The short answer
Doncaster Rovers (League One) 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 Cantley Park, Doncaster.
| League 2026/27 | League One |
| Academy | Category 3 |
| Academy age groups | Under-9 to Under-21 |
| Academy base | Cantley Park, Doncaster |
How far Doncaster Rovers 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).
Scout52 Apps
Get the real journey time from a postcode
Scout52 Apps works out the drive time from a family's postcode to your training ground at real training times (weekday 5pm and 6pm, Saturday morning), with no traffic and by public transport. It also has an EPPP compensation calculator. £3.99 a month, unlimited.
Compensation if a player leaves Doncaster Rovers
When a player aged Under-9 to Under-16 leaves the Doncaster Rovers academy for another club and compensation is due (for example, because Doncaster Rovers 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 Doncaster Rovers 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.
Scout52 Apps
Need the compensation figure for a real player?
The EPPP compensation calculator in Scout52 Apps works out the training compensation year by year from the age groups and academy category, plus the appearance payments on top. Sign up for £3.99 a month or £36 a year.
Nearest other academies
Approximate straight-line distance between academy bases. Journey times by road will be longer.
| Club | Category | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Rotherham United | Category 3 | 15 miles |
| Barnsley | Category 2 | 16 miles |
| Sheffield United | Category 2 | 18 miles |
| Sheffield Wednesday | Category 2 | 19 miles |
| Chesterfield | Category 4 | 24 miles |
| Mansfield Town | Category 3 | 25 miles |
Frequently asked questions
What category is the Doncaster Rovers academy?
Doncaster Rovers runs a Category 3 academy in 2026/27, with academy squads at Under-9 to Under-21.
How far can Doncaster Rovers 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 Doncaster Rovers academy train?
The Doncaster Rovers academy is based at Cantley Park, Doncaster.
Source: Training Ground Guru club profile: Doncaster Rovers (undated; shows 2025/26 productivity rankings; accessed 2026-10-29); Doncaster Free Press: Gavin Baldwin gives update on Academy status ('best Cat 3 academy we can') (undated). Last checked 29 October 2026. Academy categories can change after an audit. If something here is out of date, email info@scout52.com.