Mackenzie Mayes

My Recent Work

EliteScholars •

EliteScholars Football Team of the Week | 20th-26th April 2026

Fifteen-year-old goalkeeper Benetton saved the decisive penalty as Crystal Palace claimed their first U18 Premier League Cup with victory over in-form Manchester United.He also made eight saves in the match, keeping out several big chances to keep his team in the game. Despite being the second-youngest player on the pitch, Benetton produced one of the standout performances of the day and was hugely influential in his side’s victory.Richards had an excellent game against Ipswich U18s, showcasing...
EliteScholars •

Brentford Academy Awarded Category One Status by Premier League

Category One is the highest status under the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) and was achieved by the club just four years after reopening their academy, following their promotion to the Premier League.The Premier League’s Elite Player Performance Plan was introduced in 2012 to produce more and better homegrown players and has four key functions: Games Programme, Education, Coaching and Elite Performance.The EPPP consists of three phases: Foundation (Under-9 to Under-11), Youth Development (...
EliteScholars •

Crystal Palace crowned U18 Premier League Cup champions

Dean Benamar scored the final penalty to secure the title for Palace after a first-half goal from Noah Ajayi for Manchester United was cancelled out by a late Ben Casey spot-kick.The victory is Crystal Palace’s first in the competition and was achieved despite the absence of key players such as club captain Jasper Judd and semi-final goalscorer David Angibeaud.Manchester United were forced to complete the match with 10 men after Albert Mills was dismissed for conceding the penalty, as Darren Fle...
EliteScholars •

JJ Gabriel: Manchester United's 15-Year-Old Sensation

JJ Gabriel has been one of the standout performers across England’s youth competitions this season and has gained many admirers with his performances for Manchester United U18s.Described as one of the jewels in the Carrington crown, Gabriel arguably has the brightest future of any player in the Manchester United academy. His 21 goals in 23 appearances across U18 competitions this season, including a current run of scoring in six successive games, have made that abundantly clear.So why is he stil...
EliteScholars •

Crystal Palace vs Manchester United: Under-18 Premier League Cup Final Preview

United are chasing a second title in three years, having won the competition in the 2023/24 season, while this is Palace’s first appearance in the cup final.The fixture holds extra weight for Javier Alonso’s Palace side, as they will be looking to exact revenge on the team that knocked them out of the FA Youth Cup semi-final just five days earlier, when a stoppage-time winner in extra time settled the tie. Equally, the last time these sides met in this competition, in the semi-final of the 2023/...
EliteScholars •

Real Madrid crowned UEFA Youth League champions after penalty heroics from Javier Navarro

The sides could not be separated in regular time, with Jacobo Ortega’s goal in the first half being cancelled out by Tobias Lund Jensen’s. The final went to penalties for the first time in the competition’s history.Real Madrid won the competition for the second time in the club’s history, joining Barcelona and Chelsea as the only multiple-time winners of the UEFA Youth League.The estimated 6,000 in attendance at the Stade de la Tuilière were treated to a magnificent final.The opening 25 minutes...
EliteScholars •

Chelsea Teenager Ryan Kavuma-McQueen Makes Long-Awaited First-Team Debut

Anyone who has watched Kavuma-McQueen shine in Chelsea’s academy or for England’s youth teams this season will not be surprised that this moment has arrived, with many Chelsea fans having called for the club to promote the 17-year-old to the first team sooner.He nearly made his debut earlier this season when he was an unused substitute twice in the Champions League, against Ajax (aged just 16) during the group stage, and for the second leg of Chelsea’s last-16 clash with Paris Saint-Germain.He f...
EliteScholars •

EliteScholars Football Team of the Week | U19 Euro Elite Round Edition

Read on to discover which players caught the eye of the EliteScholars staff this week.A commanding week between the sticks earns Whatmuff the gloves in this team.The young goalkeeper kept two clean sheets in England U19’s fixtures against Poland and Portugal, making key saves to ensure victories for his side.He also recorded an assist for England’s sixth goal against Portugal, playing through Harry Howell.White scored the decisive goal in a tight contest as Switzerland U19 narrowly defeated Norw...
EliteScholars •

EliteScholars Football Team of the Week | 16th-22nd March 2026

A man-of-the-match performance from James in PSG’s 1-0 win over Villarreal in the UEFA Youth League quarter-final earns him the gloves in this team.The young shot-stopper made crucial saves during the match and kept out a penalty in the second half to secure his third clean sheet of the competition and his side’s progression to the semi-finals.Banjaqui has been attracting interest from some of the biggest clubs in the world, and he put on another outstanding display in Benfica’s win over Inter M...
EliteScholars •

EliteScholars Football Team of the Week | 9th-15th March 2026

Trinder kept a clean sheet on his U18 Premier League debut against Liverpool at just 14 years and 72 days old.This made him the youngest ever goalkeeper to play for Wolves U18s and the second youngest goalkeeper to make an appearance in the U18 Premier League.An outstanding debut at this level for the young man.Owoade was one of the standout players in Palace’s 4-2 away win against Reading in the U18 Premier League, picking up two assists.His low crosses into the box caused problems for the Read...
EliteScholars •

Real Madrid fight back to reach UEFA Youth League semi-final with 2-1 win over Sporting CP

Goals from Jacobo Ortega and Roberto Martín helped Los Blancos overcome a first-half deficit en route to a home win at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano, in their record ninth quarter-final in this competition.It was a slow start to the game, with neither side registering a shot on target until the 37th minute. The best opportunity of that period came for Sporting, as Gabriel Silva struck the post.Both teams created chances in the final minutes of the half, with Real testing Miguel Gouveia through...
EliteScholars •

Chelsea handed immediate nine-month academy transfer ban along with £10m fine for breaching Premier League rules.

The fine is the highest financial penalty ever imposed by the Premier League, surpassing the previous record of £5.5 million handed to West Ham in 2007. This eye-watering figure will catch the majority of headlines in the aftermath of this historic ruling, but the sanction which will have immediate consequences for one of the most celebrated academies in the world is the nine-month transfer ban.The academy charges relate to breaches of youth development rules between 2019 and 2022, and the ban a...
EliteScholars •

Club Brugge Thrash Atlético Madrid to Reach UEFA Youth League Semi-Finals

This was Brugge’s first appearance in the quarter-finals of the competition. Still, the new territory did not seem to faze Jonas De Roeck’s side, as a commanding first-half performance, in which two Yanis Musuayi goals bookended a Tian Koren effort, was enough to secure victory.For Atlético Madrid, it was more of the same at this stage in the UEFA Youth League. The side has reached the quarter-finals of the competition six times, losing five of those fixtures.Brugge took the lead within five min...
EliteScholars •

Bernard hat-trick fires Crystal Palace U18 to fourth straight win in stunning comeback

Palace were riding high, having qualified for the FA Youth Cup semi-final for the first time in 29 years, thanks to a late comeback against Aston Villa in midweek. And it took more late heroics to secure the three points here.Daniel Owoade’s low crossing caused problems for the Reading defence throughout the first half, with an early chance almost forcing Jacob Neptune to turn the ball into his own net.It was from one of those crosses that Palace took the lead in the 14th minute. Owoade’s first-...
EliteScholars •

EliteScholars Football Team of the Week | 02/03/26 – 08/03/26

Welcome to the EliteScholars Football Team of the Week for 2nd to 8th of March.It was another thrilling week of youth football, with standout performances across the Premier League U18, Premier League Cup U18, and Premier League 2.Read on to discover which players caught the eye of the EliteScholars staff this week.Moses was the standout performer in West Bromwich Albion U18’s 1-0 victory over Chelsea U18 at the weekend. The goalkeeper kept a clean sheet despite facing 27 shots, with 12 on targe...
EliteScholars •

Late Drama as Crystal Palace Stun Aston Villa to Reach FA Youth Cup Semi-Finals

The reigning champions were ahead two minutes into the game when Bradley Burrowes and Jack McGrath combined well. Burrowes found McGrath on the edge of the box, whose effort deflected off the back of Jasper Judd, leaving goalkeeper Lucca Benetton with no chance.Burrowes was heavily involved throughout the opening exchanges of the match and thought he had another assist in the 25th minute. His poked effort found Teddie Bloomfield to double the lead, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.V...
EliteScholars •

Five-Star Manchester United U18 Beat Nottingham Forest U18 in Premier League North | EliteScholars

Louie Bradbury and Jay McEvoy combined well to force an error, which led to the opening goal. Bradbury’s press limited Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Alastair Graham’s options and drew a risky pass, which McEvoy intercepted and fired home to give United the lead in the 25th minute.JJ Gabriel was the standout performer in the opening 45 minutes, contributing two outstanding goals. The first came in the 37th minute. His footwork lost his marker, and a cut onto his right created space for his dipping...
EliteScholars •

EliteScholars Football Team of the Week | 23/02/26 – 01/03/26 | EliteScholars

Pécsi delivered another strong showing in Liverpool U21s’ win over Tottenham Hotspur, helping his side to a 4-2 victory in the Premier League 2 on Sunday afternoon.Although he couldn’t replicate last week’s feat of keeping a clean sheet in the 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest, he was called into action several times to help his side withstand spells of Spurs’ dominance.Ultimately, his assist in the match earns him a spot in the team of the week. His long ball upfield found Will Wright perfectly...
EliteScholars •

Manchester United U18 Beat West Ham U18 in Extra Time to Reach PL Cup Final | EliteScholars

Darren Fletcher’s side controlled possession early, focusing their play down the left flank through winger Noah Ajayi. Ajayi gave Harry Montague issues in the opening 20 minutes but was unable to create any clear-cut chances.A cagey first 45 saw both sides score with their only shots on target.It was the defending champions who struck first, through Joel Kerr, in the 32nd minute. Scrappy play in the centre and a misplaced touch from JJ Gabriel led to the ball falling to Kerr’s feet, who drove at...
EliteScholars •

Crystal Palace U18 Hold On For Victory Over West Ham In Five-Goal South Group Clash | EliteScholars

Palace have scored the most goals in the division this campaign, netting 52 times in 17 matches, and the opening to this game showed why.Javier Alonso’s men were ahead early as Donte Martin played through David Angibeaud, who rounded the keeper and converted into the empty net with just five minutes on the clock.West Ham were their own worst enemy in the early exchanges, with Palace’s high press forcing repeated errors in their own half. Goalkeeper Lanre Awesu was among the chief culprits with h...
World in Sport •

Arsenal's Historic Defence: 8 Consecutive Clean Sheets

Arsenal extended their winning run to 10 matches in all competitions after beating Slavia Prague 3-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday night, thanks to a brace from makeshift striker Mikel Merino.


The Spaniard led the line in place of the injured Viktor Gyökeres and, just as he did last season, the midfielder showed his versatility and attacking prowess to provide a focal point for his team.


While Merino and fellow goalscorer Bukayo Saka might grab the headlines, it was Arsenal’s defence...
World in Sport •

From Disjointed to Dominant: England’s U21 Success Story

3.7 million people watched England defeat Germany to defend the UEFA U21 EURO title on Saturday night. This marked England’s first consecutive victories in the tournament since 1984.


After a somewhat disappointing group, Lee Carsley’s side were electric in the knockout stage of the tournament. He, along with his coaching staff and all the players, has received widespread praise from pundits, fans, and former players.


This era for the Young Lions has been acknowledged as the “start of a ne...
World in Sport •

Positional Problems: England's Tactics Under Scrutiny

The Young Lions side has reached the knockout rounds in consecutive tournaments for the first time since 2009. However, in Slovakia, Lee Carsley’s team has fallen short of expectations, finishing second in Group B with just four points.


Their final game against a fully rotated, already qualified German team resulted in defeat. Fortunately, Slovenia lost to Czechia in the other group match, allowing England to secure passage.


They will need to put their uninspired group stage performance b...
World in Sport •

England U21 Euros 2025: Squad, Fixtures, and Road to Success

The Young Lions’ defence of the U21 Euros begins tonight as Lee Carsley’s side faces Czechia. Their historic victory against Spain in the previous tournament’s final ended 39 years of underachievement at this stage. James Trafford’s last-minute penalty save in Batumi, Georgia, was the pivotal moment of the match, and the win highlighted many members of the squad who are now so recognisable today.


The squad will be eager to replicate the success of their predecessors. If the England side, who...
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