The Premier League have reassigned Reading Football Club’s Academy set-up as Category Two, following an assessment of the operation at Bearwood Park last season.
Academies are audited periodically and given a status of Category 1 to Category 4. The Royals – one of only a small number of non-Premier League clubs with Category One status last season – will compete against the likes of QPR, Swansea City, Sheffield United and Watford in the Professional Development League this season.
The change in status has transpired predominantly due to issues experienced during the complex transition of our entire Academy operation from Hogwood Park to the new Bearwood Park facility. Its relocation had to be implemented in staggered phases and then, mid-transition process, the move was dramatically impacted by the global pandemic; at a time when youth football was brought to a sudden halt, our Academy operation was naturally restricted and – as it shared facilities with the first team – a cautious and sensible return to full capacity had to be implemented.
Owner, Mr Dai, has committed to running our Academy operation to the very highest standard throughout the course of 2022-23 and, as a result, the education, welfare and coaching standards will not be affected.
The club’s high expectations of its Academy system will also not wane. We remain exceptionally proud of what our Academy has achieved in the past, what it will achieve this season and what it will achieve in the future. We will be reapplying for Category One status this year.
