Cavalry U-21 Trio Earn Dev Stint With First Team

Canadian Premier League side Cavalry FC is bringing in three youth prospects directly from the club’s League1 Alberta U-21 side.

Midfielders James McGlinchey and Josh Belbin, along with goalkeeper Neven Fewster, will hope to carve their first senior minutes with a CPL side that has elevated other U-21 club talents like Chanan Chanda and Joseph Holliday.

The trio of 17-year-olds will be eligible to make up to four appearances with Cavalry throughout the remainder of the 2024 CPL season without impeding their amateur status and ability to train with their current clubs. Should they break through, Cavalry can also sign each player to a second developmental contract this season, granting a further four appearances.

Belbin is a right-footed central midfielder who can drop into a more defensive role, having previously played for both Sherwood Park and Edmonton Juventus Youth.

Fewster, who stands at six-foot-three, had previously spent time in the Whitecaps academy and plays for the Calgary Rangers, whilst midfielder James McGlinchey had some pre-existing Calgary Foothills roots along with some time training within the Whitecaps setup.

The Cavalry FC U-21 team finished in fifth within the semi-pro league, going 4-5-3 throughout the twelve-game campaign.

“We have had plenty of success discovering young players through our identification process and developing them further through League1 Alberta play,” says Cavalry assistant coach Jay Wheeldon. “Our pathway is designed to help and support players in reaching their goals, and we look forward to seeing these three players progress while in a professional environment.”

“All three deserved this because of their hard work and dedication. Massive credit to their clubs for developing their skills both on and off the field,” adds Wheeldon.

Calgary’s Canadian Premier League side has established itself as quite a powerhouse for developing domestic youth talent and preparing them for moves to Europe, with players like Goteh Ntignee and Victor Loturi being some recent examples.

With twenty-year-old attacker Mael Henry now out for the season, the club still has a few hundred domestic U-21 minutes to hand out prior to the season’s end. With players like Nikolas Myroniuk, Chanan Chanda, and Lowell Wright available (amongst others), the club won’t be without opportunity to fill the needed minutes, however.

Header Image Photo Credit: Canadian Premier League