In disappointing news for the women’s game on the south coast, the Southampton Daily Echo has revealed that following an internal review into the sustainability of its women’s and girls’ programme, Southampton FC is set to downgrade its academy status from Category One to Category Two.
Alfie House, Senior Sports Reporter at the Daily Echo, reports that the club’s Category One status within the men’s pathway will remain unaffected. Unsurprisingly.
As a result of the changes, there will be a reduction in both the number of full-time staff and players within the girls’ programme, with some roles and teams being removed entirely.
Girls who had been offered places with the club’s U10, U11 and U12 age groups for next season reportedly had those offers withdrawn via video call this week, despite having initially received them in May.
The Daily Echo states it has seen an email sent to parents which read:
“The club remains committed to women’s football and to providing opportunities for female players to develop and progress.
“These changes should not be seen as a step away from the women’s game, but rather an attempt to create a structure that can be supported responsibly and sustainably in the years ahead.
“We recognise this uncertainty may be difficult for players and families, and we are committed to communicating openly and directly with those affected as plans develop further.”
In the women’s game, Category One academies are required to operate both U21 and under-16 programmes, while Category Two academies are only required to run U21 sides.
As part of the restructure, Southampton will move their current U14, U15 and U16 age groups into an Emerging Talent Centre (ETC) model.
ETCs form part of the Football Association’s elite player pathway for girls. Designed to identify and develop talented young players, they allow participants to continue representing their grassroots clubs while receiving additional coaching and support. They effectively replaced the Regional Talent Club (RTC) system for younger age groups.
However, the change represents a significant reduction in player contact time. U16 players within Category One academies typically receive between eight and 12 hours of weekly development, while ETCs are only required to provide around 1.5 hours per week.
Back in 2019, while coaching in the local girls’ game, I was fortunate enough to visit Staplewood and see first-hand the work being done within Southampton’s academy. The environment was hugely impressive, and the culture they had built was something the club should have been proud of.
When Southampton’s bid to join the Championship was unsuccessful in 2018, losing out to Manchester United and West Ham United, they did not take a shortcut. Instead, they climbed through the regional leagues and the FA Women’s National League on merit. A key part of that success was the talent developed within their own pathway.
Three players from that system have since progressed to Women’s Super League clubs, Lucia Kendall at Aston Villa, Ella Morris at Tottenham Hotspur and Kayla Rendell at Manchester United.
In December, Kendall scored her first senior England goal in a 2-0 victory over Ghana at St Mary’s Stadium. For those who worked with her throughout her development, that moment will have been a source of immense pride for those from the club who have worked with her to reach this point, and a powerful example of what Southampton’s pathway can produce.
Southampton will argue that the club can continue to provide a strong platform for young players and that talented footballers will still have a route into senior football. That may well prove true.
But there is no escaping the reality that a Category One academy becoming a Category Two programme represents a reduction in opportunity, investment and elite development provision. For girls’ football on the south coast, this is undoubtedly a setback.
