Academy of Light
| AOL | |
Entrance to the Academy of Light
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| Location | Cleadon, Tyne and Wear |
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| Owner | Sunderland AFC |
| Type | Sports facility |
| Construction | |
| Built | 2001 |
| Opened | 2003 |
| Construction cost | £10 million+ |
| Website | |
| http://www.safc.com/page/Academy | |
The Academy of Light is the name of the UEFA five star certified training facilities and youth academy for English football club Sunderland A.F.C.
Officially opened in March 2003, the Academy of Light is a state-of-the-art training facility located in 220 acres (0.89 km2) of land (60 acres dedicated to football) in Cleadon - just north of Sunderland. It replaced the aging Charlie Hurley Centre, located nearby. The site is used as the primary training facility for the first team, but is also used to train the youngsters in Sunderland's youth system.
Costing over £10 million to build, the site was the focus of protests from local residents who were angered at the development on a green belt. In the course of a seven-year battle, proposals were withdrawn, two public inquiries were launched, Sunderland appealed against decisions on three occasions, and ultimately the site itself does not conform to Football Association Academy standards - meaning alternative arrangements had to be made for an indoor pitch.
The club gained academy status despite not having an indoor training pitch onsite, as a result Sunderland compete in the FA Youth leagues. These requirements are wide-reaching, and include indoor and outdoor training facilities, education provisions, and dedicated youth training areas.
Academy status means that the club can take part in the FA Premier Youth Leagues and play against other academy teams. This ensures youngsters are playing against the best players in the country in their age group. Academy teams also take part in the FA Youth Cup. Sunderland have won the FA Youth Cup twice, although the last time was in 1969.
In 1997 Sunderland A.F.C. underwent a rebirth. In that year the club moved to a new home (the Stadium of Light) and club owner Bob Murray and chairman John Fickling put forward proposals for a new world-class academy that would hopefully secure Sunderland's long-term future.
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