Newcastle will be receiving Category One status for their Youth Academy before 2013 rolls around, according to some good news being reported in the Newcastle Journal this morning, and that Academy status is very important for the club.
Joe Joyce - Newcastle’s Academy Manager
Newcastle’s Academy was surprisingly assessed not to be at the level required to earn the Category One mark initially a few months ago, and that was an embarrassment as the top status brings maximum benefits to the Academy, such as a minimum of £775K in funding every year, and it allows the club to bring in youngsters from all over the country, rather than just from the local area.
And given one of the pillars of Newcastle’s future hinges on the acquisition and development of youngsters – not receiving Category One status at the first attempt was a blow – and quite an embarrassment.
But as with all disappointments, there’s always the chance of a good recovery, and it looks like behind the scenes that’s just exactly what Newcastle have been doing over these last several months.
As a reminder, the Premier League are pushing this whole initiative as part of their Elite Player Performance Plan, and each Academy is graded at one of four levels.
The Newcastle Journal is reporting today that Category One status is expected to be given within the next few months, and it seems the areas where Newcastle did not meet requirements, which are still unknown, have quickly been upgraded – and that’s very good news.
Of course this was all a little too embarrassing with both Middlesbrough and Sunderland immediately earning Category One status – and Newcastle have been silent on the whole thing, and we don’t even know the specific areas the club were lacking, but we suppose all’s well that ends well.
And the club have very quickly put things right – or so it would appear.
One of the advantages Newcastle have that bolsters their case is the number of youngsters Newcastle have used so far this season, although we cannot take credit for Gael Bigirimana, but players like Haris Vuckic, James Tavernier and Shane Ferguson are coming through very nicely this season.
This is good news for Newcastle.
Comments welcome.
Personal note – I’m a little bit slow off the mark this morning – yesterday was my 40th wedding anniversary and Madeline and I and the family were celebrating a little bit – a glass of wine too much – or was it that last bottle that was too much? 
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29 responses so far ↓
1 JAMSHA // Oct 6, 2012 at 9:28 AM
Hope so
2 Conaldo (The Wizard) // Oct 6, 2012 at 9:31 AM
Congratulation on your anniversary ed!
3 Spuggy // Oct 6, 2012 at 9:33 AM
About time this is the blueprint for the future
4 ppb // Oct 6, 2012 at 9:34 AM
@conaldo you want arguments? well here i am you f**k.
glad our academy is nearly there.
we already seem to produce some decent lads. saylor. sammy, fergy, tav, shola!
5 ppb // Oct 6, 2012 at 9:39 AM
congrats ed. the power of love!
“don’t need money, don’t need fame”….etc.
6 jesperfuglsang // Oct 6, 2012 at 9:39 AM
Happy 40th anniversery Ed
7 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Oct 6, 2012 at 9:40 AM
Congratulations for Yesterday Ed. 40 Years, wow
ppb (from previous)….Don’t give who ideas? Surely not little old me?
On thread….This is good news. Had no idea that we would be able to implement some changes and have a chance to gain cat 1 this year. Seeing as we’re looking to rely on youth a fair bit, cat 1 is important for our progress.
8 Dannyo // Oct 6, 2012 at 9:42 AM
Lucky NUFC.
They aren’t supposed to reevaluate before every 2nd year.
Must be some leeway since it’s the first time around with this.
9 hotdog // Oct 6, 2012 at 9:44 AM
Well done ed, sounds like you had a canny night.
On tomorrow’s game I can’t see our defenders living with Rooney and van persie. Having said that I’m sure we can get at their back line. Could be a cracker 4-4 ill go for and to age considerably during the game
10 ppb // Oct 6, 2012 at 9:44 AM
@ibiza. no. ashley. we don’t need to give you any ideas. you do as you please.
11 NEWEXPATMAGPIE // Oct 6, 2012 at 9:45 AM
Many congrats Ed !
Is it just me! But i finsd it a biy strange that the the likes of the Mackems achieve Cat 1 status before us !
Is there a reason for this because i don,t like it when the unwashed take a march on us!
12 ppb // Oct 6, 2012 at 9:48 AM
@hotdog van persie worries me. Rooney less so. one hard perch tackle and Rooney will have a huff and might disappear.
13 toonarmydownsouth // Oct 6, 2012 at 9:48 AM
Wow
40 years! Congrats ed!
Good news on the youth squad as this is surely key to the future of the club
Oh and congrats to our correspondent abroad ibizzle for bringing this breaking new to our attention!
14 toonarmydownsouth // Oct 6, 2012 at 9:50 AM
Ppb
But one hard perch tackle on RVP and he will have the huff and be out for 8 months!
15 tequilamag // Oct 6, 2012 at 9:51 AM
Congrats Ed , though no doubt nufc-83 will think it`s a hoax
16 hotdog // Oct 6, 2012 at 9:51 AM
Ppb – his previous record against us suggests we should be wary. It’s not a great Man U team but they score goals. What score you going for?
17 Jonny // Oct 6, 2012 at 9:51 AM
High scoring game tomorrow lads. A classic 4-3 i’m going for. But to who?
18 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Oct 6, 2012 at 9:53 AM
ppb….That’s what I thought. Me, have ideas, phhh…
Hotdog….I definitely expect goals. I hope Harper’s kid giving his some grief about Man U scoring he performs like never before and keeps a clean sheet – outside chance I know
19 fungus44 // Oct 6, 2012 at 9:56 AM
Congratulation on your anniversary ed!. i think we will beat man you again with the confidence we gained against Bordeaux should be a good game
20 AMEOBI // Oct 6, 2012 at 9:58 AM
Wow Ed congratulations on your 40th wedding anniversary, can’t believe you keep the posts coming through these times.
You are just quality
21 ppb // Oct 6, 2012 at 9:59 AM
@tads lol
@hotdog good point. i just don’t see Rooney being rooney this year
22 hotdog // Oct 6, 2012 at 10:00 AM
Good morning Ibiza. Lovely sunny day in Newcastle, just that blast of cold air when you open the door ffs
We are lucky to have harps, what’s the score with krul? Could be serious if he has damaged his elbow.
23 Marty-Toon // Oct 6, 2012 at 10:02 AM
Ppb
Nice way to start the day
Take a chill pill
24 jesperfuglsang // Oct 6, 2012 at 10:03 AM
Guess it is going to be much more fun being in the elite of english football than not…
…EPPP are catering for the elite ones again (will england have better youth this way or will it just be cheaper for acadamy 1 clubs to poach other clubs players?)
25 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Oct 6, 2012 at 10:04 AM
Good morning hotdog. Glad to hear it, I don’t mind sharing the weather with you occasionally.
Very lucky to have harps. No idea on Krul tbh. Havn’t been as worried about his return date, would rather he fully recovered, no need to rush – didn’t think I’d be saying that a few weeks ago.
26 Marty-Toon // Oct 6, 2012 at 10:04 AM
Ed ,
Loads of congratulations coming your way.
Here’s to many more years of bliss for ye both.
You have a great woman there that lets you follow your beloved Newcastle and use hours a day on here.
Wishing you both great times ahead and good health also
27 jesperfuglsang // Oct 6, 2012 at 10:12 AM
It seems a lot of those how made the ‘Veteran Memorial Wall’ has resufaced the last few days B-)
…guess it did it’s trick! (now I just have to make the changes…damn
) lol
28 MacToon // Oct 6, 2012 at 3:49 PM
Many congrats Ed and hope you have many more years of wedded bliss to come
29 tony green // Oct 6, 2012 at 5:05 PM
Well I have to say that that is class – a man taking time out on the day of his 40th wedding anniversary (yesterday) to put up a thread about jimmy magpie.
Respect.
In the absence of confirmation from nufc83/cupidstunt I’m going to take a chance and assume this is genuine.
Congratulations and all the best Ed
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