Hartlepool United are to restructure the Club’s Academy pathway, with player progression at the forefront of the decision-making process.
In the first phase of the restructuring, the Academy will be organised as U16s Academy, U18s Elite Team, U17s Youth Team and U19s Youth Team. This will enable a gradual progression for players whilst giving participants more exposure to a robust games programme to help aid individual development.
There will be the introduction of an U16s team where players will continue with their grassroots teams, while accessing training and/or games on a weekly basis with Pools Academy.
The U18s Elite Team will continue as usual, with training sessions scheduled to take place four times a week alongside weekly fixtures.
The U17s Youth Team will be built up of first years only, training full time, seven days a week with at least one fixture.
The U19s Youth Team will include second and third years, with training also full time, seven days a week with at least one fixture.
Academy Manager, Alex Cross, commented:
“We have been in a unique position for the past few months as an Academy which has enabled many opportunities to explore different potential avenues. This model will help create clarity. It gives us more contact time on the training pitch which will push players through the pathway and ensure they are exposed to consistent game time throughout their time with Hartlepool United Academy.
“Adding in an U16s will give the Club the chance to work with players earlier, resulting in a smoother transition into full-time football.
“The continuation of the U18s Elite Team gives players the opportunity to grow and develop with the aim of producing either first or second years that can progress into the two youth teams.
“Having an U17s Youth Team and U19s Youth Team creates a similar structure to a number of top level academies. This pathway will expose U17s to more game time at a young age, whilst having a progression route into the U19s for those players that strive during their first year. All U17s will then move together into the U19s, with a further step up in the games programme.
“The U19s Youth Team will be made up of mainly second years that have moved up from the U17s or U18s Elite Team, while being able to retain and recruit players for a third year.
“We believe that this is the best model for player development at the Club, with the ultimate goal of continuing to produce players for the first team and beyond.”
Head of Football Operations, Joe Monks, explained:
“It is a great achievement for the Academy to be expanding its reach within the community. When EFL Academy funding ends it often puts academy structures into a difficult situation. However, we have worked very hard within the Academy to enable us to not only keep it running, but to expand it and offer additional age groups.
“Alex and I have been spending a lot of time on the Academy restructure this season, enabling us to offer the best possible programme we can.
“We have seen great integration with the Academy and first team during the last two seasons. Last year, we saw debuts for Max Storey and Alfie Steel, while Louis Stephenson and Campbell Darcy made several appearances. This has been followed up with Kian Foreman making his debut in December and multiple other youth team players stepping up to involvement in first team squads and regular training sessions.
“Our focus is ensuring the pathway to our first team from the Academy remains strong and we believe this restructure with additional teams will enable us to recruit and develop the best young players in the area. This will help us create a conveyor belt of talent coming into the first team from the Academy.
“We expect to make more announcements in the coming weeks on further developments within our Academy.”
If you’re a current footballer in school year 10, 11 or 12 and are interested in joining Hartlepool United Academy, please complete our interest form by clicking here.
If you have any questions, please email academy@hartlepoolunited.co.uk.
