Crystal Palace’s Under-18s face Aston Villa in the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals this week – the club’s first appearance at this stage of the competition in more than 15 years.
The last time Palace reached the final eight came in February 2010, when the young Eagles travelled to Newcastle United before bowing out in a 4–2 defeat.
So where are the starting XI from that evening now? We take a look at how their careers unfolded.
The game kicks off on Tuesday, 10th March at 18:00 GMT at Villa Park and will be broadcast live on the official Emirates FA Cup YouTube channel – click here to watch.
If you can’t catch it live, supporters can follow live commentary on our Academy X (Twitter) page, with a full match report and reaction published shortly after full-time on our Academy news section and Palace TV+.
You can also stay updated via the official Crystal Palace App, which delivers goal alerts and key match notifications straight to your phone. Live Opta stats on the app will keep you informed throughout the game.
Even before kick-off and after the final whistle, you can access previews, reaction, and video content all in one place, ensuring you don’t miss a moment of the action.
‘Keeper Charlie Mann was named in several senior matchday squads during the 2009/10 and 2010/11 seasons before departing Selhurst Park shortly afterwards.
Since then, he has enjoyed a long career across the non-league pyramid, making close to 350 appearances for clubs including Hadley, Hertford and Tring Athletic. He currently represents Cockfosters in the Spartan South Midlands League and was in action as recently as last week against Baldock Town.
Kenlock spent seven years at Palace before leaving the club in 2010. He has since stepped away from football and built a successful career in the creative industry. Now a Creative Director, he is a writer, poet and filmmaker who has worked on global campaigns for major brands including Nike, Jordan, Apple, Meta and Ray-Ban.
A graduate of the Palace Academy, Parsons signed his first professional contract in April 2010. He made his senior debut later that year in the League Cup against Portsmouth and went on to make several appearances during the following seasons.
After leaving Palace, Parsons continued his career across the non-league game, turning out for a number of clubs including Leatherhead, Chatham Town, Cray Wanderers, Corinthian-Casuals and Romford. Since 2022 he has been with Faversham Town.
South Londoner Wynter made his Palace debut at just 16 years old in 2010 and spent several years at the club before joining Colchester United in 2015.
He went on to make over 50 appearances in the Football League before later spells with Maidstone United and Eastleigh. After retiring, Wynter returned to Palace and now works within the Academy as Player Care Officer, supporting young players from Under-9 to Under-21 level.
Centre-back Nnamani spent the early part of his career at Palace before forging a long and respected path in non-league football.
Best known for his time at Leatherhead – where he made more than 400 appearances – he also played for Bromley, Sittingbourne, Corinthian-Casuals and Raynes Park Vale.
Having hung up his boots, he has moved into officiating and can now be found running the line across the non-league circuit.
Holland joined Palace in 2010 before returning to his hometown club Bromley three years later.
There he became a modern club legend, making 374 appearances and captaining the side during a successful period that included the 2015 Conference South title.
A three-time Player of the Year, Holland also led Bromley out at Wembley in the 2018 FA Trophy Final. He continues to play non-league football with Beckenham Town, while also working within the game, most recently in academy player care.
One of the most recognisable names from the side, Williams emerged from the Palace Academy to become a first-team regular during the club’s memorable 2012/13 promotion campaign.
Nicknamed “Joniesta” for his creativity and close control, he made 35 appearances that season and started the Championship Play-off Final victory over Watford at Wembley.
The midfielder later became a Wales international, earning 33 caps and featuring at Euro 2016 and the 2022 World Cup.
After leaving Palace in 2019, he has gone on to represent Charlton Athletic, Cardiff City and Swindon Town, and currently plays for Gillingham.
This man needs little introduction. Raised just yards from Selhurst Park on Rothesay Road, Wilfried Zaha went on to become one of the greatest players in Crystal Palace history.
After joining the Academy aged eight, he made his first-team debut at 17 and went on to make 458 appearances in red and blue – the third-highest total in club history.
Across 13 seasons he scored 90 goals, including 68 in the Premier League, and won Palace’s Player of the Season award three years in a row.
His defining moment arguably came in the 2013 Championship Play-off Final, when he won the extra-time penalty that sealed Palace’s return to the Premier League. Zaha later joined Galatasaray in 2023 and currently plays for Charlotte FC in MLS.
Sekajja made his senior Palace debut in 2011, memorably scoring an 88th-minute equaliser against Hull City with his first touch.
He later enjoyed spells across England, Scotland and abroad, representing clubs including Barnet, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Livingston and Dulwich Hamlet.
His career has taken him across several countries, most recently including a stint in Finland with AC Oulu before returning to England with Raynes Park Vale.
Randall began his career at Palace before joining Aldershot Town, where he made his professional debut in 2010 in a League Two draw with Hereford United. Little further information is recorded about his career following that appearance.
Goldsmith left Palace shortly after the 2010 Youth Cup campaign and had a trial with Sittingbourne. Little else is recorded about his career following his departure from the club.
The game kicks off on Tuesday, 10th March at 18:00 GMT at Villa Park and will be broadcast live on the official Emirates FA Cup YouTube channel – click here to watch.
If you can’t catch it live, supporters can follow live commentary on our Academy X (Twitter) page, with a full match report and reaction published shortly after full-time on our Academy news section and Palace TV+.
You can also stay updated via the official Crystal Palace App, which delivers goal alerts and key match notifications straight to your phone. Live Opta stats on the app will keep you informed throughout the game.
Even before kick-off and after the final whistle, you can access previews, reaction, and video content all in one place, ensuring you don’t miss a moment of the action.
Tickets are on sale now via Aston Villa’s website (50p transaction fee applies for online and phone sales):
Important Information:
Aston Villa U18s v Crystal Palace U18s
