If the club is serious about becoming a sustainable top level club, I think one of the long term priorities should be working towards Category 1 academy status.
It would not be cheap, and it would not happen overnight, but if we want to operate with a Premier League mindset, the Academy has to become a much bigger part of the club’s long term strategy.
Why Category 1 matters
Category 1 is the highest academy status under the Premier League’s Elite Player Performance Plan. It gives clubs access to the strongest academy competitions, including Premier League 2 at Under 21 level and the Under 18 Premier League, as well as a better games programme from younger age groups upwards.
There is a significant difference between Category 2 and Category 1.
Category 2 is still a strong academy level, but it has lower staffing, facility and contact time requirements. It is more affordable, but the games programme, recruitment pull and overall development pathway are not at the same level as Category 1.
Category 1 is the elite level. It means better facilities, more full time specialist staff, stronger coaching, education, welfare, analysis, medical and sports science provision, and regular competition against the best academies in the country.
For the club, the benefits would be clear:
1. A better development pathway
Our best young players would be tested against stronger opposition more regularly, which should improve their development and make the step into first team football more realistic.
2. Attracting better young talent
If we want to compete with clubs like Brighton, Brentford, Palace, Forest and others for young players, then facilities, coaching, education, academy status and the quality of the games programme all matter.
3. Protecting and increasing player value
A strong academy can produce first team players or generate transfer income. One or two successful academy graduates could justify years of investment.
4. Long term squad building
If we want two quality players for every position, some of that depth has to come from within. We cannot keep buying every player.
5. Club identity
There is always something special about seeing academy players come through and play for the first team. It keeps a connection between the club, the city and the supporters.
The cost
The downside is obvious: Category 1 status is expensive.
Historic EPPP estimates put Category 1 at around £2.5m per year, with at least 18 full-time staff, while Category 2 was estimated at around £1m per year. In reality, a competitive Category 1 academy may cost more once you include coaching, recruitment, education, welfare, analysis, medical support, sports science, travel and facilities.
So, if the difference between Category 2 and Category 1 is roughly £1.5m to £2m+ per year, the question is whether the return justifies the investment.
For me, it does. In Premier League terms, that extra annual cost is relatively small compared with transfer fees and wages. If Category 1 status helps us produce one first team player every few years, or one player who can be sold for a significant fee, it could pay for itself. It would also help with recruitment, retention and the overall reputation of the club.
Where we would stand compared with other clubs
Most Premier League clubs either already have Category 1 academies or are moving in that direction. Bournemouth are the obvious Premier League club still working towards it, while Brentford have now been awarded Category 1 status from the start of the 2026/27 season.
There are also several clubs outside the current Premier League, or clubs who have recently been outside it, with Category 1 academies, including:
Blackburn
Birmingham
Derby
Leicester
Middlesbrough
Norwich
Reading
Southampton
Stoke
West Brom
That shows the level we would need to reach if we want the Academy to match the ambition of the first team.
For me, this should be part of Doug King’s long term plan: improve the first team, improve the training ground, upgrade the stadium, and push the Academy towards Category 1.
It may take years and it would need proper investment, but if we want to become a sustainable Premier League club, the Academy has to be part of the foundation.
What does everyone else think? Is Category 1 status worth the investment?
It would not be cheap, and it would not happen overnight, but if we want to operate with a Premier League mindset, the Academy has to become a much bigger part of the club’s long term strategy.
Why Category 1 matters
Category 1 is the highest academy status under the Premier League’s Elite Player Performance Plan. It gives clubs access to the strongest academy competitions, including Premier League 2 at Under 21 level and the Under 18 Premier League, as well as a better games programme from younger age groups upwards.
There is a significant difference between Category 2 and Category 1.
Category 2 is still a strong academy level, but it has lower staffing, facility and contact time requirements. It is more affordable, but the games programme, recruitment pull and overall development pathway are not at the same level as Category 1.
Category 1 is the elite level. It means better facilities, more full time specialist staff, stronger coaching, education, welfare, analysis, medical and sports science provision, and regular competition against the best academies in the country.
For the club, the benefits would be clear:
1. A better development pathway
Our best young players would be tested against stronger opposition more regularly, which should improve their development and make the step into first team football more realistic.
2. Attracting better young talent
If we want to compete with clubs like Brighton, Brentford, Palace, Forest and others for young players, then facilities, coaching, education, academy status and the quality of the games programme all matter.
3. Protecting and increasing player value
A strong academy can produce first team players or generate transfer income. One or two successful academy graduates could justify years of investment.
4. Long term squad building
If we want two quality players for every position, some of that depth has to come from within. We cannot keep buying every player.
5. Club identity
There is always something special about seeing academy players come through and play for the first team. It keeps a connection between the club, the city and the supporters.
The cost
The downside is obvious: Category 1 status is expensive.
Historic EPPP estimates put Category 1 at around £2.5m per year, with at least 18 full-time staff, while Category 2 was estimated at around £1m per year. In reality, a competitive Category 1 academy may cost more once you include coaching, recruitment, education, welfare, analysis, medical support, sports science, travel and facilities.
So, if the difference between Category 2 and Category 1 is roughly £1.5m to £2m+ per year, the question is whether the return justifies the investment.
For me, it does. In Premier League terms, that extra annual cost is relatively small compared with transfer fees and wages. If Category 1 status helps us produce one first team player every few years, or one player who can be sold for a significant fee, it could pay for itself. It would also help with recruitment, retention and the overall reputation of the club.
Where we would stand compared with other clubs
Most Premier League clubs either already have Category 1 academies or are moving in that direction. Bournemouth are the obvious Premier League club still working towards it, while Brentford have now been awarded Category 1 status from the start of the 2026/27 season.
There are also several clubs outside the current Premier League, or clubs who have recently been outside it, with Category 1 academies, including:
Blackburn
Birmingham
Derby
Leicester
Middlesbrough
Norwich
Reading
Southampton
Stoke
West Brom
That shows the level we would need to reach if we want the Academy to match the ambition of the first team.
For me, this should be part of Doug King’s long term plan: improve the first team, improve the training ground, upgrade the stadium, and push the Academy towards Category 1.
It may take years and it would need proper investment, but if we want to become a sustainable Premier League club, the Academy has to be part of the foundation.
What does everyone else think? Is Category 1 status worth the investment?
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