Sunderland Under-21s secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Atalanta U20 in their opening fixture of the pre-season tour in Italy. The young Black Cats made a bright start and took the lead inside five minutes through Oli Bainbridge, who latched onto an in-swinging free-kick that bounced dangerously inside the box. The full-back showed quick feet to feint past his marker and calmly slot home to give Sunderland an early advantage. It was a confident opening from Graeme Murty’s side, who matched their Italian opponents physically and kept a solid shape out of possession. Sunderland had the chance to double their lead shortly before the break when Marcus Neill was brought down in the area after a surging run. The striker stepped up to take the penalty himself, but the Atalanta goalkeeper well saved his effort. Bainbridge almost added a second after the interval, rattling the crossbar with a thunderous strike from distance, capping off an excellent individual display at both ends of the pitch. Speaking after the game, Lead Coach Graeme Murty praised the attitude and resilience of his squad, many of whom are experiencing their first full pre-season campaign at this level. “I’m really pleased with how the lads approached the game. We were disciplined, competitive and showed we can match a strong, technical side like Atalanta physically,” Murty said. “There were some really good individual performances, but more importantly, the group worked hard for each other and carried out what we asked of them.” Murty also highlighted the growth he’s seen throughout the week in training and how the players are beginning to take ownership of their development. “We challenged the group earlier in the week in training and asked for a reaction — and we got it. We maybe could’ve been more ruthless in the final third and had more shots on goal, but overall, I’m really happy with the way they applied themselves.” With one fixture under their belts, attention now turns to Saturday, where a mixed group of U21 and U18 players will once again take on Atalanta U20 to conclude the week-long tour. Starting XI: Allan (Metcalf), Holcroft (G.Bell), Kindon, L. Bell, Bainbridge, Jones, Middlemas, Whittaker, Walsh, Scott, Neill (Proctor) Unused substitutes: Barker, Hunt, Dinsdale, Lightfoot, Hester
Sunderland AFC’s Academy side concluded their pre-season tour of Italy on Saturday afternoon, falling to a 2-0 defeat against Parma Calcio U19 in a competitive and valuable final test. A youthful squad made up of Under-18 and Under-21 players took to the field in Collecchio, rounding off a week of development on and off the pitch against elite European opposition. Despite the scoreline, the young Black Cats competed well throughout and created several opportunities of their own. Bayley Hester saw an effort saved early in the first half, while Ivan Struk also came close during a strong spell of attacking pressure. Parma struck twice in either half to edge the contest, but the experience of facing three different Italian sides across the week — including a draw with Hellas Verona and a win over Atalanta — has provided invaluable preparation ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. The tour also allowed players from both age groups to integrate on and off the pitch, building cohesion and familiarity as the Professional Development Phase continues to evolve under the guidance of the Academy coaching staff. The Under-21s will now return to domestic action as they prepare to face Burnley in their next pre-season outing back in the UK. Sunderland Starting XI vs Parma Calcio U19: Cameron (Robertson), Lienard (G.Bell), Forsyth, Neild, Lightfoot, Hunt (Munyakazi), Struk (Brown), Proctor (Burns), Hester, Dinsdale (Shakespeare), Campbell (Matadeen) Substitutes: Robertson, Brown, G. Bell, Burns, Shakespeare, Matadeen, Munyakazi
Newly appointed PDP coach Matt Craddock says he’s been hugely impressed by the professionalism, culture, and clarity within the Academy of Light after joining Sunderland AFC earlier this month. Craddock, who will work across the club’s Under-18 and Under-21 age groups, arrived on Wearside with a wealth of experience in player development and coach education. His previous roles include coaching positions at Bolton Wanderers, where he was Assistant Manager under Ian Evatt, as well as time with Preston North End and the Football Association. Reflecting on his early days at the club, Craddock was full of praise for the structure and standards already in place. “The club is a really professional place. You feel it in the building straight away – they have the right people and the right culture to create pathways, and that attitude feeds into the players.” That pathway development is a key part of Craddock’s new role, one which spans the Professional Development Phase and will see him contribute across both youth squads in the coming season. “My role is to work with players at a critical stage in their journey, helping them form those steps towards senior football,” he explained. “During this time in Italy, I have worked across both the Under-18s and Under-21s, and the integration between age groups was seamless. The club has a clear and consistent culture that runs right through the Academy – and that starts from the top.” Craddock’s coaching background includes working in various footballing and educational environments, equipping him with a strong understanding of both the technical and personal development required at the PDP level. “I’ve worked in football and learning for a long time and in lots of different settings. That’s given me experience across different age levels, but particularly with older players. I understand what the next steps look like and how to support them in taking those.” During the Academy’s recent pre-season tour of Italy, Craddock’s work began in earnest as players from both squads faced off against strong opposition in Hellas Verona, Atalanta, and Parma. “It’s been a really good start to life here. The week in Italy gave the players different experiences both on and off the pitch, and that holistic approach’s been really key. What’s impressed me most is how brave the players are in how they want to play – they’re creative, they represent Sunderland AFC with real identity, and the club gives them that freedom. Our job as coaches is to support that, to show them that every mistake is a learning point and to give them the confidence to keep growing.”
