ACADEMY ACHIEVES ELITE CATEGORY ONE STATUS

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Clarets hit highest level of youth development

2025-05-09T09:00:00.000Z

ACADEMY ACHIEVES ELITE CATEGORY ONE STATUS

Clarets hit highest level of youth development

2025-05-09T09:00:00.000Z

Clarets hit highest level of youth development

Burnley Football Club are proud to announce that our Academy has been awarded Category One status by the Professional Game Board, as part of the Premier League’s Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP).

This confirms the Clarets’ place at the highest level of youth development, which has been delivered via the tireless work of the entire Academy team.

The Professional Game Academy Audit Company (PGAAC) recognised Burnley’s youth players’ access to the very best environment for player development, including elite coaching, excellent performance support, high-quality facilities and strategically focussed development.

Furthermore, PGAAC noted the Academy’s collaborative working partnerships and highlighted that staff had demonstrated a genuine care for the development of our players.

Equally as important is the Academy’s implementation of key processes designed to support player welfare, including but not limited to player care, education and safeguarding.

PGAAC also noted that the Academy’s Senior Leadership Team placed extra emphasis on the above principles, which was key to the award of the Category One license.

Academy Manager Chris Casper believes this recognition proves the Club’s investment and commitment to providing an elite environment for young players.

He said: “This is an incredibly important moment for the football club and its Academy.

“To achieve category one status is testament to the hard work of our dedicated team of staff and players daily.

“I’ve been familiar with the Academy for many years now, being the parent of a player and subsequently taking on my current role in November.

“It’s been apparent throughout just how good the set-up here is, and I look forward to seeing our players and staff develop next season.

“My thanks go to the ownership group for their continued support; without their buy-in this wouldn’t have been possible.

“It’s important that we don’t rest on our laurels and think that the job is done, though. I’ve reiterated that point to our staff and players and, with the right mindset, this club can achieve great things.”

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It’s been a year of on-the-field success for various teams within the system, which starts at the U9s age group and goes right the way through to the U21s. The Club also operate a Pre-Academy for U8s.

Seven Academy players have featured in a first team matchday squad this season, with Will Hugill and Tommy McDermott making their Clarets debuts.

Additionally, Joe Bauress made two appearances in the Emirates FA Cup and assisted Lyle Foster in a 3-1 victory over Reading.

The U18s won the Professional Development League North section in impressive fashion, claiming 69 points from their 31 matches and leading the way in terms of goals scored and goals conceded.

The U21s finished 2nd in their league and qualified for the national play-offs, in addition to reaching the semi-finals of the Premier League Cup with a run that featured wins over Category One sides Sunderland and Chelsea.

Further down the pyramid, teams have been able to compete in various tournaments around the world and access a second-to-none life skills programme.

Chairman Alan Pace added: “I'm delighted the Club is back within the elite of youth football.

“Along with our senior men's team being promoted to the Premier League this is another big win for us. It's the culmination of a three-year process to improve all aspects of our Academy and I look forward to both the young players and the Club reaping the rewards.

“I must give the credit to Paul (Jenkins), Chris and all the Academy staff for their hard work and commitment to achieving this key goal."

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Director of Football Development, Paul Jenkins, continued: “Gaining the Academy’s Category 1 status has been our clear priority.

“We’re really pleased with the quality of our Academy system which has been recognised at the highest level, and congratulations must go to all the staff involved in this process.

“This season we’ve seen several U21s involved with the first team and, as I’ve said before, our ultimate aim is to develop players who can establish themselves at the highest level. We have also had a record number of academy players recognised at various international youth levels.

“As we move into next season, I’m confident we’ll adapt to the more advanced games programme and I look forward to watching our players and staff grow.”

As mentioned, another sign of the Academy’s success this season has been the number of players receiving international call-ups, with players like Kian McMahon-Brown and Troy Savage regularly featuring for Republic of Ireland U17s and Northern Ireland U17s respectively.

Earning Category One status means the Club’s Professional Development Phase teams will now compete against the country’s best youth academies in PL2 and the U18 Premier League respectively next season.

The benefits of this enhanced games programme are expected to be vast, in addition to a greater ability to recruit top talent from this country and beyond.

This news comes at an exciting time for the Academy, with Burnley hosting the fifth edition of the Dude Perfect International Youth Cup across the weekend of Friday 30th May.

Academies from across the world including Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund and Sevilla will take on the Clarets’ own in a showcase of elite youth football.