Brentford Under-18s head coach Gary McDermott reflects on his first season in charge of the age group and looks ahead to the exciting prospect of facing Category One opposition next season.

McDermott took charge of the U18s in the summer of 2025, having joined the club eight months before as head coach for the U13/14s. In his first season in charge of the young Bees, McDermott oversaw the side’s fourth-place finish in the U18 Professional Development League.

"It's been positive working with a new staff group. That’s helped the boys as we all challenge each other," he explained.

"That's been evident with the number of players that have played across age groups into the B team and beyond.

"I’m proud for the lads and their families, but also proud for the staff. People don't always see the late nights, the constant reviewing of clips sitting down with players."

There has been real proof of a flourishing pathway in the academy this season with scholars Michel Boni and Beau Redknapp playing for the B team regularly.

Luka Bentt also made his professional debut for the club, coming off the bench against Macclesfield in the FA Cup.

"In pre-season, Luka was with us as a second-year scholar, and he’s gone on to make his first-team debut. That’s an incredible achievement," said McDermott.

"Michel was in good form, worked hard and deserved his opportunity to test himself with the B team, which he's grabbed with hands and feet.

"One thing we've certainly got here is an amazing group of staff that get on and can challenge in the right way. Everyone knows that there's no ego, it's all about helping players get better.

"Every time someone asks for a player, whether that's Sam Saunders asking us, or Keith Andrews asking Saunders, there's absolutely no hesitation on player movement. We make sure we're giving the boys the best experience."

The U18s had an excellent end to the campaign, winning eight of their last 10 competitive fixtures, lifting the U17 PDL shield in the process at Wheatsheaf Park.

"I was confident that we would improve once we implemented what we wanted to and the players were buying into their Individual Development Plans," affirmed McDermott.

"Jon-Paul Pittman does great work with the IDPs and we’re all very aligned. You're always working on it without probably knowing you're working on it within practices sometimes. Having clear alignment and a pathway that's open is brilliant.

"For me, it's not really about the winning, it's about the performances and seeing the development.

"The experience of trying to perform in a cup final is so valuable and you know that will stand them in good stead for their future careers."

McDermott has been blown away with the home of the young Bees, Wheatsheaf Park, and the quality of the facilities available.

"We're very lucky to have Wheatsheaf as our home; it's a bowling green of a surface and it really suits everything that we want to do in terms of dominating the ball," he beamed.

"The boys absolutely love playing there, but the biggest compliment is when other teams come and are wowed by the facilities.

"The FA Youth Cup game against Chelsea there was a great atmosphere. We went toe-to-toe with a Category One side, and we were really proud of that performance; it’s given us confidence going into next year."

In a second cup final of the season, the Bees lost 4-2 to Leyton Orient having been reduced to 10 men in the Arsenal Academy Cup.

"We were 2-0 up until the sending off. That changed the game, but it was still a great experience for the lads," he explained.

"It reconfirmed in my head my beliefs about scenario games and the importance of constraints in training.

"That experience of fighting in a cup final with a man down is probably something you’ll only be a part of once or twice in your career, so the lads have to take learnings from every moment."

The 2025/26 season also saw the U18s go on tour to Portugal, Greece, Denmark and Scotland, each trip offering unique experiences for development.

"Greece was a highlight for us," he remembered. "We were in good form and played Panathinaikos and AEK Athens. To play the way we did with some U16s and U17s against their U19s was fantastic.

"The game against Celtic B was a top test for us, too. It was credit to us that they sat off in a 4-4-2 block and didn't want to press us - that shows how far we've come despite the result."

It was a season of exciting change for the academy, having been awarded Category One status in April, setting up new challenges for next season.

"In Category One academies you’re playing against some of the best talent in the world, let alone England," explained McDermott.

"To test ourselves at that level is going to be great. We’ll have to find our feet but there'll be some core principles that we’ll go after.

"We might not have as much of the ball, so we'll make sure we're strong and we're counter pressing. I spent 10 years at a Category One academy at Southampton, so I know the level and I’m excited for the challenge."