Lennon Wheeldon came off the bench against Swansea last season.
Derby County striker Lennon Wheeldon came off the bench against Swansea last season.
Derby County's under-18s team enjoyed an excellent season and they more than held their own against some big-hitters.
The under-18s had an excellent season in the Premier League North as they finished fourth behind heavyweights Manchester United, Manchester City and Everton.
City eventually lifted the title in what was a thrilling season and one of their coaches has pinpointed their win over the Rams as one of their moments of the campaign.
City were pushed all the way in a thrilling encounter which ended with the former Premier League champions securing the title with a 4-3 win.
Academy director Thomas Kruecken said: "There were a couple of moments from the season which stay in my head,” said Kruecken.
“For example the late goal that we scored in the Under-18s against Derby County, from Matty Warhurst.
“I remember the celebrations from Oliver Reiss, Kolo Toure and Sam Fagbemi celebrating with the players, it was just great to see.
“And the EDS team winning really late against Liverpool in extra-time and the same one week later against Arsenal.
“So great moments and it was great to see the players who had their last games for the Academy, had been together for many many years.
“I think this was one of the key success factors as to how we won these trophies.”
That is perhaps a measure of how excited Derby should feel about their crop of under-18s who also reached the semi-finals of the Premier League Cup as did the under-17s.
A number of Derby's young players have also trained with the first team and appeared on the bench while one of the poster boys for the academy's success, Eiran Cashin, sealed a £10m move to Brighton in January.
Striker Lennon Wheeldon, who spent time on loan at Boston United earlier this season, featured in the 1-0 defeat at Swansea as a late substitute.
He joined Freddie Turley, Daniel Cox and Keilen Robinson and Under-18s players Johnson Osong, Charles Ebuka Agbawodikeizu, Cruz Allen and Owen Eames who all featured on the bench for the first team at various stages during the campaign.
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