But for every Harrison Burrows there is a Flynn Clarke and for every Matthew Etherington there is a Janaai Gordon. Not every player goes on to fulfil their potential.
All the players featured here were Academy stars who made their Posh debuts at aged 18 or under. None of them made it at Football League level although one of them still has a chance and another scored twice in a World Cup qualifying game in the summer.
See how many you remember…
The players ages on debuts are listed as years/month/days.
5. BENJAMIN MENSAH
Age at debut: 16/10/15...Posh apps: 6...Current club: Rushall Olympic... Posh had high hopes for this right-back, but injuries held him back. Made his Posh debut as a half-time substitute in an EFL Trophy win over Cambridge United in 2019. His last appearance for the club arrived in an FA Cup tie at Shrewsbury three years later. Joined National League North side Rushall Olympic, conquerors of Peterborough Sports in the FA Cup this week, at the start of the current season, but has played just once. Photo: Joe Dent
6. MARK COULSON
Age at debut: 17/1/7...Posh apps: 7...Future club: Biggleswade Town....A defender/midfielder who was given his first Posh appearance in a 5-0 drubbing at Tranmere in 2005, six years after he joined the club as an 11 year-old. Started two games before departing. Had a lengthy non-league career at Biggleswade Town. Photo: PT
7. DEON MOORE
Age at debut: 17/3/16...Posh apps: 6...Current club: Woking... A big bustling forward whose first Posh game was a 6-1 home defeat at the hands of Norwich City in a 2016 EFL Trophy tie. His first five Posh appearances were off the bench in quick succession before he made his sole start for the club came in a 1-0 home loss to MK Dons again in a 2016 EFL Trophy match. Moore has yet to net for Woking this season, but he did score twice for the Guyana national team in a 3-1 win over Belize in a June World Cup qualifying match. Photo: Peterborough United Football Clu
8. ANDREA BORG
Age at debut: 17/5/2...Posh apps: 4...Current club: SHU Pirates (USA)...Maltese midfielder Borg was tiny, but for a while Posh thought he had a big future. His debut was a start in a 2-1 League One home defeat to Fleetwood in 2017, but he added just three substitute appearances, the last in a 5-1 FA Cup home defeat to Leicester in 2018. Now plays for an American college team. Photo: Joe Dent