Academy introduce Advanced Development Centre

Swansea City have launched an Advanced Development Centre to help more young players progress into the club’s academy system.

The Swans currently have 18 development centres located between Bristol and Aberystwyth to help identify talented young players.

Successful youngsters are invited to join the development centres in their local area, with the chance to progress into the academy set-up at Landore and onto a first-team structure in the future.

An Advanced Development Centre (ADC) will act as a stepping stone to help players aged seven to 11 make the transition from the development centre into the academy system easier.

Steve Hetzke, head of academy recruitment, believes the pilot project will help more young players progress.

“This is an exciting new step for our academy set-up,” he said. “Coaches were finding the step for young players from development centres into the academy was too big.

“The introduction of an ADC will allow us to build a pathway of smaller steps for players to progress.

“Working with our recruitment team across our centres, I believe this will improve player development in our area.”