Bristol Rovers is delighted to announce that nine exciting talents have signed a two-year scholarship with the Football Club.
Sam Ball, Jayden Joynes, Leo Kelleher, Ted Haines, Jacob Hammonds, Louie Carr, Quincy Dixon, Charlie Ball, and Lucas Frisby each put pen to paper on their respective scholarships with the Academy on a fantastic afternoon at The Memorial Stadium.
The event's purpose is for the Academy to officially induct the next cohort of players who will begin their two-year scholarship with the Football Club at the start of July 2026.
The event, led by Lead PDP Coach Bobby Black and Head of Coaching Damien Broad, also had a presentation by Will Morford from League Football Education, with Academy players Charlie White and Kian Hill also speaking.
The class of 2026 scholars will be looking to progress their individual and collective development through the Scholarship programme, attempting to move to the next level by gaining regular U18s football in the following season.
Each player had their table with a picture of themselves in the famous blue-and-white quarters and a shirt, with their families in attendance to celebrate their achievements and the hard work that got them to this position.
Speaking about the event, Lead PDP Coach Black said: "First and foremost, we want to congratulate & celebrate each individual who has been offered a two-year Scholarship at this fantastic Football Club, as well as extend our appreciation and thanks to each person's close support network for their high levels of commitment & support that have led to this evening.
“We would also like to acknowledge the hard work from all associated with Bristol Rovers Academy, both past and present staff who have invested many hours, providing a level of support to each individual, which we are proud to be championing every week we work.
“Tonight is all about celebration but at the same time, approaches the realisation of what part of their journey they are now on, what aligns all these people this evening is the fact that for the next two years they will continue to represent Bristol Rovers Football Club, living and breathing the values that have been instilled into them from an early part of their experience with ourselves - that hard work, effort and ability shown across their time to obtain this opportunity now must continue, the challenge being to find the next level of their own development to showcase what they can be daily.
“This Evening is also about portraying to each individual what our Professional Development Phase entails, and while presentation slides and staff speaking provide some context, this was best showcased through a Q&A with Ex-Scholars, Kian Hill and Charlie White. Both spoke with real authenticity, humility and passion regarding what can be expected across the next two years for these boys, shared through their own experiences, of course.
“Finally, I would like to extend our appreciation towards all the previous Clubs in which these boys had represented prior to beginning their time with us; they have no doubt shaped and supported these boys at crucial parts of their development and provided a positive platform in which they are now benefiting from."
Head of Coaching Broad opened the evening, congratulating the players on earning their scholarship and all the work they have put in before moving on to what the programme at the Academy looks like, what it will demand and the skills they will need to succeed on and off the pitch.
Morford from League Football Education delivered information about the apprenticeship programme that will run alongside their scholarship, with Black outlining the U18s player development programme.
Academy players Hill and White also spoke to the room, answering questions on their experience at the Club to help give the newest set of players an idea of what it will be like.
Photos of each of our new scholars can be seen in the gallery above!
Black was delighted to see the players continue their progression with the Club and gave an insight into each player.
SAM BALL - RIGHT-BACK
"Sam has journeyed across the Academy Schoolboy Programme from U9 all the way through to U16, after initially joining through our Pre-Academy. A forward-thinking full-back who can demonstrate his athletic capabilities up and down the pitch. Sam has consistently demonstrated the ability to connect and combine with others as well as support and create attacks also."
JAYDEN JOYNES - CENTRE-BACK
"Jayden, a left-footed centre-back, joined the Academy at the beginning of 2026, arriving from Swindon Town Academy. Jayden completed his trial period, playing across both the U16 & U18 Games Programme, making a positive individual contribution, demonstrating his physicality, defensive fundamentals & aerial dominance."
LEO KELLEHER - LEFT-BACK
"Leo, a Welsh Youth International, most recently playing for Wales MU16s, joined the Academy at our U14 Age Group from Paulton Rovers. A combative and assertive defender who is both relentless and resilient in his 1v1 Duels when out of possession. In possession, Leo has shown he can retain possession and support attacks. This Season, Leo has had a lot of exposure at U18 Level, playing in a total of 21 games."
TED HAINES - DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER
"Ted has developed through the Academy Programme since joining the U9 Age Group. Another individual who had entered the Schoolboy Programme, after graduating through the Club’s Pre-Academy. Ted has played a variety of positions across his Academy Journey, playing both as a defensive midfielder and centre-back, demonstrating his versatility and composure in possession across this time."
JACOB HAMMONDS - CENTRAL MIDFIELDER
"Jacob has been with the Academy since U12, joining from Mid-Somerset RTC. He has been a consistent performer across his age groups, experiencing opportunities to play across different age group teams.
"He is an athletic and robust midfielder who can operate in a variety of areas of the pitch, naturally a box-to-box midfielder who is able to impact the game within the final third. Jacob had also returned from a long-term injury this season, demonstrating real relentlessness and resilience to return to the pitch, as well as obtaining a scholarship at the Football Club."
LOUIE CARR - CENTRAL MIDFIELDER
"Louie joined the Academy at U15s, joining from Gloucester City AFC, where he frequently played across age groups with older players. It was in a fixture against Rovers where Louie was scouted and recruited into the Academy. Another athletic central midfielder who can play box-to-box, Louie can travel forwards with the ball and has also shown this season that he can break up the game higher up the pitch."
QUINCY DIXON - WINGER
Quincy joined the Academy from PJSS at U15s. Since joining, he has obtained a variety of experiences across the Academy, but was also named in the Emirates FA Cup matchday squad against Barnsley in the 2024/25 Season for the first team.
"Quincy has continued his development since then, progressing his game further through exposure gained across the U16 and U18 teams. Quincy is a quick and highly technical winger who thrives in the final third, especially 1v1 and has shown great finish capabilities when cutting inside towards the goal."
CHARLIE BALL - FORWARD
"Charlie has been with the Academy since originally joining at U9, again, coming through our Pre-Academy Programme - across his time, he has been able to showcase his athleticism and robustness when on the pitch. When playing in wide areas, as he has developed, he has shown maturity in terms of playing as a striker or winger at varying times. Charlie showed a positive impact in the 18s Programme this season, scoring eight goals in 30 matches."
LUCAS FRISBY - FORWARD
"Lucas has been associated with the Academy since the U10 age group, joining from Wiltshire Football Academy. He has consistently demonstrated high levels of finishing skills, scoring goals across his whole Academy Journey. Lucas has been able to score a variety of different goals across his time and has thrived when playing with his back to goal and being able to link play with others."
All at the Football Club would like to congratulate each individual and their families on this fantastic achievement that they have obtained and would also like to place on record our appreciation to everyone's previous Clubs thathave also supported across their own journey at different points.
