Charlton Athletic Women are delighted to announce that the club have been awarded a new academy licence ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
The new licence, which has been awarded by the FA, will help take the club's already-successful youth set-ups to the next level.
The Professional Game Academy Licence (PGA) has been awarded to 20 clubs in the Barclays Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship and will ensure that players from all walks of life have the best chance of achieving success both domestically and on the international stage.
The FA have stated that the revised pathway ‘intends to identify and develop the very best talent in England, while also making the game more diverse, accessible and inclusive’.
The PGA will come into action next season and will aim to prepare more players aged 14 to 20 to follow the likes of Mary Bashford and Taylor Bell in breaking into the Addicks’ first team.
The 2022/23 campaign was one to remember amongst various age groups in the women's academy. In April, the U21s lifted the Reposs Isthmian Women's Cup, beating Billericay Town 5-4 on penalties after a dramatic 2-2 draw.
Our U16s also reached the final of the FA Girls Plate, where they were beaten by Sunderland.
Club Secretary Sue Prior hopes the PGA will help Addicks’ youth players achieve more success going forward: “We are delighted to announce the FA has awarded us a Professional Game Academy Licence, which will see an elite player pathway from our ETC (Emerging Talent Centre) through our youth academy teams to the women’s first team.”
Women’s Academy Technical Director Tom Cruse echoed Prior's delight: "This is a really proud moment for everyone involved at Charlton Athletic Women’s Football Club.
“I am extremely grateful for the club’s support throughout the whole process and delighted that we share the same vision.
“The new elite player pathway will be a fantastic opportunity for the club and its players and staff to continue the good work that has already taken place over the years. This will see more players like Mary Bashford and Taylor Bell progressing through our academy all the way into our first-team environment.
“To be the very best, you have to compete against the very best and the PGA provides Charlton Athletic Women’s Football Club and all involved with the environment and opportunity to do just that.”