Rochdale AFC has been granted a Category Three license, allowing the club to operate teams from Under-9s to Under-18s under the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP). This marks a vital step in the club's aim to reintroduce and operate a successful, thriving Academy, providing an elite football pathway for local young players.
What does this mean for Rochdale?
The Category Three license is a significant step forward in the club's vision for the future, with Academy Manager James Caldwell commenting on the hard work that continues to meet the requirements of PGAAC.
How will this impact the team?
A number of scholars have already featured for the First Team during pre-season, with the full scholar intake to be confirmed in the coming days. The team is currently preparing for the new season, having finished 2nd in the National League last season with 106 points, and recent form showing 2W-3D-0L in the last 5 games, including a 2-2 draw against Boreham Wood on 2026-05-10.
What comes next for the Academy?
Further details on the Academy, including the Youth Team's fixture list, will be announced in due course. With the team currently 2 points behind leaders York in the National League, the focus will be on maintaining a strong performance and developing young players through the Academy.
