Fulham were unsuccessful in the U18 PL Cup final this season, but it’s fair to say that the Whites’ academy has produced some incredible talent in recent years.
The likes of Harvey Elliott, Ryan Sessegnon and Fabio Carvalho have come through in the last five years, and with the likes of Luke Harris and Xavier Benjamin currently starring, there is plenty of quality still yet to blossom at Craven Cottage.
However despite the incredible array of talent on show in the youth team, Fulham came up short against Chelsea last month, and sadly, that’s not the first time the Whites have been beaten by their rivals in a youth cup final.
Indeed, Fulham faced Chelsea in the 2014 FA Youth Cup final, and after another disappointment against the Blues, we’re going to take a look at where that 2014 team has ended up now eight years on.
GK – Marek Rodak – Fulham
The only player in this team to still be at Craven Cottage. Marek Rodak is Fulham’s current number one.
A two-time promotion winner, Rodak is yet to get a real crack at the Premier League, but after starring under Marco Silva this season, he’ll be hoping for an opportunity next term.
RB – Ryheem Sheckleford – Maidenhead United
Ryheem Sheckleford started at right-back for Fulham in the FA Youth Cup Final against Chelsea in 2014, but now, he’s plying his trade in the fifth-tier of English football.
Sheckleford has appeared 27 times for Maidenhead this term, as The Magpies secured a mid-table finish.
CB – Cameron Burgess – Ipswich Town
A goalscorer in the first-leg of the FA Youth Cup final, Cameron Burgess has carved out a very respectable career for himself in England’s lower leagues.
Burgess has over 200 Football League appearances to his name, and he even played four times for Fulham’s senior team in 2014/15.
CB – Liam Donnelly – Motherwell
Fulham’s captain for the FA Youth Cup in 2014, Liam Donnelly sadly never made it as a senior player at Fulham
However, he’s currently plying his trade in the Scottish Premiership with Motherwell, and he’s transformed into something of a goal threat, netting seven goals in the 2019/20 season.
Donnelly is also a Northern Ireland international with three caps to his name to date.
LB – Jordan Evans – Career break
More of a left midfielder than a left-back these days, Jordan Evans is taking a bit of a break from football at the moment after spending two years with Newtown AFC.
A six-time Wales U21 international, Evans showed a lot of promise as a youngster, but it seems as though his career has hit a bit of a crossroads.
As well as being a semi-pro player, Evans is now also a barber, a band member and a podcaster.
CM – Solomon Sambou – Hendon
Born in The Gambia, Solomon Sambou is currently playing for Hendon FC in Non-league Premier.
Sambou has bounced around non-league for a number of years now, playing for the likes of Hayes and Yeading, Wealdstone and St Albans since being released by Fulham.
CM – Josh Smile – Maidenhead United
Josh Smile is a teammate of Ryheem Sheckleford at Maidenhead United.
The midfielder has also spent time out on loan at Billericay Town in recent years.
CM – Emerson Hyndman – Atlanta United
The American looked like he’d be a future superstar at Fulham at one point, but sadly, he’s never quite reached his potential.
Hyndman had spells at Bournemouth and Rangers after leaving Craven Cottage before returning to his home country where he’s currently playing in MLS with Atlanta United.
RW – Patrick Roberts – Sunderland
Patrick Roberts was seen as the jewel in the crown of this team.
The winger earned himself a £15m move to Manchester City just one year after this cup final, but he never established himself at the Etihad, despite impressing out on loan at Celtic.
In recent years, Roberts’ career has gone downhill and he’s currently playing in League One with Sunderland.
ST – Moussa Dembele – Lyon
The true star of this side, Moussa Dembele has hit the highest of heights in football.
Dembele was a star at Celtic after leaving Fulham and he’s since played for both Lyon and Atletico Madrid.
The striker’s greatest moment came against Manchester City in the 2020 Champions League quarter-final, and he’s enjoyed yet another fantastic season with Lyon, finding the net no fewer than 17 times in Ligue 1 this term.
LW – George Williams – Barrow
The youngest player to ever score in the FA Cup, George Williams burst onto the scene with MK Dons in 2011.
However, 11 years on, Williams’ career hasn’t really kicked on, and while he’s playing at a very respectable level in League Two, a lot more was expected of the seven-time Wales international when he broke into the Fulham first-team in the 2014/15 season.
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