Pune FC Academy
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Pune Academy
| image =
| fullname = Pune Football Club Academy
| nickname = Red Lizards
| founded = 2011
| dissolved = 2016
| ground = Pune FC Training Ground, Mamurdi, Pune
| capacity =
| mgrtitle = Head Coach
| chairman =
| manager =
| league = I-League U19
| season = 2014
| position = Group Stage (Maharashtra Zone)
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| pattern_sh1 =
| pattern_so1 = _2 gold stripes
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| socks1 = FF0000
| pattern_la2 = _redshoulders
| pattern_b2 = _kit body RBNY home
| pattern_ra2 = _redshoulders
| pattern_sh2 =
| pattern_so2 = _color_3_stripes_red
| leftarm2 = FFFF00
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}}
The Pune Football Club Academy was the youth team of Pune Football Club. They played in the I-League U19, the highest level of youth football in India. The team closed operations in 2016 and were purchased by Indian Super League side FC Pune City, and rebranded it as the FC Pune City Academy.
History
Pune had always operated a U19 and U17 youth team since their inception in 2007 but on 23 June 2011 it was announced that the club would open an Academy at the U20 level, thus becoming the first I-League team to do so.{{cite web|title=Pune FC to launch training academy|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/pune-fc-to-launch-training-academy/807558/|work=Indian Express|date=23 June 2011 |accessdate=8 August 2012|archive-date=16 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416065345/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/pune-fc-to-launch-training-academy/|url-status=live}} The initial trials for the Academy were held in Pune and were attended by around 280 hopefuls. Out of the 280 players only 25 passed the trial while five extra players were called up from the then-Pune Under-19 squad, thus creating the first group of 30 players for the 2011–12 season. The clubs first tournament was the Peninsula Pune Cup which was held in September 2011 and was a pre-season tournament for Pune, Air India, and Deccan XI. The Academies first match since founding was during that tournament on 10 September against Air India. The match ended 2–1 in favor of Air India.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc2axxeOaQA {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726115001/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc2axxeOaQA |date=26 July 2022 }} Pune FC Academy vs. Air India The Pune Academy then played their first ever foreign tournament in January 2012 when they participated in the Aaha Rara Gold Cup.{{cite web|title=Aaha Rara Gold Cup: Pune FC Academy reached Pokhara|url=http://www.nepalifootball.com/getting-started/84-nepalifootball/domestic/613-aaha-rara-gold-cup-pune-fc-academy-reached-pokhara.html|work=Nepali Football|accessdate=9 August 2012}} They however only made the semi-finals after losing to Samsung Jawalakhel 4–0.{{cite web|title=Pune FC 'A' ends lose in semifinal clash|url=http://www.indiablooms.com/SportsDetailsPage/2012/sportsDetails100212d.php|work=India Blooms|accessdate=9 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505110755/http://www.indiablooms.com/SportsDetailsPage/2012/sportsDetails100212d.php|archive-date=5 May 2014|url-status=dead}}
The Academy then participated for the first time in the 2012 I-League U20 which is the official youth tournament of the I-League. Their first match was against HAL on 20 April 2012; Pune won 5–1.http://punefc.com/?news=u-20-i-league-pune-fc-ride-on-haokip’s-trick-thrash-hal-5-1 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726114907/https://no1credit.com/genkinka/?news=u-20-i-league-pune-fc-ride-on-haokip%E2%80%99s-trick-thrash-hal-5-1 |date=26 July 2022 }} Pune U20 5-1 HAL U20 The team then went on to win the I-League U20 after winning all 9 matches to go undefeated.{{cite web|title=U20 I-League: Champions Pune FC sign off on all-win note, down Prayag Utd 3-1|url=http://punefc.com/?news=u20-i-league-champions-pune-fc-sign-off-on-all-win-note-down-prayag-utd-3-1|work=Pune Football Club|accessdate=8 August 2012|archive-date=31 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231000500/http://punefc.com/?news=u20-i-league-champions-pune-fc-sign-off-on-all-win-note-down-prayag-utd-3-1|url-status=live}}
In 2013, the Academy won the U20 league again. This time in the final round the Pune Academy grabbed 13 points from five matches to finish on top.{{cite web|title=Pune FC are the I-League U-20 champions|url=http://i-league.org/?p=5808|work=I-League|accessdate=17 November 2013|archive-date=31 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331112502/http://i-league.org/?p=5808|url-status=live}}
On 26 August 2016, it was announced that FC Pune City of the Indian Super League had taken over the Pune FC Academy and will rebrand it under their name.{{cite news|title=FC Pune City takes over Pune FC's academy and outlines its plans for Football development|url=http://www.indiansuperleague.com/press-releases/3911-fc-pune-city-takes-over-pune-fc-s-academy-and-outlines-its-plans-for-football-development|accessdate=26 August 2016|work=Indian Super League|date=26 August 2016|archive-date=30 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830230736/http://www.indiansuperleague.com/press-releases/3911-fc-pune-city-takes-over-pune-fc-s-academy-and-outlines-its-plans-for-football-development|url-status=live}}
Head coaches
- {{flagicon|IND}} Gift Raikhan (2011–2013)
- {{flagicon|IND}} Naushad Moosa (2013–2016)
Honours
- I-League U20
- Champions (2): 2012,{{cite web|title=U20 I-League: Champions Pune FC sign off on all-win note, down Prayag Utd 3-1|url=http://punefc.com/?news=u20-i-league-champions-pune-fc-sign-off-on-all-win-note-down-prayag-utd-3-1|work=Pune Football Club|access-date=28 July 2012|archive-date=31 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231000500/http://punefc.com/?news=u20-i-league-champions-pune-fc-sign-off-on-all-win-note-down-prayag-utd-3-1|url-status=live}} 2013
- Kedari Redekar Football Tournament
- Runners-up (1): 2012{{cite news|title=Kedari Redekar Football Tournament: South United emerges as the winner|url=http://www.gcsstars.com/2012/11/|access-date=22 March 2018|website=gcsstars.com|publisher=GCS Stars|date=19 November 2012|archive-date=23 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323092344/http://www.gcsstars.com/2012/11/|location=Bengaluru}}
Notable graduates
This is a list of former academy graduates who have either played a match professional with Pune F.C. or any other club professionally.
- {{flagicon|IND}} Amrinder Singh
- {{flagicon|IND}} Denechandra Meitei
- {{flagicon|IND}} Dhanpal Ganesh
- {{flagicon|IND}} Fanai Lalrempuia
- {{flagicon|IND}} Nikhil Kadam
- {{flagicon|IND}} Salam Ranjan Singh
- {{flagicon|IND}} Thongkhosiem Haokip
- {{flagicon|IND}} Syed Shoaib Ahmed
References
{{reflist}}
{{Pune F.C.}}
{{I-League}}
{{coord missing|Maharashtra}}
Category:Football academies in India