Academy Awarded

Following an independent audit Barnsley`s academy have been awarded category two status under the Elite Player Performance Plan implemented by the Premier League.

Categories range from one to four with assessment on different areas such as; player progression and development, coaching, leadership and management, games programme, recruitment, sports science and medicine.

Category two status ensures Academy funding for the next three years.

Category one is hard to get and for the really elite and Barnsley would need more staff and facilities to be able to apply for this level.

This is a great achievement for Barnsley which has been helped with academy graduates John Stones and Jacob Butterfield now playing in the Premier League.

The breakthrough in to the first team of Danny Rose, Paul Digby, Reuben Noble-Lazarus and Jordan Clark has also helped with the reds being able to achieve this status.

Keep up the good work Barnsley. I think this is the only area of the club the fans don`t moan about. I`m sure someone will prove me wrong, Tony are you out there?