This year for the first time the Academy players will be kitted out in the same attire as the first team.

The Academy lads will play their fixtures in the new kit and will be provided with Le Coq Sportif training wear.

This has never been possible before because of the cost implications however now with the money raised from the Potters Foundation the Club has been able to order an extra 160 kits.

Academy Manager, George Foster said, "This is a great move and will have such a positive effect on the players in the Academy.

"The idea behind this move was to make the lads feel more like part of the Football Club and to do that, we felt that they should be playing in the same gear as their heroes at Stoke."