READING FC has confirmed that their academy has been awarded Category One status just one year after being demoted to Category Two.
The club has a proud history of producing talent through its academy system which was led by club legend Eamonn Dolan.
The club had Category One status for close to a decade and after falling down a tier last year, they have managed to regain Category One at the first attempt.
Reading’s academy is currently led by three club legends and former players.
Michael Gilkes is the academy manager, while Noel Hunt is Under 23’s manager and Mikele Leigertwood is Under 18’s boss.
Regaining of Category One means that the club will play in Premier League Two and will face the best academies in the country, including Premier League opposition.
Academy Manager Michael Gilkes said: “Within our Academy are a totally devoted team who rightly take immense pride in developing young footballers, both as people and as players.
“And on behalf of everyone involved in Reading Football Club and its Academy, I’d like to sincerely thank and congratulate every single person who has helped the Royals to regain this prestigious status. Now, we can all truly look to the future.”
Head of Football Operations, Mark Bowen, added: “The greatest compliment I can pay to the outstanding staff who help our esteemed Academy tick every day is that the young players who have returned for pre-season training at Bearwood Park in recent weeks won’t have noticed any difference to previous seasons.
“We have continued to operate our Academy at the very highest standards and those levels have rightly been recognised as elite within the realms of youth player development in this country.
“I am delighted for our young players, I am thrilled for our talented staff and I am excited for Reading Football Club and its future.”
