The short answer
Port Vale (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 Sproson Park, Hamil Road, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent.
| League 2026/27 | League Two |
| Academy | Category 3 |
| Academy age groups | Under-9 to Under-21 |
| Academy base | Sproson Park, Hamil Road, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent |
How far Port Vale 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 Port Vale
When a player aged Under-9 to Under-16 leaves the Port Vale academy for another club and compensation is due (for example, because Port Vale 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 Port Vale 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Stoke City | Category 1 | 5 miles |
| Crewe Alexandra | Category 3 | 14 miles |
| Burton Albion | Category 3 | 24 miles |
| Stockport County | Category 3 | 25 miles |
| Salford City | Category 3 | 26 miles |
| Rochdale | Category 3 | 28 miles |
Frequently asked questions
What category is the Port Vale academy?
Port Vale runs a Category 3 academy in 2026/27, with academy squads at Under-9 to Under-21.
How far can Port Vale 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 Port Vale academy train?
The Port Vale academy is based at Sproson Park, Hamil Road, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent.
Source: Training Ground Guru club profile: Port Vale (Academy Category: Three) (undated profile (cites 2025/26 Academy Productivity Rankings); accessed 2026-10-29); Academy productivity (club) - 'holds a Category 3 licence' (2019-07). Last checked 29 October 2026. Academy categories can change after an audit. If something here is out of date, email info@scout52.com.