But not all kick on to have particularly good careers which is a warning to those who were handed surpise opportunities in the Championship last season.
Here are the 20 youngest Posh players to represent the club at second tier level in the Football League. The list includes five who made their Championship debut last season.
17. 4th JAANAI GORDON
Championship debut v Wolverhampton Wanderers, September 22, 2012, aged 16 years and 289 days. This striker came up through the Posh ranks and earned his first-team debut amid a club injury crisis before he officially signed professional forms on his 17th birthday in December, 2012. He played twice more that season, but after three appearances the following season he was gone. Off-field issues were blamed, but Gordon signed for West Ham United without ever making a senior appearance foe the Londoners in 18 months. He briefly reappeared in the Football League with Cheltenham Town before settling for a life of non-league football. Last season Gordon played for Brackley who will be National North League opponents for Peterborough Sports in the 2022-23 campaign. Photo: DAVID LOWNDES
18. 3rd ANDREW FURNELL
Second tier debut v Bristol City, November 27, 1993 aged 16 years and 256 days. The first 16 year-old to play for Posh in the second tier, when it was called Division One. Local lad Furnell was a prolific scorer for Posh youths, but injuries bedevilled his senior career at London Road and after just 23 appearances (only 10 starts) he left London Road and played successfully at non-league level for Rushden & Diamonds, Stamford, Wisbech, Grantham and Soham among others. Furnell scored just one Posh goal, at Bristol City in the final game of the 1993-94 relegation season and is best remembered for having the guts as a 16 year-old to take a penalty in a shootout of an FA Cup replay against Spurs at White Hart Lane. His shot was brilliantly saved by Ian Walker as Spurs won the shootout 5-4. Now the long-serving manager of Yaxley FC. Photo: David Lowndes
19. 2nd JERMAINE ANDERSON
Championship debut v Blackburn Rovers, November 17, 2012 aged 16 years and 185 days. A former Arsenal Academy player was sent on for his Posh debut aged just 16 in a Championship match that was televised live. Anderson's subsequent story is a sad one as he was an established, goal-scoring first-team midfielder on the verge of a lucrative move to Leeds United when not one, but two, cruciate ligament injuries stopped him in his tracks. He was never the same player again and Football League spells at Doncaster and Bradford City didn't work out. He was at Woking in the National League last season, aged just 26. Photo: Alan Storer
20. 1st CHARLIE COULSON
Championship debut April 21, 2012 v Watford aged 16 years and 101 days. Posh were safe from relegation as they approached their final home game of the 2011-12 Championship season. It was a still a suprise when manager Darren Ferguson gave this slightly built midfielder his debut at the age of 16. Coulson acquitted himself well, but never appeared in a first-team match again and left London Road in July, 2014. Coulson played locally at Deeping Rangers for many seasons and was most recently seen at Ilkeston Town FC Photo: david lowndes