Next Generation: Stepping UpThe Everton Academy is a continuous cycle, with talent emerging season after season from Finch Farm.
Today we conclude our ‘Next Generation’ series by looking at several youngsters who played up an age level during 2015/16.
There were a number of promising starlets who, despite being eligible for the Club’s Under-18s team, were called upon by David Unsworth to represent Everton Under-21s at various points in the year.
We start by looking at a youngster who enjoyed a fine season in front of goal…
ANTONY EVANSDate of Birth: 23 September 1998
Place of Birth: Fazackerley
Position: Midfield/Forward
Equally capable playing as a midfielder of forward, Evans signed his first professional contract a fortnight after this 17th birthday last October.
His achievements as for the Under-21s in 2015/16 saw him earn his first international call-up in March - and he made an immediate impact by netting on his first England Under-18s start in a 4-1 win against Republic of Ireland.
“I’ve scored quite a few goals this season and it’s something David Unsworth has spoken to me about. In training he was telling me to just think about goals, goals, goals,” says Evans.
“That’s my game at the moment - and that’s what I want to keep contributing.”
Evans - along with Nathan Holland and Tom Davies - was recently included in the England Under-18s squad that will head to South Korea for an international friendly double-header at the start of June.
DELIAL BREWSTER
Date of Birth: 7 November 1997
Place of Birth: Southport
Position: Forward
Another striker who has enjoyed a solid year of progress, Brewster spent the majority of the campaign with the Under-18s before earning his Under-21s opportunity at the back end of the season.
He signed professional at Everton in July - the Club he has been associated with since the age of 12 - and then spent a month on loan with non-league Stockport County in December, scoring once.
Arguably the highlight of Brewster’s year was the week he spent in America in March, where he fired the Under-18s to Dallas Cup glory.
He scored five goals throughout the competition, including two in the final victory over Fulham.
“When we reached the final, we just knew we would come away as winners,” he said at the time. “My dad text every day telling me to believe and I did that.
“I couldn’t have scored the goals that I did without the team around me. They all played to my strengths and created the chances, and thankfully I was able to take them.”
BENI BANINIGIME
Date of Birth: 9 September 1998
Place of Birth: Kinshasa
Position: Midfield
Skippering the Under-18s at the Dallas Cup in Texas was Congo-born central midfielder Baningime.
When Kevin Sheedy took over the Young Blues for the final quarter of the campaign, he threw the anchorman the armband as a reward for leading by example.
“I was quite surprised to find out,” Baningime said of his extra responsibility. “I’m not normally one to talk much or be vocal around the players as I try to concentrate on my football, but I’m starting to adapt to it all.
“Kevin said that I was playing alright and working hard, so that was nice to hear.”
After two substitute appearances, 17-year-old Baningime won his first start for the Under-21s in the final match of the season, a goalless draw away at Chelsea.
MORGAN FEENEY
Date of Birth: 8 February 1999
Place of Birth: Bootle
Position: Defence
The centre-back has been with the Blues since the age of seven, having previously spent time at neighbours Liverpool.
Feeney played several times for Everton Under-21s in the second half of the season and ended 2015/16 on a positive note by earning a call-up to the England Under-17s squad for the European Championships in Azerbaijan earlier this month.
He played against both Denmark and France in the group stages of the competition and in the quarter-final against Spain where the Young Blues were beaten 1-0.
JAMES YATES
Date of Birth: 3 April 1998
Place of Birth: Huyton
Position: Defence
The England youth international has played with the Everton Under-18s for the majority of the 2015/16 season but he did earn a handful of opportunities with the Under-21s at the start of the campaign.
A right-back who likes to get forward, Yates was part of the England squad that headed to Chile last October for the Under-17s World Cup.
He also headed across the Atlantic in March when Everton participated in the Dallas Cup, where he played in every match as Kevin Sheedy’s Young Blues crusaded to glory in Texas.
The local-born youngster is halfway through his current professional deal at Everton, having put pen-to-paper on a two-year contract last summer.
NATHAN HOLLANDDate of Birth: 19 June 1998
Place of Birth: Wythenshaw
Position: Midfield
Attack-minded Nathan Holland joined Everton’s Academy at the age of nine.
Holland is able to play on the left-wing or as a central attacking midfielder, such is his speed and attributes on the ball.
In January 2016, he signed his first professional terms with the Club, tying him to Goodison Park until the summer of 2017.
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