Brentford Pursues European Dream with Opening of Academy
Development centre will be for younger players
Younger players are being invited to trials at the club. Picture: Brentford FC
March 3, 2023
Brentford FC are to open a new Development Centre this month as the first stage in a plan to relaunch its Academy. The facility, which will be for players aged 9 to 16, forms an important part of the club’s push to participate in European competitions.
Having secured its place in the Premier League, the club is looking to compete against top sides from the continent. The Bees are currently 9th in the table with the top seven clubs likely to be playing in UEFA competitions next season.
There has been a change in Premier League rules which means that, by the start of the 2024/25 season, all Premier League clubs must have an Academy at Category Three level or higher. The opening of a Category Four Academy is a step towards eventually complying with the new regulations. It is also necessary to have an Academy in order to gain a licence to compete in UEFA competitions.
The new Development Centre will transition into an Academy from Spring 2024. The aim is to provide the foundations for an environment that will provide young players the opportunity to develop holistically, excel in elite football, and benefit from a range of educational opportunities.
The club had scrapped its academy in 2016 focusing on a highly successful strategy of identifying under-priced talent from lower leagues and overseas, but UEFA rules require teams entering its competitions to have a structure in place to develop younger players. The club’s director of football has also stated that Brexit has made it more difficult to recruit foreign players.
Brentford also formed an under-18 team earlier this season which entered the FA Youth Cup.
Trials for the Development Centre will be obtained through an invite-only process. Click here to register your interest in one of the trial sessions.
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