S-Clarke Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 We've got it..... http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2862706,00.html Saints are delighted to announce that its Academy has been awarded Category One status as part of the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP). The EPPP is a Premier League initiative backed by the Football League and the FA with the aim of rejuvenating youth football in this country. Saints are undoubtedly leading the way with English player development and are committed to revolutionising the way that players are produced from within the Academy, by producing a pathway into the first team. Several factors were taken into account when finalising the categories applied for by clubs across the country, including: the number of players going on to play at first team level, the quality of facilities, the quality of coaching and education, as well as welfare provisions. Ahead of the 2012-13 season Saints have already revealed that James Ward-Prowse, Jack Stephens, Luke Shaw, and Calum Chambers will all be included in the first team selection at Premier League level, with the quartet of youngsters having made their way through the development pathway already firmly in place at the Academy. The standards of coaching set within the Football Development Support Centre (FDSC) at Staplewood are being applied at national level too. Saints will be one of three clubs in Europe used to demonstrate the techniques put into practice at the club's training ground, with these set to be implemented at the new National Football Centre in Burton. As part of the classification, there will also be a new Under-21 league introduced to provide a competitive element within the new categories. This will be mirrored at Under-18 and Under-16 level with opponents falling into line across all three age groups over the course of each weekend. The plans may appear as a radical shake up of youth development football, but the long established programmes already put into practice at Staplewood mean that Saints are already more than equipped to comply with the new format. FDSC Director Les Reed commented: "We are very proud of our history in developing top players and discovering young talent. The achievement of Category One status, however, is the result of over two years of hard work and substantial investment driven by our Chairman - Nicola Cortese in the pursuit of building the country's number one Academy, and developing the 'Southampton Way' philosophy of building a Premier League squad of the future upon the foundation of a core of graduates from within. "The audit process and the feedback we have received clearly indicates we are at the top of this list of Category One Academies, and the promotion of four of our Academy products into the current first team squad bears testimony to this success. "We have an excellent team of staff led by Academy Manager Matt Crocker and first class coaches guided by Under-21 Coach Martin Hunter, including: Jason Dodd, Paul Williams and Graeme Murty who are all firmly embedded in 'The Southampton Way'. But, this has been a team effort and there are many unsung heroes; too many to mention who also deserve credit. We look forward to competing in the Barclays Premier Development League and also in Europe at this level in the near future." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 We're category one, we're catogory onnnneee... We are Southampton, we're category one... Best thing is though, competitive league football for the young age groups, that'll be vital. Inclusion of 'over-age' squad fringe players will probably no longer be an option, not that the 'development squad' needs to be disbanded mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 Nice one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingwing Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 Quality! Nice to see Murty is still about too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tokyo-Saint Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 Good news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Charlie Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 Very important for the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 27 July, 2012 Author Share Posted 27 July, 2012 It's all very exciting, should allow us to keep growing now we're in the PL. (p.s - can a mod please edit the title as I've made a right mess of it) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 Without overhyping it, this line is quite encouraging about what we're doing and how we're doing it: The standards of coaching set within the Football Development Support Centre (FDSC) at Staplewood are being applied at national level too. Saints will be one of three clubs in Europe used to demonstrate the techniques put into practice at the club's training ground, with these set to be implemented at the new National Football Centre in Burton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Diamond Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 Cat One and Top Dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasoneuelllfanclub Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 Interesting that Reed states we came out on top in both the audit process and based on feedback. I wonder if that is official or just his opinion because to be classed as the best ahead of the likes of Man City considering the amount they have also invested in their academy speaks volumes for Saints and the "Southampton Way". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Le God Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 The following should be confirmed next week for the 2012/13 season. For 2013/14 the number of teams may be reduced as only half of those clubs that applied for category 1 have had their audit so far, but whilst we wait for that all teams that applied for cat 1 will be put in the cat 1 league for 2012/13... • At both under-21 and under-18 level there will be three groups: two groups of eight teams (National Groups 1 and 2) and one group of seven teams (National Group 3). These will not be regionalised. Clubs play each other home and away. At under-21 level teams will be allowed to play up to three over-age outfield players plus an over-age goalkeeper • At the end of the first group stage, the top three teams in National Groups 1 and 2 and the top two from National Group 3 will proceed to the Elite Group stage. The remaining teams will be in Qualification Groups 1 and 2, depending on where they finished. The idea is that the best players and teams will be playing against each other in the Elite Group, competing for three of the five places in the knockout stage. The clubs in the second and third tiers will also still have the opportunity to reach the knockout stage • In the knockout stage, the teams finishing top of the two Qualification Groups will play each other to decide who makes the semi-final against the winner of the Elite Group Stage. The teams finishing second and third in the Elite Group Stage play in the other semi-final. The winners contest the final for the right to be crowned Barclays Under-21 and Under-18 Premier League champions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verbal Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 So this presumably means the end of the reserve team structure in the Prem (which was dying anyway), and gives our academy players the chance to play more competitive games (with over-age players) more regularly. Cant be bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasoneuelllfanclub Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 The following should be confirmed next week for the 2012/13 season. For 2013/14 the number of teams may be reduced as only half of those clubs that applied for category 1 have had their audit so far, but whilst we wait for that all teams that applied for cat 1 will be put in the cat 1 league for 2012/13... • At both under-21 and under-18 level there will be three groups: two groups of eight teams (National Groups 1 and 2) and one group of seven teams (National Group 3). These will not be regionalised. Clubs play each other home and away. At under-21 level teams will be allowed to play up to three over-age outfield players plus an over-age goalkeeper • At the end of the first group stage, the top three teams in National Groups 1 and 2 and the top two from National Group 3 will proceed to the Elite Group stage. The remaining teams will be in Qualification Groups 1 and 2, depending on where they finished. The idea is that the best players and teams will be playing against each other in the Elite Group, competing for three of the five places in the knockout stage. The clubs in the second and third tiers will also still have the opportunity to reach the knockout stage • In the knockout stage, the teams finishing top of the two Qualification Groups will play each other to decide who makes the semi-final against the winner of the Elite Group Stage. The teams finishing second and third in the Elite Group Stage play in the other semi-final. The winners contest the final for the right to be crowned Barclays Under-21 and Under-18 Premier League champions. Nice simple format then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dig Dig Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 Without overhyping it, this line is quite encouraging about what we're doing and how we're doing it: I wonder who the other 2 clubs in Europe are? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 The following should be confirmed next week for the 2012/13 season. For 2013/14 the number of teams may be reduced as only half of those clubs that applied for category 1 have had their audit so far, but whilst we wait for that all teams that applied for cat 1 will be put in the cat 1 league for 2012/13... • At both under-21 and under-18 level there will be three groups: two groups of eight teams (National Groups 1 and 2) and one group of seven teams (National Group 3). These will not be regionalised. Clubs play each other home and away. At under-21 level teams will be allowed to play up to three over-age outfield players plus an over-age goalkeeper • At the end of the first group stage, the top three teams in National Groups 1 and 2 and the top two from National Group 3 will proceed to the Elite Group stage. The remaining teams will be in Qualification Groups 1 and 2, depending on where they finished. The idea is that the best players and teams will be playing against each other in the Elite Group, competing for three of the five places in the knockout stage. The clubs in the second and third tiers will also still have the opportunity to reach the knockout stage • In the knockout stage, the teams finishing top of the two Qualification Groups will play each other to decide who makes the semi-final against the winner of the Elite Group Stage. The teams finishing second and third in the Elite Group Stage play in the other semi-final. The winners contest the final for the right to be crowned Barclays Under-21 and Under-18 Premier League champions. Is it only teams with Cat 1 status that qualify for this tournement? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verbal Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 Is it only teams with Cat 1 status that qualify for this tournement? Evidently, yes. Three prem teams are excluded, but six Championship clubs are in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSAINT Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 So does this mean we can start to pay minimum compensation for the countries best nippers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Le God Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 Is it only teams with Cat 1 status that qualify for this tournement? For 2012/13 it is only for teams that applied for category 1. Only half of them have been audited so far, it is likely not all those that applied will get category 1 status and those that don't will be removed for 2013/14 once all the auditing has been done. In future years I believe the plan is to make a youth version of the Champions League using the top teams from these leagues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 For 2012/13 it is only for teams that applied for category 1. Only half of them have been audited so far, not all those that applied will get category 1 status and will be removed for 2013/14 once all the auditing has been done. In future years I believe the plan is to make a youth version of the Champions League using the top teams from these leagues. Good idea and very good news then. Also impressed by this bit... The standards of coaching set within the Football Development Support Centre (FDSC) at Staplewood are being applied at national level too. Saints will be one of three clubs in Europe used to demonstrate the techniques put into practice at the club's training ground, with these set to be implemented at the new National Football Centre in Burton. As others have mentioned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Le God Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 I wonder who the other 2 clubs in Europe are? I'd guess.. Ajax and Barcelona Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Charlie Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 I'd guess.. Ajax and Barcelona Think you will find its Barcelona and somewhat suprisingly, FC Metalist Kharkhiv from Russia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubleonothing Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 Great news. Nice to be thought of as "leaders" in our field! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Le God Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 (edited) Think you will find its Barcelona and somewhat suprisingly, FC Metalist Kharkhiv from Russia. hmmm... Edited 27 July, 2012 by Matthew Le God Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dig Dig Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 I'd guess.. Ajax and Barcelona I've checked with a couple of contacts. It's Wigan and Stoke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tokyo-Saint Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 For 2012/13 it is only for teams that applied for category 1. Only half of them have been audited so far, it is likely not all those that applied will get category 1 status and those that don't will be removed for 2013/14 once all the auditing has been done. In future years I believe the plan is to make a youth version of the Champions League using the top teams from these leagues. I wonder what would happen if a youth team had a Rooney or Walcott type player and got to the final, just as the first team coach calls them into the match squad. You would think that the first team would always take precedent, if the manager called up a player but... If it the first team was mid table, going nowhere and the youth team where pushing for the champions league, I wonder if the kudos of winning the youth trophy at European level, the added reputation for the academy etc would ever cause a chairman to say "keep him with the kids for now". It would never happen with an old school chairman but with a chairman that puts a huge emphasis on the academy and its reputation, it just might. (prepares for the barrage) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Charlie Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 I've checked with a couple of contacts. It's Wigan and Stoke See my post above, Barca and Metalist. Bayern also likely to provide input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 No no, it's definitely Wigan and Stoke, I'm ITK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Charlie Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 No no, it's definitely Wigan and Stoke, I'm ITK. More of a WUM I reckon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxstone Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 Outstanding achievement and something to be rightly proud of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 More of a WUM I reckon. No no, it's definitely Wigan and Stoke, I'm ITK. I've checked with a couple of contacts. It's Wigan and Stoke Can you stop the trolling please. This is a serious thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 More of a WUM I reckon. Oh come on, Dig Dig was clearly mucking about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 Can you stop the trolling please. This is a serious thread. My irony detector just exploded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 Does anyone know if is this based on the facilities we currently have or what they will be like once Staplewood is finished? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 My irony detector just exploded. I make no apology for taking on board what people have said about sarcastic comments and p*ss taking and am stopping doing this on this board from now on. I expect everyone else to as well. Just accept what we are told and celebrate it. That is all.Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 Oh come on, Dig Dig was clearly mucking about. There is no place for that on here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 Does anyone know if is this based on the facilities we currently have or what they will be like once Staplewood is finished? That's actually a good question... surely it must be based on what we are currently able to deliver, how we currently train players, otherwise it becomes far too subjective? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verbal Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 My irony detector just exploded. Don't worry. He's a category 2 poster and not allowed to compete with the elite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackanorySFC Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 Does anyone know if is this based on the facilities we currently have or what they will be like once Staplewood is finished? If we've been audited I'd assume it's down to our current facilities? Maybe a tick in the box next to Future investment plans or sommit. Good news on the decision, the really exciting stuff is in the (amittedly anecdotal) feedback it seems! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verbal Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 If we've been audited I'd assume it's down to our current facilities? Maybe a tick in the box next to Future investment plans or sommit. Good news on the decision, the really exciting stuff is in the (amittedly anecdotal) feedback it seems! Our current facilities are holes in the ground. I'd have thought the audit took soon-to-be facilities into account. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 Our current facilities are holes in the ground. I'd have thought the audit took soon-to-be facilities into account. Surely the audit would have taken place some time ago before the flattening took place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paris Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 #Good #Good !!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verbal Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 Surely the audit would have taken place some time ago before the flattening took place. Possibly. But I'd assume audits would take into account immediate and future plans, otherwise it would all be a bit self-defeating - since the object of all this is to create a long-term structure for player development. Having said that, QPR have not got Cat1, so maybe you need existing stuff plus concrete plans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Charlie Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 Stoke granted Cat 1 too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 Stoke granted Cat 1 too. Aha! Maybe the jokes on me then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crab Lungs Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 Don't tell West ham, the self professed academy of football.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
up and away Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 Does anyone know if is this based on the facilities we currently have or what they will be like once Staplewood is finished? By definition an audit will be based upon actual rather than proposed. As they have just completed and "ticked off" the audit, we must be talking about something relatively new, within the last month or less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dig Dig Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 More of a WUM I reckon. Defamation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Le God Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 You needed to get 75% or more of the specification to get category 1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tokyo-Saint Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 You needed to get 75% or more of the specification to get category 1. Any idea what % we got (or the others)?* *saintsfanCam and SB, this is a serious question as part of a discussion. I am not prying MLG for info hoping he will make a mistake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Garrett Posted 27 July, 2012 Share Posted 27 July, 2012 What other clubs have been awarded Cat 1 then so far ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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