Youth Development

Leicester City's youth development programme has long been producing great footballing talents. Peter Shilton, Gary Lineker, Julian Joachim, Emile Heskey and more recently Matthew Piper are all products of the Foxes' youth set-up.

The development of young potential is overseen by Youth Academy Director Jon Rudkin and Academy Technical Director Steve Beaglehole.

Boys from aged eight to 19 receive specialist coaching from the Academy.

The Academy is funded by the Club and is vetted by the Charter for Quality. All full-time coaches must be qualified to UEFA A Licence with part-time coaches gaining the UEFA B Licence.

Around 15-20 boys in each age group train three times a week with a match on Sunday against other Academy boys from other professional clubs across the country.

City's Youth Academy is the final rung of the ladder to becoming a professional footballer.

Boys aged 16 can be taken on as full time scholars and spend three years gaining an insight into life at a professional football club.

They train every day with the exception of Monday morning and Wednesdays when they have to attend college.

As well as football training programmes, a strong emphasis is placed on academic development to ensure youngsters are well placed to succeed in a work environment outside football.

The club feels it is particularly important for the boys to continue with their education as it will stand them in good stead when their careers are over.

Boys who live outside the Leicestershire area are placed in accommodation selected by the club where they can be advised on suitable diets and any other problems they may encounter.

After their three years they are told whether they are good enough to be offered professional contracts.

· The Academy aims to provide the best possible coaching and educational guidance for talented players from the age of eight to 19, who receive specialised coaching at the club's Training Ground.
· The Academy ensures that the best talent in Leicestershire is playing for Leicester City· Coaches develop local talent and bring players through the ranks
· Club scouts travel around the county watching the football skills of youngsters to spot any potential
· A network of scouts across the UK also searches out the talent at local clubs

Possible timetable of a professional footballer
8+ years - Taken on by Club's Academy for training sessions
Between the ages of 8-12 years youngsters are registered with the Academy for one year. From age 12+ a minimum two year attachment is offered.
14+ years - Registration can be held by the Club until the player leaves full-time education
16+ years - A player can sign a three year full time scholarship for the Academy and a further two year option is held by the Club. Terms and payment are discussed and up to a five year contract can be offered.

Training Ground Facilities

· Fitness suite with state of the art exercise equipment - all in an area seven times the size of the previous suite
· Changing rooms and showers
· Gym with resurfaced floor to provide players with an indoor artificial pitch offering true-to-turf bounce characteristics whilst minimising the risk of injuries
· Gym roof includes translucent panels, ventilation and heating for winter training sessions
· Non-sand filled pitch holds up the simulated grass fibres
· A 100-seater restaurant with a state-of-the-art kitchen. The restaurant doubles as a training/education facility and a full-time Education and Welfare Officer works from there. It is also used as a place where parents can relax while their children use the facilities during the evening training sessions
· Accommodation for 10 staff including Youth Development Workers
· 80 car parking spaces for players and staff

Foxes' Indoor Arena

Leicester City's new £1 million indoor arena is used by all sections the community - from professional sports stars, the club academy scholars to amateur teams and schoolchildren.
The 80x56 metre indoor arena has been built on the YMCA site which is adjacent to Leicester City's Belvoir Drive training complex.
The structure is used for a wide range of appropriate sports by both the club and the community.
It measures three quarters the size of a full football pitch and offers a brand new facility unrivalled in the whole of Leicestershire.
The indoor arena is the last major piece in the jigsaw when it comes to providing the best possible facilities for City's young players and also for the community.

It also completed the requirements for the club's Academy licence - qualified coaches and physios, pitches, facilities, education and welfare, and a covered playing area no smaller than 60x40 metres.

The club's existing facility at Belvoir Drive was not big enough at just two thirds of the size required and it was impractical to extend and improve it.

Leicester City's main requirement is to use the building in the evenings for its academy with the first team also using the building in the winter.

City have worked with Leicester YMCA to ensure the community can gain access to a high quality inner city facility.

As well as being an important community feature it is hoped that the indoor arena will also help attract players of all ages to the club.