All Academy age groups to play Category One fixtures

Swansea City has received another Academy boost with the news that all the club's younger age groups have been granted Category One fixtures for the forthcoming season.

The club announced last week that the Premier League had promoted the Under-18s and Under-21s to Barclays U21 Premier League Division Two while it continues to work towards securing full Category One status ahead of their forthcoming audit at the end of the year.

It means the Under-21s will take on the likes of Arsenal, West Brom, Aston Villa, West Ham, Stoke and Newcastle, while the Under-18s face the likes of Chelsea, Leicester, Norwich, Southampton and Spurs.

Now the club's young guns from Under-9 to Under-16 will follow suit and play some of the top clubs in the country.

It was welcome news to the club's Under-9 squad who held a special signing session for their new players at the Liberty Stadium this week.

After being given a presentation on the Academy by club officials and coaches, the group was congratulated on stage by Club Ambassador Lee Trundle and Club Chaplain Kevin Johns.

Pictured with the duo are new recruits Taylor Casey, Callum Childs, Jacob Cook, George Jones, Kal O'Donnell, Samuel Seager, Thomas Searle, Finnlay Whitton and Thomas Woodward.

The club will also run separate Under-15 and Under-16 sides this season instead of a combined 15/16 team.

The Under-15 teams will be coached by former Wales international Chris Llewellyn, who has switched from last season's Under-21 squad.

David Adams, Head of Academy Coaching, will continue to lead the Under-21s alongside current coach Eric Ramsay.