The Wanderers’ Academy kicks off a new era this weekend as both the U21s and U18s compete at a new level, writes Pete Oliver.
Both will play in the nationwide Professional Development League following the Academy’s up-grade to Category 2 level under the Premier League’s Elite Player Performance Plan.
The U21s have also entered the Premier League Cup and start the group stage – which will also see them play home and away against Southampton and Blackburn Rovers – in their season opener against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road tomorrow (Friday) night.
“There’s going to be a lot of travel and it’s going to be warm but it’s a great way to start and a real test for the boys,” said former Whites’ captain Julian Darby’s who has moved up from the youth team to take charge of the U21s following the switch from a B Team model.
“It’s a cup game, playing at their stadium, so hopefully the lads are really looking forward to it. It’s the start of a new chapter, really.
“These boys at U21s level have been struggling for games for the past few years so for them to have an actual, competitive games programme now, and some decent games at decent stadiums, is something to look forward to. We'll relish it and hopefully try and attack it.”
Darby’s squad, which has added a couple of new faces this summer to the first and second-year professionals at the club, faces a quick double-header in the capital, with an opening league fixture against Charlton Athletic at The Valley next Tuesday.
The U18s – now under the charge of Danny Clarke – get straight down to league action with a visit from Cardiff City on Saturday morning.
And a glance at the respective fixture lists shows that Wanderers’ developing players are in for a proper season of competitive football, one of the maim aims of raising the academy level again as the Whites look to improve quality and create a better pathway from academy to potential first-team football.
“Everyone's really excited for this weekend and we've prepared really well,” said Academy Head, Dave Gardiner. “We've upped our games programme in the pre-season, we've trained really hard, we’ve added a few players and the lads have taken to the new ways of working.
“We're excited to hopefully hit the ground running this weekend with a totally different challenge; a lot tougher challenge, but one we're really looking forward to.
“We've had a number of seasons now as a Category 3 club, so it's nice now to be playing a totally different set of teams, with different challenges and stronger competition and to play at new venues.
“I think it creates an excitement for the players and it creates interest for the club and outside. Bolton Wanderers' name is now back out there. We've got some good local derbies and we've got some games with a bit of travel, so it's going to be a real season of a different challenge each week.”
Under-21 fixtures 2026/27 – Professional Development League unless stated
Friday 14/08/2026 19:00 Queens Park Rangers A (PL Cup)
Tuesday 18/08/2026 13:00 Charlton Athletic A
Tuesday 25/08/2026 14:00 Colchester United H
Monday 31/08/2026 13:00 Coventry City H
Friday 04/09/2026 19:00 Southampton H (PL Cup)
Tuesday 15/09/2026 14:00 Millwall A
Monday 21/09/2026 13:00 Queens Park Rangers H
Tuesday 29/09/2026 13:00 Hull City A
Monday 05/10/2026 14:00 Sheffield United A
Monday 12/10/2026 19:00 Blackburn Rovers A (PL Cup)
Tuesday 20/10/2026 13:00 Wigan Athletic A
Tuesday 27/10/2026 13:00 Huddersfield Town H
Monday 02/11/2026 19:00 Queens Park Rangers H (PL Cup)
Wednesday 18/11/2026 13:00 Peterborough United A
Monday 23/11/2026 13:00 Barnsley A
Friday 04/12/2026 19:00 Southampton A (PL Cup)
Tuesday 08/12/2026 19:00 Blackburn Rovers H (PL Cup)
Tuesday 15/12/2026 13:00 Huddersfield Town A
Tuesday 22/12/2026 13:00 Wigan Athletic H
Tuesday 12/01/2027 13:00 Peterborough United H
Tuesday 19/01/2027 12:00 Sheffield Wednesday A
Tuesday 02/02/2027 15:00 Fleetwood Town H
Tuesday 09/02/2027 13:00 Barnsley H
Tuesday 16/02/2027 13:00 Hull City H
Tuesday 23/02/2027 14:00 Sheffield United H
Tuesday 02/03/2027 13:00 Sheffield Wednesday H
Tuesday 09/03/2027 13:00 Fleetwood Town A
Monday 15/03/2027 19:00 Swansea City A
Tuesday 06/04/2027 13:00 Bristol City H
Tuesday 13/04/2027 19:00 Cardiff City A
U18 fixtures - 2026/27
Professional Development League
Saturday 15/08/2026 11:00 Cardiff City U18 H
Saturday 22/08/2026 11:00 Bristol City U18 A
Saturday 29/08/2026 11:00 Wigan Athletic U18 A
Saturday 12/09/2026 11:00 Swansea City U18 H
Saturday 19/09/2026 11:00 Stockport County U18 H
Saturday 26/09/2026 12:00 Queens Park Rangers U18 A
Saturday 03/10/2026 11:00 Sheffield Wednesday U18 H
Saturday 10/10/2026 11:00 Huddersfield Town U18 A
Saturday 17/10/2026 12:00 Peterborough United U18 H
Saturday 24/10/2026 11:00 Hull City U18 A
Saturday 07/11/2026 11:00 Grimsby Town U18 H
Saturday 21/11/2026 11:00 Wigan Athletic U18 H
Saturday 28/11/2026 11:00 Sheffield United U18 A
Saturday 12/12/2026 11:00 Fleetwood Town U18 A
Saturday 19/12/2026 11:00 Barnsley U18 H
Saturday 09/01/2027 11:00 Hull City U18 H
Saturday 23/01/2027 11:00 Sheffield United U18 H
Saturday 06/02/2027 11:00 Wigan Athletic U18 A
Saturday 13/02/2027 11:00 Fleetwood Town U18 H
Friday 19/02/2027 14:00 Barnsley U18 A
Saturday 27/02/2027 11:00 Sheffield Wednesday U18 A
Saturday 06/03/2027 11:00 Huddersfield Town U18 H
Saturday 13/03/2027 11:00 Peterborough United U18 A
Saturday 20/03/2027 11:00 Millwall U18 H
Saturday 03/04/2027 11:00 Coventry City U18 A
Saturday 10/04/2027 11:00 Colchester United U18 A
Saturday 24/04/2027 11:00 Charlton Athletic U18 H
*All fixtures subject to change