The short answer
Shrewsbury Town (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 Croud Meadow, Oteley Road, Shrewsbury.
| League 2026/27 | League Two |
| Academy | Category 3 |
| Academy age groups | Under-9 to Under-21 |
| Academy base | Croud Meadow, Oteley Road, Shrewsbury |
How far Shrewsbury Town 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 Shrewsbury Town
When a player aged Under-9 to Under-16 leaves the Shrewsbury Town academy for another club and compensation is due (for example, because Shrewsbury 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 3 rate (Rule 363).
For example, a player registered at Shrewsbury Town 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | Category 1 | 25 miles |
| Wrexham | Category 3 | 27 miles |
| Crewe Alexandra | Category 3 | 29 miles |
| Stoke City | Category 1 | 30 miles |
| Walsall | Category 3 | 32 miles |
| Port Vale | Category 3 | 34 miles |
Frequently asked questions
What category is the Shrewsbury Town academy?
Shrewsbury Town runs a Category 3 academy in 2026/27, with academy squads at Under-9 to Under-21.
How far can Shrewsbury 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 Shrewsbury Town academy train?
The Shrewsbury Town academy is based at Croud Meadow, Oteley Road, Shrewsbury.
Source: Training Ground Guru club profile: Shrewsbury Town (Academy Category: Three) (undated profile (cites 2025/26 Academy Productivity Rankings); accessed 2026-10-29); EFL iRecruit: Part-Time YDP Coach, Shrewsbury Town - EPPP Category 3 (undated (c. 2024-25)). Last checked 29 October 2026. Academy categories can change after an audit. If something here is out of date, email info@scout52.com.