Aberdeen F.C. Under-20s and Academy
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| Full name | Aberdeen Football Club Development Squad |
|---|---|
| Ground | Various, primarily Glebe Park, Brechin |
| Chairman | Stewart Milne |
| Head Coach | Paul Sheerin |
| League | SPFL Development League |
In addition to their first team competing in the Scottish Premiership, Aberdeen F.C. also maintain an Under-20 side competing in the SPFL Development League and the Scottish Youth Cup, as well as further teams for younger age groups within the club's academy. Previously a reserve team was also fielded for many years until the abandonment of the most recent league for those teams in 2009.
Prior to the introduction of the Scottish Premier League in 1998, the Under-20s previously competed in the youth league administered by the Scottish Football League. They won the last edition of the SFL competition and the first under the SPL, although since then they have only won it once more (in 2014–15).
From 2015 onwards it is possible for the Aberdeen Academy to participate in the UEFA Youth League by the Under-17 side winning the previous season's league at that age group; however this has not yet been achieved.
For the 2016-17 edition of the Scottish Challenge Cup, Under-20 teams were granted entry to compete against adult teams for the first time in the modern era (provided their parent clubs are in the Premiership). Aberdeen U20 won their opening round against Formartine United of the Highland League but lost in the next round to Forfar Athletic of the fourth level.
Aberdeen's geographical isolation from much of Scotland's population is an advantage to the Dons' player recruitment to some extent, as they are the only major club in a region of over 500,000 people so generally have the pick of the promising youngsters in the city and shire. The relative economic power of the club also means that players from the Central Belt are frequently persuaded to move north, and over the decades many of Aberdeen's successful youth products (not least Willie Miller, McLeish, Black, Leighton, McMaster and later Joe Miller, McGuire, Diamond and Maguire) have moved from the west of Scotland to begin their professional careers. In the 21st century Aberdeen have also looked further afield to the English lower leagues for academy recruits as well as senior players.
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