The short answer
Wigan Athletic (League One) runs a Category 2 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 Christopher Park, Wigan.
| League 2026/27 | League One |
| Academy | Category 2 |
| Academy age groups | Under-9 to Under-21 |
| Academy base | Christopher Park, Wigan |
How far Wigan Athletic can recruit from
Under Rule 262 of the Youth Development Rules, a Category 2 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 Wigan Athletic
When a player aged Under-9 to Under-16 leaves the Wigan Athletic academy for another club and compensation is due (for example, because Wigan Athletic wanted to keep the player), the new club pays a fixed training cost for each year the player was registered here, at the Category 2 rate (Rule 363).
For example, a player registered at Wigan Athletic from Under-9 to Under-14 would cost the new club £146,250 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bolton Wanderers | Category 2 | 6 miles |
| Liverpool | Category 1 | 11 miles |
| Manchester United | Category 1 | 14 miles |
| Preston North End | Category 3 | 15 miles |
| Everton | Category 1 | 15 miles |
| Salford City | Category 3 | 17 miles |
Frequently asked questions
What category is the Wigan Athletic academy?
Wigan Athletic runs a Category 2 academy in 2026/27, with academy squads at Under-9 to Under-21.
How far can Wigan Athletic 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 Wigan Athletic academy train?
The Wigan Athletic academy is based at Christopher Park, Wigan.
Source: Training Ground Guru club profile: Wigan Athletic (undated; shows 2025/26 productivity rankings; accessed 2026-10-29); 2026–27 Professional U18 Development League (Wikipedia, lead only) (last edited 2026-10-28); TGG: Rioch pride as Wigan register biggest rise in Training Ground Guru Academy Rankings (Category Two academy) (2025-09). Last checked 29 October 2026. Academy categories can change after an audit. If something here is out of date, email info@scout52.com.