The short answer
Nottingham Forest (Premier League) runs a Category 1 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 (no limit at Under-14 to Under-16 on the full-time model). From Under-17 there is no limit. The academy is based at Nigel Doughty Academy, Wilford, West Bridgford.
| League 2026/27 | Premier League |
| Academy | Category 1 |
| Academy age groups | Under-9 to Under-21 |
| Academy base | Nigel Doughty Academy, Wilford, West Bridgford |
How far Nottingham Forest can recruit from
Under Rule 262 of the Youth Development Rules, a Category 1 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 (no limit Under-14 to Under-16 on the full-time model) |
| 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 Nottingham Forest
When a player aged Under-9 to Under-16 leaves the Nottingham Forest academy for another club and compensation is due (for example, because Nottingham Forest wanted to keep the player), the new club pays a fixed training cost for each year the player was registered here, at the Category 1 rate (Rule 363).
For example, a player registered at Nottingham Forest from Under-9 to Under-14 would cost the new club £215,000 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Notts County | Category 3 | 2 miles |
| Derby County | Category 1 | 11 miles |
| Leicester City | Category 1 | 13 miles |
| Mansfield Town | Category 3 | 17 miles |
| Chesterfield | Category 4 | 24 miles |
| Burton Albion | Category 3 | 26 miles |
Frequently asked questions
What category is the Nottingham Forest academy?
Nottingham Forest runs a Category 1 academy in 2026/27, with academy squads at Under-9 to Under-21.
How far can Nottingham Forest 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, except Under-14 to Under-16 players on the full-time model, who have no limit. From Under-17 there is no limit.
Where does the Nottingham Forest academy train?
The Nottingham Forest academy is based at Nigel Doughty Academy, Wilford, West Bridgford.
Source: Derby County: Under-18s 2026/27 league fixtures revealed (U18 PL = 31 Category One academies; lists North group) (2026-08-11); Under-18 Premier League explained (Premier League) - 31 Category One academies; Bournemouth + Brentford added for 2026/27 (undated (accessed 2026-10-29)); Training Ground Guru: Nottingham Forest announce plans for Academy redevelopment (Cat 1 conditional licence 2021) (2021-12). Last checked 29 October 2026. Academy categories can change after an audit. If something here is out of date, email info@scout52.com.