Harrogate Town plans to launch an academy that enables 16 to 18-year-olds to train full-time with the club and progress into the first team.
Subject to approval from the English Football League, the academy will enable young players to develop under UEFA-licensed coaches.
Knaresborough Town manager Paul Stansfield, who used to play for Harrogate Town, will head the academy.
He will be supported by professional development phase coach Ross McKay. Phil Priestley will act as goalkeeper coach and Josh Walsh will be academy secretary.
Lee Barraclough has been appointed head of recruitment and a full-time physio and part-time doctor will be recruited.
The academy team will compete in the EFL Youth Alliance North East.
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First team manager Simon Weaver said:
“It’s vital that we launch our own academy, it’s a massive step in the right direction for the club in terms of fulfilling the vision of where we started and what we foresee being our future.
“The goal at this club has always been to produce youngsters from the first stage in our player development centre to the youth teams and see them move into the first team and beyond so this is hugely important for us.
“There’s a lot of local talent, but by having an academy we are able to spread the net farther and wider in the hope that we produce some really good talented youngsters.”
Harrogate Town’s under-19s, under-17s and under-19 alliance teams will continue to compete in their respective leagues, alongside the newly established academy.
