Academy Awarded Category One Status (merged)

[Mackenzie]

Fortunate suggests it was a random occurrence; I'm sure there has been a great amount of hard work, by a large number of people, to achieve the rating.

Of course, what IS fortunate is that we have a very rich chairman who is a genuine fan of the club and who has a long-term vision of owning a financially self-sustaining club.

We are fortunate to have TB, and fortunate to be a category 1 academy thanks to the hard work put into the scheme by everyone at the club.

 

[The Hon Sec]

There are a number of lower league clubs who have abandoned their academy setups. Haven't Crawley ? It becomes much less attractive when Cat one clubs can give you a couple of days notice that they are going to be popping in to have a look, like one of the players and sign him on for a few thousand. Cat one academies are not protected from this but the sliding scales involved make the compensation much larger.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

Sad times.

We are now part of everything I despise in football.

What is the alternative, give up on youth development completely?

 

[red star portslade]

What is the alternative, give up on youth development completely?

No. Just the clubs that can't afford It.

 

[SeagullinExile]

I'm pretty sure we get more funding, but it actually costs more money because we have to employ a number of extra staff/coaches as a requirement for cat. 1, so it does end up costing more... But it doesn't count towards FFP so as long as TB is willing to fund it then it shouldn't matter too much.

That makes sense.

 

[SeagullinExile]

The academy pathway is fully open. We might well see Walton playing a lot of games in the Championship. How do people feel about that? I'll say **** it - let's see what the England u19 keeper can do in the fierce heat of the most competitive league in the world. If he swims then he could be our next big pay cheque.

Or, he could be the star player in a back five that takes the division by storm?

Not likely, but you never know!

 

[Barrel of Fun]

We can now steal players for a fraction of their potential worth! Great for us, not so much for the others or football in general.

 

[Sheebo]

Don't think so , we need to be cherry picking from these types of club as the compo they get is virtually nothing.

Correct - we've got to now use the smaller clubs to our advantage as others have done to us over the years. Nice that the FA etc have recognised the sleeping giant of BHA though. A cat A academy is one of the things that suggest what size the club is. Massive for us.

 

[Dougie]

Correct - we've got to now use the smaller clubs to our advantage as others have done to us over the years. Nice that the FA etc have recognised the sleeping giant of BHA though. A cat A academy is one of the things that suggest what size the club is. Massive for us.

On first reading I thought it was tounge in cheek but then I noticed who posted it

 

[supaseagull]

On first reading I thought it was tounge in cheek but then I noticed who posted it

Talking of training grounds- how is your new one coming along?

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

This is excellent.

The final missing piece for us now is Premier League status, and without doubt that will come at some point.

What is very important with this grading is the standard of the opposition the trainees will play, and also being able to sell the club to parents as Category 1.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Talking of training grounds- how is your new one coming along?

Nicely leveled, just got to put down the grass seed now

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

Nicely leveled, just got to put down the grass seed now

View attachment 56701

I think [MENTION=1877]supaseagull[/MENTION] was talking about the yet UNBUILT Palace training ground not Selhurst

 

[WATFORD zero]

I think [MENTION=1877]supaseagull[/MENTION] was talking about the yet UNBUILT Palace training ground not Selhurst

Yes, but they've seen what we've done and want the training pitch identical to Selhurst

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

What is the alternative, give up on youth development completely?

The system doesn't become fair just because we have a wealthy enough owner to get on the right side of it. The Elite Performance Plan is just another scheme to make sure the rich get richer at the expense of the poor, however they like to dress it up. It's just lucky for us that we're now one of the rich.

 

[Goldstone1976]

The system doesn't become fair just because we have a wealthy enough owner to get on the right side of it. The Elite Performance Plan is just another scheme to make sure the rich get richer at the expense of the poor, however they like to dress it up. It's just lucky for us that we're now one of the rich.

Exactly. I am so conflicted by this state of affairs. I deplore the system, believing it will inevitably eventually lead to the destruction of the lower league clubs, which we have so recently been a part of ourselves. On the other hand, I'm hugely excited about the mid-term future that the Albion now has, all as a result of a well-intentioned Chairman who is a fan pouring money into the club I love.

 

[Mowgli37]

Brilliant news

 

[Gertrude]

I for one am happy. Means I should be able to see the Toon u21 in Lancing (hopefully)

 

[KZNSeagull]

Whilst not a great system, we are now one of the major players in it. Well done to all at the club who have achieved this. Long term ambition for the club - is this still in question for some?

 

[Sheebo]

On first reading I thought it was tounge in cheek but then I noticed who posted it

Half an half but got the nibble I was after. Now do excuse me but I believe this is a thread about cat1 clubs - bye bye now