes as he prompted from midfield with a number of neat touches – and whetted supporters' appetites for more to come.

"Stephen has created a bit of a buzz around the football club and I thought he did very well when he came on," said Evans.

"He is someone who is talked about as playing at a very high level and he does have great ability and a good attitude to match it.

"Obviously he has a long way still to go, but I think anyone who was at the game on Monday could see that he does have quality."

In the 12 years since the academy system was launched in its present format it has not always been a top priority for the first team manager. But it has enjoyed elevated status in the Mick McCarthy era.

The current boss is a regular at Academy games, stages frequent meetings with Evans and has shown his faith in the system by handing five graduates professional contracts next season.

Evans is proud of the Academy's record of producing professional footballers.

"It is a testament to the hard work of so many people since the system was set up in 1995," he said. "Our job has always been to produce football players for this club and their wonderful supporters and it is always nice to know that we have been successful in that objective.

"To be honest I didn't know it was 50 that had played in British professional football until it was pointed out to me yesterday. It is a bit of a milestone and I'm delighted because those represent my career at Wolves.

"We have had some smashing lads come through the Academy who fully deserve their careers in professional football."

And, with Wolves taking a record-breaking 13 apprentices this season, Evans is predicting even better things in the future.

"We have taken a high number of players who are under 16 this year and that is a recognition that it has been a good year," he said. "We believe that we have the best crop of young players for many years.

"It has been particularly pleasing to see a number of players make their debuts this season and the good news for supporters is that the future can be even brighter."

The 29 who made their bow with Wolves - and where they are now.

Robbie Keane, striker (Spurs)

Mark Clyde, defender (retired)

Ryan Green, defender (Bristol Rovers)

Carl Robinson, midfielder (Toronto Lynx)

Dominic Foley, striker (KAA Gent)

Glenn Crowe, striker (Bohemians)

Matt Murray, goalkeeper (Wolves)

Joleon Lescott, defender (Everton)

Lee Naylor, defender (Celtic)

Keith Andrews, defender (MK Dons)

Gary Mulligan, striker (Gillingham)

Adam Proudlock, striker (Stockport)

Colin Larkin, striker (Chesterfield)

Jamie Smith, defender (MK Dons)

Keith Lowe, defender (Cheltenham, loan)

Leon Clarke, striker (Sheffield Wed)

JJ Melligan, midfielder (Cheltenham)

Richard Leadbeater, striker (non-league)

Sean Bradbury, striker (non-league)

Mark Jones, striker (Scottish football)

Shane Tudor, midfielder (Leyton Orient)

Chris Westwood, defender (Walsall)

Mark Davies, midfielder (Wolves)

Carl Ikeme, goalkeeper (Wolves)

Mark Little, defender (Wolves)

Daniel Jones, utility (Wolves)

Lewis Gobern, midfielder (Wolves)

Stephen Gleeson, midfielder (Wolves)

Kevin O'Connor, midfielder (Wolves)

And the 21 others plus the clubs they made their debuts with

Wayne Hennessey, goalkeeper (Stockport)

Tom Stewart, striker (Linfield)

Mark McCrystal, defender (Partick Thistle)

Sammy Clingan, striker (Chesterfield)

Chris Cornes, striker (Port Vale)

Daniel Nardiello, striker (Manchester United)

Kris Taylor, striker (Manchester United)

Jermaine Easter, striker (Hartlepool)

Gordon Simms, defender (Hartlepool)

Graham Ward, midfielder (Kidderminster)

Kenny Coleman, defender (Kidderminster)

Gavin Mahon, midfielder (Hereford)

Jason Barnett, defender (Lincoln)

Chris Clarke, defender (Blackpool)

Matt Clarke, defender (Darlington)

Mark Danks, striker (Bradford City)

Nathan Lamey, striker (Cambridge)

Danny Hughes, midfielder (Hartlepool)

Aaron Kerr, goalkeeper (Walsall)

Dean Coleman, goalkeeper (Walsall)

Efion Williams, striker (Hartlepool)