Villa U16s PL National Tournament winners!

Aston Villa’s Under-16s were crowned winners of the Premier League National Tournament on Monday.

The Young Lions played six matches over the course of three days at Loughborough University, winning them all without conceding a goal.

Villa topped a group containing Manchester City, Norwich City and AFC Bournemouth before dispatching Leicester City in the quarter-finals and Chelsea in the semi-finals.

Following a 0-0 draw in the final, Reading were beaten on penalties to secure a statement win for the club’s Academy.

Peter Saunders, Lead U15-16 Youth Development Phase Coach, said: “It’s a fantastic achievement for the young boys and a memory that will live with all of them and all of us (the coaches).

“It highlights some of the fantastic work that’s going on across the whole club. The consistency and clarity of message of what we’re trying to achieve as a whole club is starting to come to fruition across the age groups.

“Some of our other Academy teams won tournaments last season and the strategy is showing. It’s a fantastic time to be part of Aston Villa, be it as a fan, a staff member or a player.”

The tournament brought together 26 Category One and two Category Two Academies in the group stage.

The seven group winners progressed alongside the best runner-up into the knockout stages, with Villa eventually emerging victorious after a sudden death win in the shootout.

“The boys are there to win – that’s what every player dreams of right from being a young boy when you start playing,” Saunders said.

“There are so many people that have to be accountable for this success, right from the ownership to staff that have been here a long time and new staff as well.

“The work and hours that go in, it’s great to see it paying off with some success.”