Cat 1 and Cat 2 clubs are processing hundreds of boys in a single age group. Cat 1 clubs will have development centres around the country and the world selecting children, training them, and each year eliminating dozens/hundreds of children from the development / academy programme.
At the other end of the spectrum are the Cat 3 and 4s academies. Expect to see them using shared community facilities, have fewer coaches but partnerships with schools, universities and other third parties as they work collaboratively together to deliver a football learning environment.
You will see fewer children which means less competition, and another positive is you and your child might develop a working relationship with the staff and club.
This is not always the case with Cat 1 clubs where parents sometimes complain about the very direct, impersonal forms of communication and aloof staff.
The Category One Academies are: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Blackburn, Burnley, Brighton, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Derby County, Everton, Fulham, Leeds United, Leicester City, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Manchester City, Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Norwich City, Nottingham Forest, Reading, Southampton
Looks like it costs around £2 -£3 million a year to maintain a Cat 1 academy.
(yes, that is a half full glass).
