u18 Debut Appearance(s):
LB Finlay Barnard | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
CB Farid Addey | 🇸🇪 |
AM Jack McGrath | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
CF Rio Hammond | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |

Match Report:
**Villa made a winning start to their Under-18 Premier League title defence on Saturday morning, winning 2-0 away to Brighton & Hove Albion.**
Second-half goals from Alfie Lynskey and Vinnie Hayward secured the three points for the Young Lions at The Amex Elite Football Performance Centre, in head coach Richard Beale’s first game back in charge.
The win leaves them third in the Under-18 Premier League South table after one game, behind West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace on goal difference.
Beale handed starts to four of Villa’s new first-year scholars who recently made the step up to Under-18 level.
Summer recruit Fin Barnard made his debut in defence, with Farid Addey making his first appearance for the Under-18s in midfield, as Jack McGrath and Rio Hammond started in attack alongside Hayward.
Despite moving the ball well, Villa took time to break down their hosts but, after a goalless opening period, had the breakthrough within 11 minutes of the restart.
Lynskey picked up a loose ball just inside the Seagulls’ half and surged impressively towards goal, pulling the trigger from the edge of the area and finding the bottom corner to put the Young Lions ahead.
Beale handed starts to four of Villa’s new first-year scholars who had recently stepped up to Under-18 level.
Summer recruit Fin Barnard made his debut at the back, with Farid Addey making his first appearance for the Under-18s in midfield, as Jack McGrath and Rio Hammond started in attack alongside Hayward.
Despite moving the ball well, Villa took time to break down their hosts, but after a goalless opening period they had the breakthrough within 11 minutes of the restart.
Lynskey picked up a loose ball just inside the Seagulls’ half and surged impressively towards goal, pulling the trigger from the edge of the area and finding the bottom corner to put the Young Lions ahead.
Just 11 minutes later, things got even better for the visitors when Hayward doubled their lead.
The strike was equally impressive. Having taken the ball from captain Woody Burgess in a wide position, Hayward drove forward, cut inside his defender and bent a sumptuous left-footed effort into the top corner beyond the reach of goalkeeper Finley Taylor.
With the Villans in command, they were able to see out the remainder of the game largely at their own pace, though there was one blemish in stoppage time when they were reduced to 10 players.
McGrath was the Young Lion to be given his marching orders, shown a straight red card for a late challenge from behind, to ensure Beale's side's day ended on a slightly sour note.And just 11 minutes later, things got even better for the visitors when Hayward doubled their lead.
The strike was equally impressive. Having taken the ball from captain Woody Burgess in a wide position, following his drive forward, Hayward cut inside his defender and bent a sumptuous left-footed effort into the top corner beyond the reach of goalkeeper Finley Taylor.
With the Villans in command, they could see out the remainder of the affair largely at their own pace, though there was one blemish to come from the game in stoppage time when they were reduced to 10 players.
McGrath was the Young Lion to be given his marching orders, shown a straight red card for a late challenge from behind, to ensure Beale's side's day ended on a slightly sour note.

2025-26 u18 Premier League Appearance & Goal Record
GK Owen Asemota | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 2025-26 u18PL 🕒 1 | ✅ 1 | 🔁 0 | 🥅 0 | ⛔ 1 | 🇺0 |
CB Farid Addey | 🇸🇪 | 2025-26 u18PL 🕒 1 | ✅ 1 | 🔁 0 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
CB Junior Wilson | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 2025-26 u18PL 🕒 1 | ✅ 1 | 🔁 0 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
LB Teddie Bloomfield | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 2025-26 u18PL 🕒 1 | ✅ 1 | 🔁 0 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
LB Finlay Barnard | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 2025-26 u18PL 🕒 1 | ✅ 1 | 🔁 0 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
DM Woody Burgess | 🇩🇪 | 2025-26 u18PL 🕒 1 | ✅ 1 | 🔁 0 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 1 | 🇺0 |
AM Jack McGrath | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 2025-26 u18PL 🕒 1 | ✅ 1 | 🔁 0 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
AM Max Jenner | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 2025-26 u18PL 🕒 1 | ✅ 1 | 🔁 0 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
W Alfie Lynskey | 🇮🇪 | 2025-26 u18PL 🕒 1 | ✅ 1 | 🔁 0 | ⚽ 1 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
F Vinnie Hayward | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 2025-26 u18PL 🕒 1 | ✅ 1 | 🔁 0 | ⚽ 1 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
CF Rio Hammond | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 2025-26 u18PL 🕒 1 | ✅ 1 | 🔁 0 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
CM Lennon Melhuish | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 2025-26 u18PL 🕒 1 | ✅ 0 | 🔁 1 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
LB Harry Pinnell | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 2025-26 u18PL 🕒 1 | ✅ 0 | 🔁 1 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
CM Oliver Bindley | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 2025-26 u18PL 🕒 1 | ✅ 0 | 🔁 1 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
GK Rhys Oakley | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 2025-26 u18PL 🕒 0 | ✅ 0 | 🔁 0 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 0 | 🇺1 |
AM Jahmi Kellyman | 🇬🇧 | 2025-26 u18PL 🕒 0 | ✅ 0 | 🔁 0 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 0 | 🇺1 |