Hosted at the City Football Academy, the young trio were recognised for their respective contributions to our Elite Development Squad (EDS) and Under-18s across 2023/24.
A youthful EDS finished the Premier League 2 season in 23rd, but we did reach the knockout stages of the UEFA Youth League, topping Group G without tasting defeat.
Taylor grabbed four goals in six European appearances as part of that journey, and his stellar contributions earned him a clean sweep of EDS awards.
The midfielder also added a further four Premier League 2 goals to his overall tally, with his exploits seeing him named EDS Player of the Season and EDS Players’ Player of the Season.
A large proportion of Brian Barry-Murphy’s group also played an integral role alongside our Under-18s in a first FA Youth Cup triumph since 2020.
Indeed, City cruised to a memorable 4-0 triumph over Leeds United at the Etihad Stadium to sign off for the season with silverware.
Ben Wilkinson’s youngsters pushed for the U18 Premier League title until the final weeks of the season, eventually finishing second.
Heskey was central to that success, also featuring for City’s EDS, as well as in the FA Youth Cup and UEFA Youth League across an impressive individual campaign.
The forward even held the distinction of playing alongside his younger brother Reigan in a 3-0 win over Young Boys in November 2023.
Elsewhere, Heskey was on target in that FA Youth Cup final triumph over Leeds, grabbing our second of the evening at the Etihad Stadium.
His efforts were rewarded with another clean sweep of awards, claiming the U18 Scholar of the Season, Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season prizes.
Finally, Nico O’Reilly’s incredible strike against Nottingham Forest saw him win the Academy Goal of the Season vote.
It’s the second time the youngster has come away with the award, this time for an audacious half-way line lob in a 2-0 win over the midlands outfit.
Always capable of the spectacular, this was the latest incredible strike in O’Reilly’s showreel, having scored an incredible scorpion kick against Middlesbrough and a stunning double against Manchester United in 2022/23.
