...what does that actually mean?
While this news is obviously of the positive variety, I won't have been alone in looking for some kind of clarification on exactly what this development will mean to the club going forward. I do remember reading about the shake-up to the academy system (and that many clubs weren't happy with it), but now seems a reasonable time to have an in-depth look at it.
The EPPP (Elite Player Performance Plan) was the brainchild of the Premier League, and was designed (seemingly) to allow Premier League clubs to pilfer youngsters from other academies without too much of a headache. I mean... it was designed to improve the standard of youth football up and down the country. Or something...
In a nutshell, the Football League clubs had to agree to the new plan, as the Premier League had them over a barrel. If they didn't agree, the PL were going to withhold the £5million annual funding for youth it puts into the FL, but despite this the vote wasn't unanimous. They voted 46 in favour, 22 against, with three no shows and one abstention, and since the new system has come into play Yeovil, Wycombe & Hereford have all now closed their academies - stating the new system was the reason they could no longer afford to keep them operating.
That being said, it's probably encouraged many clubs (the Swans included) to up the ante in terms of youth development, as the category you're assigned ultimately determines how much compensation you'll receive if a youth player does end up switching club. The categories range from One to Four, and that the Swans have attained Category Two status is no mean feat considering that just a few years ago the youth staff at the club consisted of Tony Pennock plus one assistant.
The ongoing work at Fairwood, coupled with the recent completion of the Landore training facility, means the club have never been better equipped to provide quality coaching to their youngsters, and with the Swans keen to instill a consistent playing style from the first team right through to the youth age groups, having a first-rate base with multiple training pitches can only be a good thing as they look to create a mini "La Masia".
After what the club referred to as "a stringent inspection", they were successfully awarded the C2 classification and will compete in Development League Two, but Pennock insists this is just a stepping stone and the plan is to attain Category One status within three years. With increased PL funding coming with every improvement in category, it's definitely something worth striving for and should see the Swans produce more players like Ben Davies, who adapted to life in the Premier League so well last season.
With a proper training complex for the first time in my memory at least, this can only be a good thing for Swansea City. Pennock also talked of "match analysis and sports science" being used to help mould the youngsters, which I'm sure is a far cry from the youth teams of the 90's, whose duties were likely more laundry based than laptop.
Onwards and upwards - hopefully it won't be long before we see a regular stream of local youth talent emerging into the first team.