Cobham Next Gen - Chelsea ditch club name for age-group teams

[Getty Images] Chelsea have announced they will now be referring to their under-21 and under-19 teams as Cobham Next Gen, inspired by the name of the club's training ground. The Blues believe the change better represents the level that their academy players are playing at, as many of their under-19 players were representing the under-21s last season. The new name will be showcased in Premier League 2 and they will be known as CNG for short. A club statement read: "The new name more accurately reflects the age profile of our leading academy side and Chelsea's long-standing heritage of developing the next generation of players for the senior game. "While the squad competed in Premier League 2 as an under-21s side, its average age last season was closer to that of an under-18s group, with several players as young as 16 years old featuring regularly. "Cobham Next Gen also better fits the role of the squad within the academy. "It recognises a group of young players with momentum, taking the next step in their development – the final one in the pathway to senior football – competing at a higher level as they continue their journey through Cobham towards the men's team."