On entry to the Football League, Cheltenham Town FC made the very positive step in launching and implementing a youth development scheme.

With Cheltenham Town Football Club being the only full-time Football League club in Gloucestershire the first steps were taken to create a foundation to offer opportunities for local players, via a programme of excellence, to enter the professional game.

Our Academy was opened in season 1999/2000 to cater for age groups from Under-13 to Under-16, who trained twice per week with teams competing in Academy football against other Football League clubs. 

The programme was rapidly expanded to include age groups from Under-8s to Under-12s to operate a full programme from Under-8s through to Under-18s, which to date has over 130 registered schoolboy academy players and 17 full -ime youth team scholars.