Written by
Training Ground Guru
May 9, 2025
Burnley have been promoted back to Category One Academy status after a three-year hiatus.
The Clarets were demoted to Category Two at the end of 2021/22 after failing their audit. They had announced an intention to immediately return to the top tier, but then subsequently withdrew their application to do so.
Under their previous ownership, the club had risen from Category Three to One within the space of just three years, which had never been done before.
Now, following an audit by the Professional Game Academy Audit Company (PGAAC), the Clarets have been promoted back to the top tier with a provisional one-year licence, joining the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham.
Academy Manager Chris Casper, who joined from Salford City in November 2024, said: “This is an incredibly important moment for the football club and its Academy. To achieve Category One status is testament to the hard work of our dedicated team of staff and players daily.
“I’ve been familiar with the Academy for many years now, being the parent of a player and subsequently taking on my current role in November. It’s been apparent throughout just how good the set-up here is, and I look forward to seeing our players and staff develop next season. My thanks go to the ownership group for their continued support; without their buy-in this wouldn’t have been possible.
“It’s important that we don’t rest on our laurels and think that the job is done, though. I’ve reiterated that point to our staff and players and, with the right mindset, this club can achieve great things.”
Chairman Alan Pace added: “I’m delighted the club is back within the elite of youth football. Along with our senior men’s team being promoted to the Premier League this is another big win for us. It’s the culmination of a three-year process to improve all aspects of our Academy and I look forward to both the young players and the Club reaping the rewards.
“I must give the credit to Paul (Jenkins, Director of Football Development), Chris and all the Academy staff for their hard work and commitment to achieving this key goal.”
Earning Category One status means the club’s Professional Development Phase teams will now compete against the country’s best youth Academies in Premier League 2 and the Under-18 Premier League next season.
The Clarets will also have a greater ability to recruit top talent from this country and beyond.
Their U18s won the Professional Development League North section this season, while the U21s finished second in their league and qualified for the national play-offs, in addition to reaching the semi-finals of the Premier League Cup.
Burnley placed 54th out of 86 clubs in the latest edition of TGG’s Academy Productivity Rankings.
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