The short answer
Crewe Alexandra (League Two) runs a Category 3 academy with squads from Under-9. It can register Under-9 to Under-11 players who live within 1 hour of the academy and Under-12 to Under-16 players within 1½ hours. From Under-17 there is no limit. The academy is based at Reaseheath Training Complex, Wettenhall Road, Nantwich.
| League 2026/27 | League Two |
| Academy | Category 3 |
| Academy age groups | Under-9 to Under-21 |
| Academy base | Reaseheath Training Complex, Wettenhall Road, Nantwich |
How far Crewe Alexandra can recruit from
Under Rule 262 of the Youth Development Rules, a Category 3 academy can only register players who live within these travel times of its main training venue:
| Age group | Travel limit |
|---|---|
| Under-9 to Under-11 | 1 hour |
| Under-12 to Under-16 | 1½ hours |
| Under-17 to Under-21 | No limit |
Trials have their own limits: 1 hour at Under-9 to Under-11, 1½ hours at Under-12 and Under-13, and no limit from Under-14 to Under-16 (Rule 270).
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Compensation if a player leaves Crewe Alexandra
When a player aged Under-9 to Under-16 leaves the Crewe Alexandra academy for another club and compensation is due (for example, because Crewe Alexandra wanted to keep the player), the new club pays a fixed training cost for each year the player was registered here, at the Category 3 rate (Rule 363).
For example, a player registered at Crewe Alexandra from Under-9 to Under-14 would cost the new club £82,500 in training costs, before any appearance payments. Read how it works in our EPPP compensation guide.
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Nearest other academies
Approximate straight-line distance between academy bases. Journey times by road will be longer.
| Club | Category | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Port Vale | Category 3 | 14 miles |
| Stoke City | Category 1 | 15 miles |
| Wrexham | Category 3 | 20 miles |
| Everton | Category 1 | 23 miles |
| Manchester United | Category 1 | 25 miles |
| Salford City | Category 3 | 25 miles |
Frequently asked questions
What category is the Crewe Alexandra academy?
Crewe Alexandra runs a Category 3 academy in 2026/27, with academy squads at Under-9 to Under-21.
How far can Crewe Alexandra recruit academy players from?
Under-9 to Under-11 players must live within 1 hour of the academy and Under-12 to Under-16 players within 1 and a half hours. From Under-17 there is no limit.
Where does the Crewe Alexandra academy train?
The Crewe Alexandra academy is based at Reaseheath Training Complex, Wettenhall Road, Nantwich.
Source: Crewe to downgrade fabled Academy to Category Three (Training Ground Guru) (2026-04-08); Crewe Alex set to downgrade academy status in restructure (Crewe Nub News) (2026-04); 2026-27 Professional U18 Development League (Wikipedia, lead only) (last edited 2026-10-28). Last checked 29 October 2026. Academy categories can change after an audit. If something here is out of date, email info@scout52.com.