In October 1997 the Football Association published its blueprint for the future development of football in England entitled the Charter for Quality. In July 1998 Stoke City submitted to the FA Technical Control Board a three-year business plan outlining our intention to improve our Centre of Excellence during the 1998/99 season and achieve Academy status from August 1st 1999.

In March 1999 the FA Board approved our application to become a recognised F.A. Football Academy for Youth Development from the beginning of 1999/2000 season.

This was the culmination of months of hard work in creating a detailed plan which satisfied the FA's strict criteria on Football Academies. Joining the elite clubs in the Academy structure clearly demonstrated our ambition to create a top class Youth Development Programme for the future benefit of the club.

The Academy is geared to producing professional players for Stoke City Football Club. We select young players with outstanding football potential and provide them with the highest standards in personal, social, academic and technical education.

To do this successfully we limit the number of boys within the Academy to 150, covering all age groups.

Our principal aims are:

1. To maximise the potential of individual players by demanding the highest possible standards in personal, social, academic and technical activities.

2. To develop players as responsible young men with an awareness of their responsibilities to each other, their families and the wider community in which they live and work.

3. To maximise the outstanding football potential of those young players selected to represent Stoke City Football Club.

4. To develop in young players the highest standards of conduct and self-discipline that should be expected of a reasonable responsible citizen and professional footballer.

5. To develop partnerships with parents, schools and other professional organisations that are concerned with the needs of young players individually and collectively.