Wrexham AFC granted EFL Category 3 Academy Licence

Wrexham AFC say they are “proud” to announce, following the completion of the Club’s Academy Full Audit Assessment, they are able to confirm their status as an EFL Category 3 Academy from the 2024/25 season.

The club say there was “a successful PGAAC audit”, adding that “…the announcement of a multi-million pound investment in the academy training facility to be built in partnership with Darland High School, we have received confirmation that we have been granted the provisional Category 3 licence in line with our ambitions.”

On the news, Academy Manager Andy Lowe said: “I am absolutely delighted and extremely proud to confirm we have been awarded a license to operate as an EFL Category 3 Academy.

“This is an extremely proud moment for the club and all staff who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to achieve this outcome and I would personally like to thank each staff member for their efforts. I’d also like to thank all the players, families and parents for their patience and support.

“A monumental amount of hard work goes into setting up a new academy and this is an extremely exciting project for the football club and young people in the Wrexham, North Wales, and surrounding areas.

“We are ambitious and want to be the best academy for producing young players for the first team and beyond; while this does not happen overnight and is indeed a long-term project, we do not shy away from those long-term aims and objectives which this new license status allows us to do.

“This is also an exciting time for the players and parents who will become official registered academy players in the Under-9 to Under-16 age groups and join a professional football club academy.”

Following promotion to the EFL in 2023, the Football Club outlined its ambitions to introduce a new EFL-licensed academy at Category 4 under the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP), with the ambition of achieving Category 3 for 2024/25.

The higher-tier licence allows for the introduction of the Under-9 to Under-16 age groups as part of the Academy, where Category 4 only allows the higher ages.

Lowe explained: “Central to this strategy was the necessity to develop a sustainable, impactful academy infrastructure with the long-term future in mind to develop the Wrexham AFC players of the future.

“The creation of the academy performance plan and addition of a new full-time staffing structure to support the development of an environment, are the foundations we are laying to have a successful academy for years to come and add to the proud history Wrexham has in developing ‘home-grown players.”

Wrexham AFC CEO Michael Williamson said: “We are delighted to have been granted a Category 3 Academy Licence for the 2024/25 season, which is integral to our ambitions moving forward.

“Congratulations go to all involved in helping to set up the EFL-licensed academy, allowing us to realise these ambitions as we look to continue to nurture young talent from across North Wales.

“Alongside developing players for the first team, a successful academy can help to develop individuals both on and off the pitch, and the Category 3 Licence opens up this opportunity as we can plan the pathway to the future for all of our young footballers, from Under-9 age onwards.

“I would also say thank you to the parents and families for their patience and support during this process.

“The co-chairmen have outlined their ambition to create a sustainable Football Club, and the investment in the academy training facilities along with the Category 3 achievement is certainly a key milestone towards that objective.”