The short answer
Fleetwood Town (League Two) runs a Category 2 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 Poolfoot Farm, Butts Road, Thornton-Cleveleys.
| League 2026/27 | League Two |
| Academy | Category 2 |
| Academy age groups | Under-9 to Under-21 |
| Academy base | Poolfoot Farm, Butts Road, Thornton-Cleveleys |
How far Fleetwood Town can recruit from
Under Rule 262 of the Youth Development Rules, a Category 2 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 Fleetwood Town
When a player aged Under-9 to Under-16 leaves the Fleetwood Town academy for another club and compensation is due (for example, because Fleetwood Town wanted to keep the player), the new club pays a fixed training cost for each year the player was registered here, at the Category 2 rate (Rule 363).
For example, a player registered at Fleetwood Town from Under-9 to Under-14 would cost the new club £146,250 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blackpool | Category 3 | 8 miles |
| Preston North End | Category 3 | 13 miles |
| Blackburn Rovers | Category 1 | 23 miles |
| Wigan Athletic | Category 2 | 26 miles |
| Liverpool | Category 1 | 28 miles |
| Bolton Wanderers | Category 2 | 29 miles |
Frequently asked questions
What category is the Fleetwood Town academy?
Fleetwood Town runs a Category 2 academy in 2026/27, with academy squads at Under-9 to Under-21.
How far can Fleetwood Town 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 Fleetwood Town academy train?
The Fleetwood Town academy is based at Poolfoot Farm, Butts Road, Thornton-Cleveleys.
Source: EFL iRecruit: Academy Manager, Fleetwood Town - 'Category Two Academy' at Poolfoot Farm (2026 (closing 2026-05-08)); Training Ground Guru club profile: Fleetwood Town (Academy Category: Two) (undated profile (cites 2025/26 Academy Productivity Rankings); accessed 2026-10-29); Bournemouth and Fleetwood promoted to Category Two (Training Ground Guru) (2021). Last checked 29 October 2026. Academy categories can change after an audit. If something here is out of date, email info@scout52.com.