According to the Premier League, “The Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) is a long-term strategy with the aim of developing more and better homegrown players.”
This programme was introduced in 2012.
The category classification is done by close collaboration between the Premier League Development Department and the clubs to deliver a world-class youth development system via the delivery of four key functions: Games Programme, Education, Coaching and Elite Performance.
EPPP Background/General Rules
According to current Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) rules, any club relegated from the EFL can maintain an academy for a maximum of two seasons outside the league.
The EPPP automatically reduces funding by 50% after the first season for any club continuing its academy into a second season.
When the EPPP was first introduced, twenty-two clubs were awarded Category One status. This number has since grown to 26.
Since then, the original group has seen Bolton Wanderers drop out, while Brighton, Crystal Palace, Derby, Leeds, and Nottingham Forest have joined.
Reading FC has left, returned, and left again, and there have been brief appearances by Birmingham, Burnley, and Swansea.
2022/23 Season
Brentford shut down their Academy in 2016 and reopened in the 2022/23 season at Category 4 level.
2023/24 Season
The 2023/24 Academy Productivity Rankings, exclusive to TGG, feature 86 clubs, highlighting the number of players each academy developed who appeared in the Premier League, Championship, League One, League Two, and National League last season.
The rankings cover all Category One to Category Three academies in England, as well as two Category Four clubs.
Chelsea Academy topped the listings with only two Category 2 teams, Sheffield United and Charlton Athletic, making it into the top 20.
2024/25 Season
In September 2024, Wycombe Wanderers advanced their plans to establish a new academy by officially submitting their intention to apply for a Category 4 Academy Licence for the 2025/26 season.
Rochdale AFV Category 4 Academy will close on June 30th, as they are ineligible to apply for an EPPP licence for the 2025/26 season, having now completed a third consecutive season outside the EFL.
2025/26 Season
In May 2025, Birmingham City and Burnley were officially granted Category One status after a comprehensive audit by the Professional Game Academy Audit Company (PGAAC), upgrading from Category Two after three years.
In July 2025, Ipswich Town became the latest club to be awarded Category One status by the PGAAC. This increases the total number of Category 1 clubs to 29 for the 2025/26 season.
For the 2025/26 season, Premier League 2 teams finishing 17th to 24th will enter a new cross-category play-off, joined by the top eight sides from the Category 2 Professional Development League.
Beginning with the 2025/26 season, the restriction on streaming Under-21 matches during senior Premier League fixtures has been lifted, allowing all PL2 games to be live-streamed even when senior matches are airing on Sky or TNT Sports.
2026/27 Season
From the 2026/27 season, Brentford Academy will operate at Category One level — the highest under the Elite Player Performance Plan — just four years after reopening.
Brentford will compete in Premier League 2 and the Under-18s Premier League, with Category One status also providing expanded fixtures from Under-9s upwards.
Watford FC has informed the EFL of its decision to withdraw from the U21 league next season, believing that participation in the fixture programme is not in the best interests of its young players or their long-term development prospects.
Both Watford Academy and Crewe Alexandra will transition to Category 3 academy status.
How many players in Premier League Academies?
Premier League academies collectively accommodate an estimate at around 3,500 players based on multiple academy disclosures though official Premier League totals are not publicly published.
Taking place from March 17th to 21st, the EFL’s Youth Development Week highlights and celebrates the league, its clubs, and its competitions’ role in nurturing some of the game’s top young talents.
Grassroots Football
“Grassroots football” describes the amateur level of the sport, played by individuals of all ages and skill levels within local communities.
Almost all players who join an academy have played for a grassroots team before being scouted.
Grassroots football is managed by the Football Association through County FAs.
New steps to improve grassroots youth football in England will be introduced from the 2026/27 season through FutureFit (Tailoring youth football to fit even better)
Games Programme
Game programme includes matches, festivals, and tournaments, to clubs across all age groups. Academy football is often referred to as ‘development football’.
There are no leagues and no results published for the lower age groups. In addition there are rolling substitutions and periods instead of halves throughout Foundation and Youth Development Phases.
Education
The academy system includes a Premier League Education Department that delivers a development programme for all academy players.
The programme supports players’ technical, tactical, physical, mental, lifestyle, and welfare growth.
Accepted 16-year-olds join the League Football Education program, which includes an NVQ in Sporting Excellence, a BTEC National Diploma in Sports Performance & Excellence, and key skills in Maths and English.
Swansea City’s education and life skills program highlights the importance of developing players off the pitch.
Coaching
The EPPP also aims to produce home-developed coaches on a regular basis for the professional game and the England national team.
Elite Coaching Plan (ECP) was created in 2020 with an aim to improve pathways for coaches
Medical Assessment
On joining the academy, players first fill out a health questionnaire, then undergo a medical check-up with the Club Doctor and Physiotherapist.
This helps to set a health baseline and see if any special exercises are needed.
Those in the Under-15s to Under-21s age groups can also get heart screening to check for any risks related to intense exercise.
Elite Performance
The Elite Performance allows clubs to track all information that is relevant to the Academy through the League’s Performance Management Application (PMA) and Injury Surveillance.
EPPP Success
In 2022, the Premier League conducted a review of the first 10 years of the EPPP.
According to Premier League reviews, EPPP has contributed to increases in coaching time, improved player progression, and enhanced national team performance — although detailed figures vary across seasons.
Club classification
Clubs classification demonstrates the type of programme and resources available by each academy.
Up to 10 different factors will be considered in the grading, including productivity rates; training facilities; and coaching, education safeguarding and welfare provisions.
In most cases, clubs that play in the premiership tend to have the resources to qualify as a category 1 academy.
The environment and facilities at an academy will differ according to the categorisation however, all the categories will still have a track record of producing successful professional players.
A lot of professional players have come through academies at each level over the years.
An independent body called the PGAAC audits each academy every three years and categorises them from Category 1 to 4.
The Premier League, EFL, and The FA founded the Professional Game Academy Audit Company (PGAAC) in 2018.
It provides independent quality assurance to all Club Academies in the Professional Game
It supports the continued implementation of the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP).
Clubs participating in the League must operate a Category 3 academy or higher.
In the case of clubs in membership of the League in Season 2022/23, by no later than the start of Season 2024/25;
In the case of Promoted Clubs becoming a member of the League from Season 2023/24 onwards, within 2 years of becoming a member
– FA Youth Development Rules
Academy Players Registration Length
Registration periods vary by age group as defined in Section S of the Premier League Youth Development Rules.#
Category 1 Academies
This is the highest classification awarded to an Academy. It is an elite environment where Academy players are given additional access to coaching from pre academy, through u9s till U21’s.
Category 1 Academies can recruit players nationally from U15 provided the Academy player is guaranteed access to a full term education programme.
Academies in this category are mostly premier league teams with a few championship clubs.
They attained Category Two status in June 2024 following an audit by the Professional Game Audit Company (PGAAC) in April.
Here is the list of all the category one clubs as of August 2025
Arsenal, Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Blackburn, Brighton, Burnley, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Derby County, Everton, Fulham, Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, Norwich City, Nottingham Forest, Reading, Southampton, Stoke City, Sunderland, Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham, and Wolves.
8 of the category one academies are Championship clubs.
Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Ipswich Town, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Norwich City, Stoke City and Sunderland.
Reading FC are the only club from the EFL League One.
In the U21 group the Premier League Football Development Panel choses a Player of the Month.
PL2 club coaches nominate the best opponent performance in each league match, and their votes decide the winner each month.
Category 2 Academies
Category 2 academies is an elite programme that recruits players locally and offer them additional coaching opportunities.
They also provide players with an educational program.
A key difference between category 1 and category 2 is the level of funding and available resources. However they still offer excellent opportunities for young players to develop their skills and potentially reach the professional level.
Here is the list of Category Two clubs as of August 2025
AFC Bournemouth, Barnsley, Brentford, Bristol City, Cardiff City, Charlton Athletic, Colchester United, Coventry City, Crewe Alexandra, Fleetwood, Hull City, Millwall, Norwich City, Peterborough United, QPR, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Swansea City, Watford, Wigan Athletic.
Academies in this category are mostly championship and league 1 clubs with a few league 2 clubs.
Use our Find an Academy search tool to discover the closest football academy in your vicinity.
Category 3 and 4 Academies
The Category 3 licence enables the Academy to introduce age groups from Under-9 to Under-16 as well as U17 -U21)
In category 3, Academy players are provided with both professional coaching and development opportunities. Most teams in this category are from League 1, League 2.
Category 3 from U16 includes an education program
Finally, in category 4, emphasis is mainly on the coaching and educational support for Academy players in the Professional Development Phase (U17 – U21)
Youth Alliance League 2025-26 season
EFL Youth Alliance League North 2025-26 Teams
These teams are a combination of Category 3 and Category 4 clubs categorised in the North of England.
Blackpool, Bolton Wanderers, Bradford City, Burton Albion, Carlisle United, Chesterfield, Doncaster Rovers, Grimsby Town, Lincoln City, Mansfield, Morecambe United, Notts County, Oldham Athletic, Port Vale, Preston North End, Rotherham United, Salford City, Shrewsbury Town, Stockport County, Walsall and Wrexham.
EFL Youth Alliance League South 2025-26 Teams
These teams are a combination of Category 3 and Category 4 clubs categorised in the South of England.
AFC Wimbledon, Barnet, Bristol Rovers, Bromley, Cambridge United, Cheltenham, Exeter City, Forest Green Rovers, Gillingham, Leyton Orient, Luton Town, MK Dons, Newport County, Northampton Town, Oxford United, Plymouth Argyle, Portsmouth, Stevenage, Sutton United, Swindon Town and Wycombe Wanderers.
Youth Alliance League 2024/25 season
Regular Season Group A (EFL Youth Alliance NE)
Bradford City, Burton Albion, Chesterfield, Doncaster Rovers, Grimsby Town, Harrogate Town, Hartlepool United, Huddersfield Town, Lincoln City, Mansfield, Notts County, Rotherham United.
Regular Season Group B (EFL Youth Alliance NW)
Accrington Stanley, Blackpool, Bolton Wanderers, Carlisle United, Morecambe United, Port Vale, Preston North End, Rochdale, Salford City, Shrewsbury Town, Stockport County, Walsall, Wrexham.
With the merger of the former EFL Youth Alliance NE and EFL Youth Alliance NW divisions, the youth team will face each opponent only once in their 2024/25 season.
The new group is called EFL Youth Alliance North
Regular Season Group C (EFL Youth Alliance SE)
AFC Wimbledon, Brentford, Bromley, Cambridge United, Gillingham, Leyton Orient, Luton Town, Milton Keynes, Northampton Town, Stevenage, Sutton United.
Regular Season Group D (EFL Youth Alliance SW)
Bristol Rovers, Cheltenham, Exeter City, Forest Green, Newport County, Oxford United, Plymouth Argyle, Portsmouth, Swindon Town.
With the merger of the former EFL Youth Alliance SE and EFL Youth Alliance SW divisions, the youth team will face each opponent only once in their 2024/25 season.
The new group is called EFL Youth Alliance South
Football Academy Indoor Artificial Surface
All Category One and Two Academies must have an indoor artificial surface that measures at least 60 x 40 yards (54.9 x 36.6 meters).
Category Three Academies must provide access to an indoor surface of the same size from November to April each year.
Premier League Academy Player Transfer Process:
The five-step review is an investigative process conducted before registering any academy player by another club and typically takes about 25 days to complete.
Step 1: The new club submits a completed registration form to the Premier League.
Step 2: The Premier League designates an independent third party to conduct “exit interviews” with the player, their parents, and both clubs. Additional interviews or requests for information may also be conducted if necessary.
In Step 3: The involved clubs and the player’s parents must sign a declaration confirming that no financial or in-kind inducements (including contra deals) were used to influence the transfer.
Step 4: The independent third party prepares a report for the Premier League’s board, providing a recommendation on whether the player’s registration should be approved.
Step 5: The Premier League’s board reviews the application and has the authority to approve or reject the player’s registration. If any breaches of youth development rules are found, the board may impose disciplinary measures against the club.
For all the category classifications there are four phases namely:
Pre-Academy
Under 6 (U6) to Under 8 (U8)
At this stage focus is primarily on having fun and team bonding.
Foundation Phase
Under 9 (U9) to Under 11 (U11)
At the stage there is an opportunity for boys to learn and perfect core techniques and encourage creativity.
Youth Development Phase
Under 12 (U12) to Under 16 (U16)
Tactical and technical ability as well as physical and psychological attributes to the game.
Professional Development Phase
Under 17 (U17 to Under 21 (U21)
Play and train with senior team players and individual programmes for rehabilitation, technique, strength and conditioning and an academic programme.
Teams Classification
Category 1 Academies
The U18s
U18s Premier League
The league divides teams into North and South groups for the U18s, calling it the U18 Premier League.
The U18 teams consist of first and second-year scholars.
Each year, the club offers a two-year scholarship apprenticeship to a new cohort of academy players.
Academy teams play home and away, with regional champions meeting in a playoff to decide the national champion.
U17 and U18 Premier League Cup
In 2017, the Premier League introduced the U18 Premier League Cup and the U16 Premier League Cup, renaming the latter to the U17 Premier League Cup in 2020 for their respective age groups.
The seven group winners, along with the best runner-up determined by total points, goal difference, and then head-to-head record, will progress to the quarter-finals.
The FA Youth Cup
This is the leading cup competition for youth football in England for over 70 years, attracting nearly 500 teams from across the English football pyramid.
The prestigious competition, established in 1952, has long served as a vital stepping stone for developing future football stars.
Over the years, it has featured many of England’s past and present icons, including Paul Gascoigne, David Beckham, Michael Owen, Mason Mount, Reece James, and Cole Palmer.
The tournament begins with several qualifying rounds, after which League One and League Two clubs enter at the First Round. Premier League and Championship clubs join from the Third Round.
The competition follows a knockout format and includes extra time if matches are tied after 90 minutes.
Eligible participants are players in the Under-16, Under-17, or Under-18 age groups for that season.
Both the semi-finals and finals are played over two legs; if the aggregate scores are tied at the end of the second leg, extra-time and penalties are used to determine the winners.
The away goals rule does not apply in this competition.
During the 2024-25 season, eligible players must have been born on or after 1 September 2006
FA Youth Cup News
19th October 2024
The 2024/25 draw for the 1st round proper has been announced. Clubs from the EFL League One and League Two enter the tournament at this stage
U19 UEFA YOUTH LEAGUE
As the leading club competition for academy-age footballers worldwide, it serves as a prestigious and vital platform where players can build their reputations and rise to prominence.
When eligible, the Under-19s compete in the UEFA Youth League, which mirrors the UEFA Champions League group stage.
Teams play each other home and away, with group winners moving to the last-16 and runners-up to the play-offs.
Simultaneously, Under-18 champions from 32 top UEFA associations compete in two knockout rounds.
The eight winners face group stage runners-up in the play-offs, and the winners join the group winners in the last-16.
The competition plays single-leg ties until the final, with the semi-finals and final held over a four-day weekend in Lyon at UEFA headquarters.
Previous Winners:
- Barcelona are the 2024-25 champions after beating Trabzonspor 4–1 in the finals
- Olympiacos FC are the 2023-24 champions after beating Milan 3 – 0 in the finals
Barcelona are the only team to have won the competition three times.
UEFA will be introducing a new format from the 2024-25 season.
12th December 2025
Here is the format for the knockout stages of the 2025-26 edition of the UEFA Youth League
The U21s
Premier League 2
The league groups teams similarly to the Premiership and Championship, but no team gets relegated in this case.
From the 2023 season all the 26 Category 1 teams play in the same league adopting the Swiss-style format.
Entry or exit from this league is based on accreditation by meeting the criteria of the EPPP
These teams will be grouped into five pots based on their performances over the past three seasons.
Match fixtures will be determined by a draw based on clubs’ positions in these pots.
The season will consist of 20 match weeks, with each team playing 20 regular season matches.
Teams will face each club in their own seeding pot once, as well as three to five teams from other pots either at home or away.
Results will determine the ranking of the 26 teams, with three points awarded for a win and one for a draw.
Following the regular season, the top 16 teams will enter a single-elimination playoff, with matchups based on league positions. For example, 1st vs 16th. The higher seeded team gets the advantage of playing at home
Play-off stage matches will be single-leg encounters, with extra time and penalties deciding the outcome if the scores are level.
The complete list of fixtures and results for the 2023/24 season can be seen here.
Premier League Cup
The Premier League Cup was introduced in the 2013/14 season to make the Professional Development Phase calendar more competitive by adding a knockout competition alongside the regular league schedule.
It follows a format similar to the old Champions League, with 32 clubs divided into eight groups of four. Teams play each other both home and away, and the top two in each group move on to the knockout stage.
Teams that finish first in their group get home advantage in the round of 16, while runners-up play away.
From the round of 16 onwards, all matches are single knockout games, with extra-time and penalties if needed.
The competition is for under-21 teams, but each side is allowed to field up to five over-age outfield players and one over-age goalkeeper.
For the 2024/25 season, there are nine groups, with the top team from each group automatically advancing to the knockout stage, joined by the seven best second-placed teams.
Premier League International Cup
Additionally, the top 12 teams from the regular season will be invited to participate in the Premier League International Cup competition in the following season.
Premier League International Cup is back for the 2024/25 season with an expanded format featuring 32 teams.
Groupings for the 2024/25 season are split into 4 groups, each consisting of 8 teams, with each group including 4 English teams.
The English clubs will not play against each other but will host their European counterparts for 4 matches between September and December.
The top two teams in each group secure a spot in the knockout stages.
National League Cup
The National League Cup, which originally started in October 2024, features 16 Premier League U21 teams and 16 National League clubs.
The competition will feature a group stage with four groups of eight teams, where the top two from each group move on to a knockout stage to decide the winner.
The competition gives U21 players experience against first teams, while National League clubs keep gate receipts from matches at their home stadiums.
For the 2025/26 edition of the National League Cup Carlisle United , Yeovil Town, York City, Southend and Altrincham have declined a place.
Reasons for this can be summarised as: Lack of compensation or protection for their young players, minimal financial benefit, limited supporter interest, fixture congestion during a crucial part of the season, and the added cost of increasing squad size for non-revenue games.
Morecambe have been withdrawn from the competition due to off-the-pitch issues and have been replaced by Brackley Town.
EFL Trophy – The Bristol Street Motors Trophy (Renamed Vertu Trophy)
The Bristol Street Motors Trophy is a midweek knockout cup competition featuring clubs from EFL League One and League Two, along with 16 additional invited teams from Premier League and EFL Championship clubs with Category One Academies.
The group stages for the BSM Trophy 2025/26 season have been confirmed following a draw.
Prize Money 2025/26 Edition
| EFL Clubs Participation | £20,000 per Club |
| Group Stages | £10,000 per win / £5,000 per draw |
| Round of 32 | £20,000 per win |
| Round of 16 | £40,000 per win |
| Quarter-Finals | £50,000 per win |
| Runners-Up | £50,000 |
| Winner | £100,000 |
12th November 2024
After the group stage, Aston Villa U21s are the only academy team to reach the knockout stage.
14th November 2025
This is the fewest number of U21 teams remaining in the tournament since it began, with the previous record being three in the 2021/22 season.
In November 2024, the Bristol Street Motors Trophy has now been renamed to the Vertu Trophy with immediate effect.
Category 2
Worth a mention is the inaugural EFL Under-13s National Finals which is a prestigious event celebrating the most productive Category 2 and 3 EFL academies.
Selection was based on first-team minutes played by academy-developed players in the 2023/24 season.
Participating clubs included Accrington Stanley, Crewe Alexandra, Exeter City, Port Vale, Swansea City, and Wigan Athletic.
The U18s
Category 2 teams are also divided into two groups for the under 18s classified geographically as North and South. This league is called the PDL (Professional U-18 Development League)
Professional Development League Cup (U16s, U17s and U18s)
Established for the 2021/22 season, the Professional Development League Cup features 32 teams divided into eight groups of four.
The group winners advance to the knockout stages.
The U21s
Teams are divided into two groups for the under 21s classified geographically as North and South. This league is called the PDL (Professional U-21 Development League)
Unlike the Category 1 for the U-21’s, in Category 2, teams are divided into North and South. Each team in the North play each other home and away during the season.
In addition, the teams in the North will then play all the teams in the South only once and vice versa.
The top 2 teams in the North will then play the top 2 teams in the South to decide who the National champion is for the season. There is no promotion in place for Category 2 teams.
In addition, The U21s also participate in the Premier League Cup.
Category 3 and 4
The EFL Youth Alliance was formed in the 1998/99 season following the creation of the Academy structure under the Charter for Quality and the League has continued following the introduction of the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) in 2012.
The Competition is for Under-18 sides from the Category 3 and Category 4 Academy Clubs of the Premier League, EFL along with selected National League Clubs.
From the 2024/25 season the EFL Youth Alliance League is divided into two divisions: North and South
It acts as League 2 of the U18 Professional Development League system.
Several graduates of the EFL Youth Alliance have gone on to successful careers in professional football.
For clubs that get relegated to the National League, they have two years to gain promotion back to the EFL.
Failing to get promoted will mean losing their EPPP status with the EFL.
In 2024 Oldham missed out on the playoffs spot opportunity to compete for promotion to League 2. The implication of this is they are no longer a EPPP approved academy.
If you are located in the UK you can easily find the address of a category 1 or category 2 academy club using the Football Scholar academy locator tool.
The following clubs are part of the Premier League Cup for the 2024/25 season.
Exeter City, Huddersfield Town, Luton Town, Preston North End and Stockport County.
Bromley FC is the only Category four club included in the Premier League Cup for the 2024/25 season.
Category 3 and 4 clubs take part in the following additional competitions:
- Under-18s Youth Alliance Cup
- Under-17s PDL Cup
- Under-18s PDL Cup
- Under-17s Floodlit Cup
- FA Youth Cup
U18 Youth Alliance Cup
The EFL Youth Alliance Cup is a youth football tournament in England, organized by the English Football League (EFL). It features under-18 teams from League One and League Two clubs that compete in the EFL Youth Alliance, the league system for these academies.
The competition follows a format like the EFL Trophy, beginning with a regional group stage before progressing to a national knockout phase.
Designed to foster young talent at lower-tier EFL clubs, the tournament provides a structured competitive environment beyond regular league matches.
Central League Cup
18 teams have entered the competition for the 2024/25 season, divided into four groups:
Groups A and C contain five teams each, while Groups B and D each have four.
In the group stage, the team will play the other four teams in their group once. The top two teams from each group will then advance to the quarterfinals.
Although most teams are Category 3 academies, a few higher-category clubs also participate.
The Development squad
Reserve teams of EFL clubs comprise younger players and those on the fringes of the senior squads.
The Central League, a reserve league for clubs in Northern England, serve as a platform for player development.
It’s noteworthy that not all EFL clubs participate in the Central League reserve teams as of 2024.
Girl’s Academy Classification
Professional Game Academies select talented girls aged 14-20 to join club programs that combine football development with education, under licenses from the FA.
There are two categories: Category 1 requires at least two age groups, and Category 2 requires one, with both funded and open to Barclays WSL and Championship clubs.
A maximum of 16 Category 1 academies are allowed in the first year, with all others as Category 2.
Clubs can compete against each other, and the U21 competition is optional.
Talented Athletes Scholarship Scheme (TASS) supports young athletes through partnerships with educational institutions and sport’s governing bodies like the FA.
73 Emerging Talent Centres have been established to provide localized, high-quality training environments.
This has resulted in significant increases in the number of players from underrepresented groups.
For the 2023/24 season, the FA Professional Game Academy (PGA) have awarded licenses awarded to twenty one clubs as part of revamped player pathway.
However, it is expected that by the 2025/26 season that all 24 Barclays Women’s Super League and Barclays Women’s Championship clubs will be required to deliver an academy.
Category 1 PGA academies
Arsenal Women, Aston Villa Women, Birmingham City Women, Bristol City WFC, Chelsea FC Women, Durham Women, Everton Women, Leicester City Women, Liverpool FC Women, London City Lionesses, Manchester City Women, Manchester United Women, Sheffield United Women, Southampton FC Women and Tottenham Hotspur Women.
Category 2 PGA academies
Blackburn Rovers Ladies, Charlton Athletics Women, Reading FC Women and Sunderland AFC Women.
The Premier League is investing £5.25 million over the next three years to more than double the number of players in FA Pathway programmes, increasing access to football for girls.
The Girls’ Emerging Talent Centres (ETCs) aim to identify and develop future players by offering local, high-quality training for girls aged 8-16.
These centres will provide more playing time and diverse formats, allowing participation in both ETCs and other teams, like grassroots clubs or school teams.
By the end of the 2023/24 season, the number of players in ETCs is expected to grow from 1,722 to 4,200, with up to 73 centres nationwide, run by licensed clubs, community organisations, and other eligible bodies.
Each centre must offer at least one 1.5-hour technical training session per week for 30 weeks per age group.
Scotland Academy Structure
Club Academy Scotland (CAS) is a program run by the Scottish Football Association (FA) to manage and support youth football academies in Scotland. It helps develop young players aged 11 to 18, providing guidelines, funding, and organising games.
Clubs are evaluated based on certain standards, including how well they develop players, coaching staff qualifications, facilities, and other areas like talent scouting and sports science. After this evaluation, clubs are grouped into different categories:
Elite Level: Top-performing clubs namely Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee United, Hamilton Academical, Heart of Midlothian, Hibernian, Kilmarnock, Motherwell, Queen’s Park, Rangers, and St Mirren
Performance (Progressive) Level: Strong clubs working to improve namely Ayr United, Dundee, Dunfermline Athletic, Greenock Morton, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Partick Thistle, Ross County, and St Johnstone
Performance Level: Clubs that meet basic standards – Livingston
Advanced Youth Level: Developing clubs focused on youth training namely Airdrieonians, Alloa Athletic, Elgin City, Falkirk, Montrose, Queen of the South, and Stirling Albion
Wales Academy Structure
Category A– deemed for delivering outstanding level quality provision. Number of clubs in this category – 4
The Category B– deemed to offer high-quality developmental environment and full academy pathway. Number of clubs in this category – 10
And Category C– deemed to offer a high-quality developmental environment but limited to a narrower number of academy age groups. Number of clubs in this category – 6
Academy Status at Category A, Category B or Category C is mandatory for all Cymru Premier League Clubs.
A full breakdown of the requirements for each category can be found here
Northern Ireland Academy Structure
The Irish Football Association (IFA) manages academy football in Northern Ireland. It looks after youth football and academy programs through its Elite Player Development Programme and other local initiatives.
In Northern Ireland, YDO means Youth Development Officer. They work for the IFA, helping young players grow by organizing training, promoting grassroots football, and spotting talent.
Academy Football 2024-25 Season Roll of Honour
U15 Kevin De Bruyne Cup, also known as the KDB Cup
Winner: FC Barcelona U15
U15 Premier League Floodlit Super Cup
National Winner: Manchester United
South Winner: Chelsea
North Winner: Manchester United
U15 EFL Floodlit Cup
National Winner: Stockport County
U16 Premier League Cup
Winner: Arsenal U16
U16 Professional Development League (PDL) Cup
Winner: Watford U16
Premier League U16 National Shield
Winner:
U16 EFL Youth Alliance
South Winners: Luton Town
U17 Premier League Cup
Winner: Tottenham Hotspur U17
U17 Professional Development League (PDL) Cup
Winner: Luton Town U17
U17 Professional Development League Trophy
Winner: Shrewsbury Town U17
U18 Premier League (PL)
National Winner: Aston Villa U18
North Winner: Manchester City U18
South Winner: Aston Villa U18
U18 Premier League Cup
Winner: West Ham United U18
U18 Professional Development League (PDL)
National Winner: Bristol City U18
North Winner: Burnley U18
South Winner: Bristol City U18
U18 Professional Development League Cup
Winner: Peterborough United U18
U18 EFL Youth Alliance
National Winner: Bolton Wanderers U18
North Winner: Bolton Wanderers U18
South Winner: Luton Town U18
FA Youth Cup
Winner: Aston Villa U18
Premier League 2 (PL2)
Winner: Manchester City
Premier League 2 Player of the Season
Winner: Jahmai Simpson-Pausey (Manchester City)
U21 Premier League Cup
Winner: QPR
U21 Premier League International Cup
Winner: Nottingham Forest U21
U21 Professional Development League (PDL2)
National Winner: Brentford B
North Winner: Sheffield United U21
South Winner: AFC Bournemouth U21
U21 Professional Development League Cup
Winner:
National League Cup
Winner: Leeds United U21
Central League Cup
Winner: Mansfield Town Reserves
LFE Apprentice of the Season Award
Players who are either first or second-year scholars, or first-year professionals (if they began with an Apprenticeship contract and converted to a professional contract at age 17), are eligible for this award.
The judging criteria for the award consider the player’s record in all competitions since becoming an apprentice, as well as educational attainment, disciplinary record, and any other notable activities or outstanding achievements.
Chris Rigg of Sunderland received the Championship Apprentice of the Season award.
Exeter City’s Jake Richards was awarded the League One Apprentice of the Season.
Jack Shorrock of Port Vale was named the League Two Apprentice of the Season.
Premier League 2 Player of the Month 2024/25 Season
- Nathan Butler-Oyedeji (Forward) Arsenal (August)
- Farid Alfa-Ruprecht (Forward) Manchester City (September)
- Kiano Dyer (Midfielder) Chelsea (October)
- Callum Osmand (Forward) Fulham (November)
- Harry Howell (Midfielder) Brighton (December)
- Dom Ballard (Forward) Southampton (January)
- Divin Mubama (Forward) Manchester City (February)
- Emre Tezgel (Forward) Stoke City (March)
Click here for Academy Winners for the 2023-24 season
