Middlesbrough’s 2004 FA Youth Cup winners: Where are they now?

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We catch up with Middlesbrough’s 2004 FA Youth Cup winning side.

A year after tasting defeat in the final to Manchester United, Middlesbrough’s under-18s triumphed 4-0 on aggregate over Aston Villa to claim the FA Youth Cup trophy.

13 years on, let’s catch up with this promising group of Boro youngsters:

Midfielder James Morrison continues to flourish in the top flight of English football. The Scotland international is closing in on ten years with West Bromwich Albion following his departure from the Riverside in 2007. Morrison plays alongside fellow Middlesbrough academy star Chris Brunt.

David Wheater, Andrew Taylor and Anthony McMahon are all in the hunt for promotion from League One.

Wheater and Taylor are both a part of Phil Parkinson’s 2^nd place Bolton Wanderers side. They have helped the Trotters keep the best defensive record in the division.

McMahon’s Bradford City are looking to make a late challenge for Wanderers’ automatic promotion spot. The right-back has been a regular in Stuart McCall’s starting-eleven this season.

Carlisle United are looking to sneak back into the League Two play-off places with the help of two former Boro youngsters. Jason Kennedy recently returned to action after missing last month with a groin injury. His versatile midfielder partner Gary Liddle has played every minute for the Cambrians since joining from Chesterfield in January.

At the other end of League Two, Matthew Bates is fighting against relegation with Hartlepool United. The 30-year-old, who left Middlesbrough for Bristol City in 2012, has made 19 appearances this season for the Pool.

Josh Walker hasn’t been afraid to venture outside of English football since his Boro release in 2010. The midfielder signed with Indian top-tier side Bengaluru in 2014. After spending two years in the I-League, he joined Scottish League Two club Edinburgh City in January. Walker scored in their 1-1 draw with Cowdenbeath last week.

Anthony Peacock and Tom Craddock are still plying their trade in non-league football. Peacock is captain of Ebac Northern League Division Two team Billingham Synthonia, while Tom Craddock is part of a Spennymoor Town’s Evo-Stik Northern Premier League promotion hopefuls.

Goalkeeper David Knight has also featured in non-league football. He last played in West Auckland’s 3-0 defeat to Newcastle Benfield back in November. Meanwhile, Peter Masters appears to be out of the game.