Alex Bain is back, this time with a look back to the FA Youth Cup heroes of 2013…
They were supposed to be our golden generation but of our FA Youth Cup winning team of 2013, only Carlton Morris remains.
Unfortunately, following a serious injury picked up on loan at Shrewsbury, his career stalled and after being given an extended contract, he headed off to Rotherham for what was meant to be another season-long loan. In January, however, he (again on loan) joined Russell Martin at MK Dons.
But what of the rest of the Class of 2013?
Well, using good old Wikipedia, and other sites that track the careers of footballers, I’ve attempted to piece together as best I can the whereabouts of those who haven’t totally slipped off the football map.
Only a few have continued in professional football, while many have taken the non-league route to kick start their careers. Most are still in their early-20s, so there is still time for them to turn it around and have a career in football. The one question I would like to ask them all is ‘was it their dream to be a footballer, or their parents?’
Ironically, we are now in an age where the head coach is happy to blood four young players in a single season!
So…
Will Britt (GK)
Southampton’s youth team goalkeeper joined Norwich’s youth team as cover/loan/work experience in January 2013. He signed a two-year professional contract with Southampton at the beginning of July 2013 and was released by the Saints at the end of the 2015/16 season. On 5th August 2016, he signed for non-league Salisbury City. As of 2017 retired.
Ben Wyatt
Ben was released at the end of the 2013/14 season and then signed a professional contract with Ipswich. He was released and joined non-league Maldon & Tiptree United on 28th July 2015. His good form earned him a return to league football as he signed a one-year development deal with Colchester on 31st March 2016. At the end of October 2016, Wyatt joined Concord Rangers. In July 2017, he signed for Braintree and made 44 appearances in 2017/18. On 7th August 2018, he joined St Albans City.
Cameron Norman
On 10 June 2016, it was announced that Cameron would leave City when his contract expiredl. In August 2017, he joined King’s Lynn. He left Lynn in May 2018 and moved to League One side Oxford United. Having made 12 appearances (seven in the league) he was transferred to Walsall for an undisclosed fee during the January 2019 transfer window.
Harry Barker
Harry was part of City’s Academy from the under-9s through to making appearances for the under-21s. He wasn’t offered a pro contract and spent three seasons at Lowestoft where he made 129 appearances. In March 2018, he joined Norwich United.
Harry Toffolo
After being released by City in the Farke/Webber era, Harry signed a short-term deal with Millwall on 29 January 2018 until the end of the season. The Lions didn’t take up the option to extend the deal and on 12 June 2018, he signed for League Two club Lincoln City on a two-year deal. In January 2020 Danny Cowley, clearly a fan, took him to Huddersfield.
Kevin Lokko
Kevin was released by City at the end of his scholarship and after a non-league tour that included stopovers at Welling, Maidstone and Dagenham & Redbridge, he now plays as a defender for National League club Dover Athletic. He spent two years as a City academy scholar.
Kyle McFadden
Kyle was released by City at the end of the 2014–2015 season. On 15 October 2015, he joined Orlando City B, and on 2 December 2016, he signed for Sligo Rovers in the League of Ireland.
Cameron King
Cameron joined City’s youth system at the age of eight and made his senior debut on 23 September 2014 in the League Cup in a 1–0 away defeat at Shrewsbury Town. His contract was mutually terminated in early 2016, and after a spell with Thetford, he joined League of Ireland Premier Division side Shamrock Rovers on 14 August 2017. Following that, after a short spell with King’s Lynn, he joined Halifax Town.
Cameron McGeehan
The captain of the FA Youth Cup winning side, Cameron moved to Luton on a permanent deal in 2015. A successful spell at Kenilworth Road led to a move to Barnsley for an undisclosed fee in the summer of 2017. He had a three-month loan spell at Scunthorpe in the second half of 2017/18, and is now enjoying another successful loan spell at Portsmouth.
Harvey Hodd
Norwich born and bred, Harvey was released by City at the end of the 2013/14 season and signed for Fleetwood Town in December 2014/15. He was released by Fleetwood at the end of 2015/16 and moved to Concord Rangers, 2016. He signed for Lowestoft Town in September 2016. In 2018 he signed for Brightlingsea Rangers.
Henry Randall
Henry left City at the end of the 2013/14 season and on July 1, 2014 signed for Histon. In February 2015, he left Histon and signed for Bishop Stortford.
Jacob Murphy
After a fine 2016/17 season in City’s first XI, Jacob signed for Newcastle United for an undisclosed fee on 19 July 2017. On 31 January 2019, he joined West Brom on loan until the end of the season. For 2019/20, he joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan.
Josh Murphy
On 12 June 2018, Josh joined Premier League side Cardiff City on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £11 million.
Joe Peacock
Joe had been with City since signing as an Under-14 in 2009. He was previously with Rushden & Diamonds. He was released by City in March 2013 and signed for Conference North side Histon on 19 March 2013. He moved to St Ives Town in February 2015.
Reece Hall-Johnson
Reece made his professional debut for City in 2014 in a League Cup game with Crawley but was released in 2016. He then had spells at Maidstone United and Bishop’s Stortford before joining Braintree Town in October 2016. In October 2017, after a successful trial, he signed for Grimsby Town. In 2019 he signed for Northampton Town.
Rian Carroll
Rian was a successful graduate of City’s Hatfield Development Centre. A combative midfielder, he was released by Norwich on July 1, 2013 and he joined non-league Broxbourne in 2015. In 2016 he signed for St Margaretsbury, He returned to Norfolk in December 2018 signing for Norwich United, in 2019 signed for Cockfosters, and in 2020 signed for Harpenden Town.
Carlton Morris
As of April 2020, Carlton is still a City player – the only one of the Class of 2013 to survive. Now 24, he’s had loan spells with Oxford United, York City, Hamilton Academical, Shrewsbury Town and Rotherham. In January 2020 he joined MK Dons for the rest of the season.
Rhys Browne
Rhys was released by City at the end of the 2013–14 season and joined Charlton Athletic. In May 2015 he was released and had spells at Aldershot Town and Grimsby Town before, in June 2017, joining Yeovil Town. At the end of the 2018–19 season he was released by Yeovil following the club’s relegation from the Football League. For the 2019/20 season, he signed for Port Vale.
Some people will possibly have more updated information on these players.
A few of these have started on the road to a professional career, others are in non league and have my best wishes to find success in football.
There maybe a couple of players that have slipped through my search or were in the squad but didn’t play? If so, I’d be happy to hear.
Ben Wyatt is at Sutton United now.
Cheers Paul
Ben Wyatt is a Coltishall boy. When he was a young teenager allegedly the sports master at [I presume] Broadland High’s team talk was simply: “Give it to Ben”.
Ben was pretty much the village hero, although he didn’t have much competition as the only other candidates were Alan who briefly played with The Groundhogs and some guy I can’t remember who used to be in Mungo Jerry.
All football-loving “villagers” were gutted when Ben was released.
Hi Martin
I spent a few months a Coltishall when in the RAF, also at Honington near Thetford.
Like most Villages if someone does well they all know them and it does spread a good feeling in and around the place and the opposite can happen when it doesn’t get the outcome that everyone Hope’s for.
I really do hope the ones in the list have a good second coming at another club.
Stay safe
Hi Alex
Did said RAF base have a swimming pool? I have hazy memories of being taken for swimming lessons and in sure it was at the RAF base. This would be mid-1980s so my memory could of course be wrong…
Hi Paul.
I originally wrote this a few months back but updated as and when possibly new information came to my attention.
Thanks for the update on Wyatt and with the situation we are all living in at present I would presume much will have changed in all their game plans.
Thanks for the reply and stay safe.
Very interesting, Alex. The gulf between being a precocious talent and a successful top leagues professional is a hard one to bridge it seems. Best of luck to them all.
Hi Martin Mcblaine
Now that is a question I can’t answer I was there between 1999 and 1970 on a large NATO joint exercise ot tactical, but I can say most camps had one and allowed the local schools to use them with the PTI’s being the instructor
Thank for the question and stay safe
Yes the base did have a pool., gym, sportsfields, the full monty. The airmen used to use the Rising Sun or Red Lion in Colt or the Skeyton Goat, the nearest pub to the base physically. I would say the base is more in Scottow than anywhere else.
Now it’s been converted into a low-cat prison [HMP Bure] and private housing estate. The officers mess has been turned into a pub called the Diplomat but there’s nothing else there for the many residents.
There’s loads of spare land left and they’re wondering what to do with it.
My thoughts were that is was a much better place for a Norwich Airport that where it is at present.
A lot of folks think that too. I lived there for over 15 years [1999-2015] but I think in the end that the Parish Council – voiceless but nonetheless verbal – and Broadland District Council scuppered it.
When we’re in Norwich Sue’s house is two miles from the airport and we never really hear a thing unless 737s or whatever are waiting for PtL and circling in the meantime.
TBH we get a lot of chopper noise early am and late pm in Mundesley, but that’s obviously cos they’re on a regular flightpath towards the North Sea for the offshore guys.
The helicopters scared Geezer our dog a couple of times when he was a tiny pup but not any more. He’s even got used to the hang-gliders.
Coltishall in the news today.
Always liked the look of Cameran McGeehan when I’ve seen him on the box. Maybe he was one who would have flourished under Daniel Farke.
Hi Jim
It comes down to if and when you release players, it must be a very difficult decision.
Spurs hung on to Edward’s and loaned him to city neither worked out now he is getting rave reviews in Portugal, all the praise these young players get are sometimes over the top labeling a player as a young Messi must really put the pressure on when all they need is given a chance and run of games to prove themselves as Farke has done.
Mcgeehan was a journeyman at city with him out on loans and only a couple of first team games not given time to prove himself or just maybe he needed to get away from the club and management as during his time youth weren’t trusted time will only tell.
Thanks for the comment and stay safe