The short answer
Stoke City (Championship) 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 Clayton Wood Training Ground, Trent Vale, Stoke-on-Trent.
| League 2026/27 | Championship |
| Academy | Category 1 |
| Academy age groups | Under-9 to Under-21 |
| Academy base | Clayton Wood Training Ground, Trent Vale, Stoke-on-Trent |
How far Stoke City 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).
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 Stoke City
When a player aged Under-9 to Under-16 leaves the Stoke City academy for another club and compensation is due (for example, because Stoke 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 1 rate (Rule 363).
For example, a player registered at Stoke City 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Port Vale | Category 3 | 5 miles |
| Crewe Alexandra | Category 3 | 15 miles |
| Burton Albion | Category 3 | 22 miles |
| Walsall | Category 3 | 26 miles |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | Category 1 | 27 miles |
| Stockport County | Category 3 | 29 miles |
Frequently asked questions
What category is the Stoke City academy?
Stoke City runs a Category 1 academy in 2026/27, with academy squads at Under-9 to Under-21.
How far can Stoke 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, 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 Stoke City academy train?
The Stoke City academy is based at Clayton Wood Training Ground, Trent Vale, Stoke-on-Trent.
Source: Training Ground Guru: Stoke City given green light for £12m training ground redevelopment (Category One Academy) (2024-06); Southampton: Premier League 2 fixtures released for Under-21s' 2026/27 season (2026-08-10); Training Ground Guru club profile: Stoke City (shows 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.