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.
13. CHRIS CLEAVER
Age at debut: 17/11/22...Posh apps: 36...Future club: Grantham Town...One from a lot further back was striker Chris Cleaver who did ok at Posh after a debut in a 3-0 EFL Trophy defeat at Colchester in 1997. Started 11 games, scored three goals, and enjoyed a long career in Scandinavian football before retiring when he became a football agent. Photo: David Lowndes
14. DION CURTIS-HENRY (right)
Age at debut: 18/0/21...Posh apps: 1...Future club: Crystal Palace...This goalkeeper was an unused Posh first team substitute 75 times. His one Posh appearance was as a sub in a 5-3 League One win at home to Millwall (2015). He caught the eye of England age group coaches before a shock move to Crystal Palace. He sat on the bench for a Premier League game against Chelsea. Drifted into non-league football when his time at Palace came to an end and spent a short spell at Crawley without playing. Joined Sittingbourne of the Isthmian League this season. Photo: Joe Dent
15. LEE CLARKE
Age at debut: 18/4/17...Posh apps: 3...Future club: St Albans City....Posh took this striker on from Yaxley and he made three first-team substitute appearances, firstly in a 2-1 League Two defeat Colchester in 2001. He went on to enjoy long and successful goal-scoring spells at St Albans and Woking. The son of former Posh striker Colin Clarke finished his career at Spalding United. Photo: PT
16. JONATHAN EDWARDS
Age at debut: 18/4/25...Posh apps: 3...Current club: Kettering Town... Physical striker who made his Posh debut as a substitute in a 1-1 League One draw at Barnsley in 2015. Started his first game in the last match of that season at Oldham when he was sent off. He didn't play again. Had a brief spell at Hull without making an appearance and he also played eight games for Accrington Stanley, scoring twice, before settling for a non-league career. He joined Kettering Town of the Southern League Premier Division Central at the start of this season. Photo: Joe Dent