ACADEMY PRE-SEASON GETS UNDERWAY WITH VICTORY AT NELSON

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Beneficial experience for young Clarets

2026-07-10T12:00+01:00

ACADEMY PRE-SEASON GETS UNDERWAY WITH VICTORY AT NELSON

Beneficial experience for young Clarets

2026-07-10T12:00+01:00

ACADEMY PRE-SEASON GETS UNDERWAY WITH VICTORY AT NELSON

A youthful Burnley Academy squad travelled to Nelson FC’s Daisy Arena on Friday night, winning their first friendly of this year’s pre-season schedule 3-0.

Summer addition Jiaming Zhang's first-half strike was followed by a brace from half-time substitute Warren Taylor on a beautifully warm evening in Lancashire.

With a number of Andy Farrell’s squad currently away on the first team’s US tour, the group here consisted mostly of U18 & U17 scholars.

A different team was deployed in each half, with Zhang making his first Burnley appearance alongside Vishon Masara up front.

The match was an opportunity for both teams to get back into the swing of 11-a-side action and there were chances at each end before the deadlock was broken with 35 on the clock.

Good work from first-year scholar Aiden Huggett saw him cut in from the right and square for Zhang, who produced a back-heeled finish into the bottom left corner.

Cameron Scott and Zach Johnson were the two U21s to start the second half, with second-year strikers Destiny Okonkwo and Taylor leading the line.

The young Clarets had the majority of the ball as the sun began to set, with Croyde Da Costa producing a smart goal line clearance and Okonkwo being denied by a reactionary stop.

Taylor then put the result with two finishes of real quality, the first of which saw him latch onto an inch-perfect through ball to slot home calmy after rounding the goalkeeper.

Reflecting on the match and start to pre-season overall, U21s Manager Andy Farrell said: “It was a good experience for the young lads, playing men's football.

"I thought they performed well and bought a really good energy with it being their first 45 and we probably grew into it a bit more in the second half.

"We maintained possession and moved from one side of the pitch to the other really well, and Warren and Destiny were a real handful at the top end of the pitch.

"Pre-season's been good physically with the work of Adam Bulman (Sports Scientist) so far, getting them to run and work with some pace and purpose.

"We've got more games in the coming weeks, which will give the boys more valuable game time."

The U21s’ next pre-season action is against Flixton FC on Saturday 18th July. Kick-off at Valley Road (M41 8RQ) is 3pm.