Under 18s

U18s 2024/25 Season Preview

8th August 2024

Argyle’s under-18s are starting their 2024/25 campaign on Friday, 9 August, when they travel to Milton Keynes Dons in the South Youth Alliance League.

For those who follow our under-18s closely, a league name change is the main edit to the schedule for the upcoming season.

The South West and South East Youth Alliance Leagues have combined into a single competition, with no Merit League this year.

Argyle were named champions of the Youth Alliance League and Merit League One last season, and Head Coach Jamie Lowry believes this season will see more competitive football in a single-league format.

“I think it was a decision from the football league to make it a bit more competitive,” Lowry told Argyle TV.

“We now have different types of fixtures because, as the boys come through the system from the under-9s, they tend to play the same generic games programme all the time. It’s the same one that we play in our South West league.

“So, they thought it would make it a bit more adaptable and competitive, a little bit different. From my point of view, it's perfect for the lads and an exciting challenge for them.

“The boys have set their own goals and challenges for where they want to be this season. For me, as always, it’s to be as competitive as possible.

“Go into every game wanting to win, looking to develop and improve as individual players and from a team point of view. We want to be competitive in every fixture, and in every competition we enter.

“We want to win - being number one is always our aim.”

Alongside the updated South Youth Alliance League, the scholars will play in multiple cup competitions.

They are:

• Under-18s Youth Alliance Cup

• Under-18s PDL Cup

• Under-17s Floodlit Cup

• FA Youth Cup

The squad is heading into the season full of hope, following their unbeaten pre-season campaign, and Lowry is delighted with the progress they’ve made as a group, placing them in good stead ahead of Friday’s encounter with MK Dons.

“The boys have had a fantastic pre-season,” he said. “They've worked really hard, as expected. Pre-season is like every other pre-season really, it’s about getting the group together, building match fitness, and some togetherness, ready to go into the start of the season.

“What's impressed me the most has been how the group has come together. They've been cohesive and bonded well together, supported each other, and driven each of us.

“That's been a pleasing thing from the view of myself and the staff; the first-years have adapted well. We had lots of times when they were around the group last season.

“Several of the boys were in during half-terms last year, so the group knows each other. We had quite a few under-17s games towards the end of the season as well last year. They've adapted really well.”

Lowry is ready to get under way for this campaign but is aware of the new challenges that will come for the staff and players when facing new sides in the updated league format.

“I’m really excited to get going,” he said. “With our new group of players, we’ve got great expectations. It’s a new challenge in terms of distances in the league as well. You've got longer away games and overnight stays so, for me, it's how they deal with those longer journeys.

“There are different teams to come up against. The London teams give you different challenges to the South West teams and play various styles. They are a little bit more physical, and a little bit more [in the way of] dark arts as well.

“It's going to be a good challenge for me and the staff, tactically. We need that turnaround toughness to keep going game after game throughout the season, rather than being focused until February/Match time and then going to the new league.

“We've got to compete on all fronts, throughout the year, so it's good to get going.”

2024/25 Under-18s fixtures – Subject to change.

AUGUST

Fri 9 MK Dons (A)

Fri 16 Gillingham (H)

Sat 24 Exeter City (A), EFL YA Cup Round 1

Tue 27 Cheltenham Town (A), U18 PDL Cup

SEPTEMBER

Wed 4 Bromley (H)

Sat 14 Bristol Rovers, EFL YA Cup Round 2

Tue 17 TBC, U17 Floodlit Cup

Sat 21 AFC Wimbledon (A)