Academy: U6-U16 Goalkeeper Open Day (2025)

Sunderland AFC are recruiting Goalkeepers for their category one academy.

Open training days will be available for players within the U6-16 age groups.

The following dates are:

U6, U7, U8 - Monday 26 February
U9, U10, U11 - Wednesday 28 February
U12, U13, U14 - Thursday 29 February
U15, U16 - Friday 1 March

All open training sessions will be held at the Academy of Light, Sunderland Road, Cleadon, Sunderland, SR6 7UN.

Please register your interest before 31 January by clicking here.

Please note spaces are limited and all successful applicants will be informed by the week commencing February 5 2024.

*U6-U11s players must live within one hour travel time to the AoL.
U12-U16s must live within one hour and thirty minutes travel time to the AoL.

hellawbestpizza2 said:

Specific travel time requirements seems a bit arbitrary, hopefully the future Gordon Banks lives an hour and 30 minutes away in Strensall and not 5 minutes further down the road in Haxby

Click to expand...

isnt it a rule from the football association or someting-you can only recrut within an hour?

kildaremackem said:

isnt it a rule from the football association or someting-you can only recrut within an hour?

Click to expand...

I think it’s down to Leeds way from here so, 90 minutes

kildaremackem said:

isnt it a rule from the football association or someting-you can only recrut within an hour?

Click to expand...

Yeah as stated in the requirements. Welfare issues as you'd get some mental parents getting their kid travelling 2 hours each way after school for a training session 4 times a week.

kildaremackem said:

isnt it a rule from the football association or someting-you can only recrut within an hour?

Click to expand...

Might make sense if it’s to stop huge clubs just taking every kid with the slightest potential from the whole country

Kernel said:

Yeah as stated in the requirements. Welfare issues as you'd get some mental parents getting their kid travelling 2 hours each way after school for a training session 4 times a week.

Click to expand...

Aye, thought it was something like that as Leeds were interested in my mate’s little un

hellawbestpizza2 said:

Might make sense if it’s to stop huge clubs just taking every kid with the slightest potential from the whole country

Click to expand...

Been in for a while. It's the smaller clubs in catchment areas of the big clubs that suffer more. Then the parents relocate conveniently nearer big club anyway

Kernel said:

Been in for a while. It's the smaller clubs in catchment areas of the big clubs that suffer more. Then the parents relocate conveniently nearer big club anyway

Click to expand...

yeah Johhny evans dad was given a sham job as a bus driver with Man Utd so he could relocate to manchester and bring johnny with him so the latter could qualify for the academy..dont know what they gave him to make corey evans qualify

kildaremackem said:

yeah Johhny evans dad was given a sham job as a bus driver with Man Utd so he could relocate to manchester and bring johnny with him so the latter could qualify for the academy..dont know what they gave him to make corey evans qualify

Click to expand...

They usually get what they want. There's always a way around it

lucky said:

@Hettonlass is it only for lads ? Just my neice would a go at this.

Click to expand...

Yeah, just for lads, however you should look at her joining Sunderland Women. You can look at FOL and Academy depending on age range

Martsafc1958 said:

Wonder how the travel times work in London, west Midlands and other built-up areas where there are lots of teams.

Click to expand...

Probably use "as the crow flies" as a daft gauge knowing that it's unreasonable in rush hour 4 times a week. Many parents will do it.

kildaremackem said:

yeah Johhny evans dad was given a sham job as a bus driver with Man Utd so he could relocate to manchester and bring johnny with him so the latter could qualify for the academy..dont know what they gave him to make corey evans qualify

Click to expand...

Needed a conductor on said bus

kildaremackem said:

yeah Johhny evans dad was given a sham job as a bus driver with Man Utd so he could relocate to manchester and bring johnny with him so the latter could qualify for the academy..dont know what they gave him to make corey evans qualify

Click to expand...

Mini-bus?

bowzo14 said:

It seems they have closed the form early. Has anyone heard back if they have a space?

Click to expand...

Looks like loads applied and closed it early, you don't hear anything back until 5th Feb week

Hettonlass said:

Looks like loads applied and closed it early, you don't hear anything back until 5th Feb week

Click to expand...

Be interested to see how many the bring in to trial