The short answer
Salford City (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 Mersey Valley Sports Club, Banky Lane, Sale.
| League 2026/27 | League Two |
| Academy | Category 3 |
| Academy age groups | Under-9 to Under-21 |
| Academy base | Mersey Valley Sports Club, Banky Lane, Sale |
How far Salford City 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).
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Compensation if a player leaves Salford City
When a player aged Under-9 to Under-16 leaves the Salford City academy for another club and compensation is due (for example, because Salford City 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 Salford City 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.
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Nearest other academies
Approximate straight-line distance between academy bases. Journey times by road will be longer.
| Club | Category | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester United | Category 1 | 4 miles |
| Rochdale | Category 3 | 4 miles |
| Manchester City | Category 1 | 7 miles |
| Stockport County | Category 3 | 7 miles |
| Oldham Athletic | Category 3 | 10 miles |
| Bolton Wanderers | Category 2 | 13 miles |
Frequently asked questions
What category is the Salford City academy?
Salford City runs a Category 3 academy in 2026/27, with academy squads at Under-9 to Under-21.
How far can Salford City 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 Salford City academy train?
The Salford City academy is based at Mersey Valley Sports Club, Banky Lane, Sale.
Source: Russell returns to Salford City as Academy Manager (Training Ground Guru) - upgraded summer 2023 (2024-12-18); EFL iRecruit: Academy Manager, Salford City - 'our Category 3 Academy' U9-U18 (2024-10-27); Training Ground Guru club profile: Salford City (Academy Category: Three) (undated profile (cites 2025/26 Academy Productivity Rankings); accessed 2026-10-29). Last checked 29 October 2026. Academy categories can change after an audit. If something here is out of date, email info@scout52.com.