The Academy

Previously recognised as a very strong centre of excellence, run professionally, producing an array of talented young players. Bradford City’s youth programme has evolved and developed over a number of years. With the introduction of the new Academy grading system Bradford City successfully reached the required standard to achieve category three academy status, at the first attempt in 2014.

To identify talent and develop the future generation.

Our Philosophy

  • We are known for our commitment to developing good young players.
  • We want our coaches to demand the best of themselves and the players they work with.
  • We want to keep attracting interest from Premier League Clubs for our Academy Players.
  • We will continue to increase our supply chain of talented players through to our 1st Team.
  • We aim to get a player into the international development squad within the 4 nations.
  • We want players to be attracted to our Academy by our success and reputation.
  • We strongly believe in the development of the individual player and consider this more important than results at schoolboy level.
  • We recognize that the success of the Academy is a partnership between the player, parent and staff, with all parties playing an active role to support the player in achieving his goals.
  • We will endeavour to develop young players who will go on to be a credit to themselves, their families and Bradford City Academy.
  • We continue to strive to improve all elements of the Academy programme and demand that players registered in our programme do the same.
  • We will strive to provide all our players with a safe & friendly environment to learn, develop and enhance their abilities.
  • Working in partnership with, and based at, Woodhouse Grove School, the Academy is continuing to evolve and build partnerships

The Mission Statement

Our long-term aim in the Bradford City Academy is to continuously produce elite footballers in an environment that is safe and secure, but at the same time, challenging to the player’s needs. We recognise that the success of the Academy is a partnership between the player, parent and staff, with all parties playing an active role to support the player in achieving his goals. We will endeavour to develop young people who will go on to be a credit to themselves, their families and Bradford City AFC.

Over the years the centre of excellence has helped in the development of Tom Cleverley, Fabian Delph, Andre Wisdom and Oliver McBurnie .

At Bradford City, we strongly believe in the development of the individual and consider this more important than results at the schoolboy level. We continue to strive to improve all elements of the Academy programme and demand that players registered in our programme do the same.

We have a dream within our Academy at Bradford City

  • We want to be known for our commitment to developing good players.
  • We want to be thought of as one of the best Cat-3 Clubs in the Country.
  • We want to grow and develop our partnership with Woodhouse Grove School to enhance the current facilities we already have. This will include a Full-Size Indoor pitch along with excellent changing facilities and classroom/meeting areas.
  • By way of Smart Targets, support from the club and opportunities to develop their individual skills, we want our Coaches to be the best and most professional in all that they do.
  • We want to increase our supply chain of Young Talented players through to our 1st Team.
  • We want to keep attracting Premier League Clubs’ interest in our Academy Players.
  • We want players to be attracted to our Academy by our success and reputation making us as big an attraction as our Cat-2 / Cat-1 local competition.