Introduction
The Burnley Youth Team squad consists of players aged between 16 and 18. Known as scholars, they spend two years with the club and also study at college, where they undertake a 'Modern Apprenticeship In Sporting Excellence'. After the second year, players are either released or taken on as professionals.
Burnley's Youth Team compete in the Football League Youth Alliance North West Conference, a regional division in the North-West of England.
Nationally, the main competition is the FA Youth Cup, which is in many ways similar to the FA Cup.
The Players
Second Year Scholars
James Taylor - Date of Birth: 19/12/92
A centre-forward who has been at Burnley since he was eight years old. The former pupil at Clitheroe Grammar School is a very motivated right-footed striker with a good touch and technique and a good link-up player. Played county football for the under-16s. Also a decent cricketer, who had trials with Lancashire at under-15 level.
Shay McCartan - Date of Birth: 18/5/94
Northern Ireland-born striker who joined the Clarets from Glenavon. The pacy frontman enjoyed a prolific first season in the youth team at Turf Moor to earn a chance in the Reserves. Also started the 2011/12 season in top form, earning a Northern Ireland under-19 call-up and was close to a place in the under-21 squad.
Ben Woodhead - Date of Birth: 15/10/92
Burnley-born goalkeeper who has been with the Clarets since he was eight years old. Bad luck with injuries has hindered his progress but always worked hard to get fit and looking to kick on again in 2011/12.
Adam Evans - Date of Birth: 3/5/94
A left-sided forward who joined Burnley from Belvedere FC in Dublin. Comfortable playing either on the wing or as a striker, the young Irishman made rapid progress in his first 12 months at Turf Moor and at the start of his second season scored his first goal at reserve-team level. Played for the Republic of Ireland up to under-19 level.
Aryn Williams - Date of Birth 28/10/93
Brother of former Clarets' loanee Rhys, the young Australian arrived at Turf Moor from ECU Joondalup FC. Like Middlesbrough's Rhys, Aryn is an accomplished right-back but can play anywhere along the back four and is another who has had a taste of reserve-team football.
Archie Love - Date of Birth 12/10/93
Another product of the Clarets' Centre of Excellence, the powerful midfielder won a call-up for a Scotland under-19 training get-together at the start of the 2011/12 season. Can also operate at centre-back and has figured at development and reserve-team level.
Alex Mullin - Date of Birth 5/3/94
Alex is the son of Morecambe striker Paul Mullin and nephew of former Claret John Mullin. A technically adept central midfield player who came through the Centre of Excellence to earn a scholarship deal.
Steven Hewitt - Date of Birth 5/12/93
A former Stockport County and Blackburn Rovers youngster who joined Burnley's Centre of Excellence before being taken on as a scholar. The midfield play-maker has since continued to flourish, getting a first-team squad number and a place on the bench in the Carling Cup in August, 2011.
Tom Anderson - Date of Birth 2/9/93
A local lad who is a tall, powerful central defender who has been with the club since the age of seven. A youth-team regular who is also becoming a permanent fixture in the middle of the defence for the reserves.
Josh Cook - Date of Birth 11/11/93
After starting out at Crewe Alexandra's renowned Academy, the young keeper joined the Clarets on a two-year scholarship. A strong and agile gloveman, Cook has been the youth-team regular in Ben Woodhead's absence and played for the reserves in 2010/11.
Alex Coleman - Date of Birth: 17/12/93
The defender has been with the Clarets since the age of nine and worked his way through the Centre of Excellence. Also a talented cricketer who played for Lancashire up to under-16 level and is the youngest player ever to score a half-century at Lancashire League level. Can operate at right-back or centre-half with a number of reserve-team games under his belt.
First Year Scholars
Jack Errington - Date of Birth 09/12/94
The central defender joined the Clarets from renowned North-East hot bed of talent Wallsend Boys Club. The Geordie will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of more than 60 Wallsend old boys, including Alan Shearer, Peter Beardsley and Steve Bruce, who have made it into the Football League. Had a taste of Turf Moor at the end of the 2010/11 season when captaining Northumberland to victory against Lancashire in the Northern Counties Schools' Championships.
Jason Gilchrist - Date of Birth 17/12/94
The St Helens-born forward started out at Manchester City before joining the Clarets after impressing on trial. The striker enjoyed an impressive start to his Burnley career with a flurry of goals in the Youth Alliance.
Luke Conlan - Date of Birth 31/10/94
A highly rated left-sided defender recruited from Northern Ireland after impressing in the Victory Shield. The full-back or central defender, who previously played for Grosvenor Youth and Portaferry, has represented his country at several age groups up to under-19 level.
Cameron Howieson - Date of Birth 22/12/94
The attacking midfielder joined the Clarets from the Asia Pacific Football Academy in New Zealand after playing for New Zealand in the under-17 World Cup in Mexico, where he helped the All Whites reach the last 16.
Born in Dunedin, Howieson also played for the Mosgiel club in his home country before impressing during a trial spell at Turf Moor and landing a scholarship deal.
