2019 Coventry City U23s Semi-Finalists, Where Are They Now?

The goalkeeper on the night was English born, Jamaican international Corey Addai. The 24-year-old had a fairly positive season for the club. He pulled off some key saves, particularly in the semi-final but it wasn’t enough. 

Addai left Coventry in January 2020, following loan spells at Mickelover Sports, Telford United & Dulwich Hamlet. Including scoring his only ever professional goal from a free-kick inside his own half. He later joined Barnsley in September 2020 and had a one month loan spell at National League side Chesterfield.  However, in August 2021, Addai left Barnsley to join Danish side Esbjerg. He made four appearances for the club, including a red card on his debut. In April 2022, it was announced that Addai would join French side AS Nancy upon the expiry of his contract. 

Playing out of position on the night, was defender Jordon Thompson. A product of the Skyblues academy, Thompson put in a brilliant performance on the night, having a very interesting battle with Robbie Gotts (now of Barrow). Following the semi-final, Thompson had loan spells at National League sides Boreham Wood, Solihull Moors and Wrexham before his departure was confirmed in June 2021. 

Following the expiry of his Skyblues deal, Thompson joined National League North side Gloucester City alongside fellow U23s midfielder Jordan Young. Thompson made 28 appearances for the club last season, scoring four goals and winning their April player of the month award. He will be looking to kick on again next season. 

The first centre-back on the night was new arrival Declan Drysdale who had only joined the Skyblues a few months before hand from Tranmere Rovers. He put in an excellent season, capturing the eyes of first team manager Mark Robins. Following the match, Drysdale spent a large period of time out on loan, playing for the following sides; Solihull Moors, Gillingham, Cambridge United and Ross County. It was at Cambridge when Drysdale scored his first professional goal as well as earning a League Two promotion medal. 

Drysdale has just returned to Coventry following a six month spell at Scottish Premiership side Ross County but won’t play a part next season. This is because he’s signed for League Two side Newport County for an undisclosed fee. 

The Skyblues captain on the night was defender Morgan Williams, who produced an exceptional performance on the night and was also unlucky not to score. This was also his debut campaign after arriving from Mickelover Sports. He made several first team appearances but promotion to the Championship, saw a further reduction in Williams’ game time at Coventry. 

He joined Yeovil Town on loan twice. First in late 2019 and the second in late 2020. However, following the conclusion of the 2020/2021 season, Williams was released by Coventry and subsequently rejoined Yeovil Town on a permanent deal last summer. Last season he made 33 appearances for the club, scoring once and will be keen to kick on again next season. 

Skyblues left-back on the night was teenager Sam McCallum who had burst onto the scene after arriving from Herne Bay on a free transfer. By this point, McCallum had already had glimpses of first team action and has an exciting career ahead of him. Following the game, McCallum had a brilliant end to 2019, becoming the clubs first choice left-back before being sold to Norwich City on a buy and loan back deal in February 2020. 

He finished the season with Coventry, winning the League One title before returning to his new side. However, McCallum was loaned out back to Coventry for the entire 2020/2021 campaign, helping keep the club in the Championship. Last season, McCallum remained out on loan, this time linking up with QPR where he had a mixed season due to injuries and currently remains at Norwich. 

The first member of the squad to remain at the club today, Josh Eccles put in a standout performance that night and scored for the Skyblues when his long range effort took a deflection which beat Bailey Peacock-Farrell in the Leeds goal. He spent the 2019/2020 season with the clubs U23s where he again caught the eye of Mark Robins. 

In September 2020, Eccles joined then league one side Gillingham on a loan deal and really impressed under Steve Evans. He didn’t score, but he did contribute to goals and his overall play really made him popular at the club. However, he was recalled by the club in January 2021 and remained in the U23s until April when he broke into the first team. Last season was dominated by injures, but he ended the season with five appearances and will look to build on that next season.  

The Skyblues trialist on the night eas midfielder Dan Bartlett who arrived on trial from Premier League side Southampton. Following the defeat to 
Leeds, Bartlett signed a contract with Coventry originally on a two year deal. He made his Skyblues debut during the 19/20 season, in an EFL Trophy match against Walsall but failed to make a first team league appearance and was released by the club in the summer. 

Following his release, Bartlett made the surprise drop to Poole Town where he scored twice in 23 appearances for the club. This involved a memorable goal in the FA Cup qualifiers last season. However, in December, Bartlett left Poole Town in order to sign for Wimborne Town where he managed six goals in 24 appearances for the club and remains there ahead of next season. 

The other Skyblues goalscorer on the night as midfielder Jack Burroughs who grabbed a first half strike. He was highly rated in the U23s and remained their the following season but by now, he had caught the attention of Mark Robins and co. Burroughs hard work was rewarded with a place in the first team towards the end of the 2020/2021 Championship season, making two appearances against Huddersfield and Millwall. 

Last season, Burroughs began pre-season well but was sent on loan to Scottish Premiership side Ross County. In Scotland, Burroughs made 16 league appearances as the club secured their first top six finish in the Scottish Premiership. Burroughs was originally played at right-back but was moved into midfield, toward the end of the season and now he returns to the Skyblues, eager to gain a place in the first team picture. 

Skyblues academy graduate Jonny Ngandu was full on confidence going into the semi-final after a strong season for the U23s as well as making his first team debut against Cheltenham Town in the EFL Trophy, but it ended in defeat. After the match, Ngandu had another strong season during the 2019/2020 campaign before it was cut short due to the COVID-19 outbreak. 

The following season, Ngandu continues in the clubs U23s whilst having a brief loan spell at Icelandic side Keflavik where he helped the club achieve promotion to the Iceland top flight. Upon his return, he remained in the youth teams and that continued into the 21/22 season, when Ngandu briefly captained the side to the PDL2 title by beating Bristol City in the final. However, Ngandu is now a free agent after he was released by the Skyblues following the expiry of his contract, 

Winger Dexter Walters enjoyed an excellent debut season for the club and was one of the standout players for the U23s during their push for the PDL title that season. Originally arriving from Tamworth, Walters became a popular figure in the youth team. 

Walters remained with Coventry the following season, only featuring for the clubs U23s before he was let go by the club in June 2020. Off the back of Coventry’s promotion to the Championship. Two months later, Walters rejoined Tamworth on a short term deal and his performances really took off. He produced some excellent performances, which saw him earn a new contract but spent a brief two month spell on loan at Mickelover Sports before returning to Tamworth where he remains today. 

Bremang joined the Skyblues in July 2018 from the conquest academy following a successful trial. During his debut season for the clubs U23s, he scored a handful of goals to send the Skyblues into the PDL Semifinals against Leeds. The following season, Bremang had loan spells at Nuneaton Borough and Leamington FC but failed to make a significant impression. 

In July 2021, Bremang completed a move to Championship rivals Barnsley, following a trial and slotted into their youth set-up. In February 2022, Bremang signed for Guiseley FC on a one month loan and upon his return, he made two first team appearances for Barnsley as they were relegated down to League One. 

The reserve goalkeeper on the day was Tom Billson who fell second fiddle to Corey Addai throughout the 2018/2019. However, going into the 2019/2020 season, Billson’s impressive performances saw him become the clubs number one. He also had a brief loan spell at Non-league side Hendon which was his first taste of men’s first team football. 

At the start of the 2021/2022 season, Billson signed for League Two side Scunthorpe United on a season long loan. He started the clubs opening game of the season against Swindon Town. During the first half, Billson kept a clean sheet but suffered a nasty knee injury which saw him replaced at the break. He was out for the next four months and returned for a bench appearance before being recalled and is now second fiddle behind Cian Tyler. 

The Skyblues second sub on the night was defender Lewis Green, who was a product of the Coventry City academy. He broke into the clubs U23s set-up in September 2018 and put in some very impressive performances for the club. He enjoyed a brief loan spell at Non-league side Coleshill Town, in order to gain some men’s first team football.

Following the defeat to Leeds United, Green left the Skyblues after his scholarship with the club expired. He subsequently moved over to America and joined the Missouri State Academy in August 2019 and remains in the USA  ever since. 

The other unused substitute on the night aside from Billson was full-back Blaine Rowe. The right-wing-back put in another exceptional, breakthrough campaign for the clubs U23s. The following season, Rowe became the starting full-back for Coventry’s U23s and he really impressed during the 2019/2020 season. 

Last season, Rowe began in the clubs U23s again and he impressed a lot. He developed an excellent partnership with Marco Rus & Fabio Tavares, which allowed him to earn several assists in a six month spell. However, at the end of the January transfer window, Rowe signed for Scottish Championship side Ayr United on loan and did well, making three appearances before suffering a season ending injury and has since returned to the Skyblues.