The short answer
Preston North End (Championship) 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 Springfields Training Ground, Lea, Preston.
| League 2026/27 | Championship |
| Academy | Category 3 |
| Academy age groups | Under-9 to Under-21 |
| Academy base | Springfields Training Ground, Lea, Preston |
How far Preston North End 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 Preston North End
When a player aged Under-9 to Under-16 leaves the Preston North End academy for another club and compensation is due (for example, because Preston North End 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 Preston North End 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blackpool | Category 3 | 11 miles |
| Fleetwood Town | Category 2 | 13 miles |
| Blackburn Rovers | Category 1 | 13 miles |
| Wigan Athletic | Category 2 | 15 miles |
| Bolton Wanderers | Category 2 | 17 miles |
| Burnley | Category 1 | 20 miles |
Frequently asked questions
What category is the Preston North End academy?
Preston North End runs a Category 3 academy in 2026/27, with academy squads at Under-9 to Under-21.
How far can Preston North End 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 Preston North End academy train?
The Preston North End academy is based at Springfields Training Ground, Lea, Preston.
Source: Training Ground Guru: Preston appoint Welsh as U21s Lead as they bid for Category Two (2025-09-17); Training Ground Guru club profile: Preston North End (shows 2025/26 Academy Productivity Rankings) (accessed 2026-10-29); Wikipedia: 2026-27 Professional U18 Development League (U18 PL / PDL membership; 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.