Sunderland A.F.C. Reserves and Academy
Sunderland A.F.C. Academy is the collective name for the youth development squads of Sunderland Association Football Club, primarily the U18 and U21 teams. Sunderland have an 'Elite' Category 1 football academy based on the Elite Player Performance Plan and their teams are members of the Professional Development League.
| Full name | Sunderland Association Football Club | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Black Cats | |||
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| Owner | Kyril Louis-Dreyfus (64%) Juan Sartori (36%) | |||
| Chairman | Kyril Louis-Dreyfus | |||
| Manager | Robin Nicholls (Academy Manager) Graeme Murty (U21 Lead Coach) John Hewitson (U18 Lead Coach) | |||
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Sunderland's academy is based at the Academy of Light in Cleadon, South Tyneside. Sunderland academy teams play at the Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground, in Hetton-le-Hole (U21s) or at the Academy of Light (U18s). At least three U21 games per season are played at Stadium of Light as per the rules of the Professional Development League.
Numerous notable professional players have graduated from Sunderland's youth system over the years. In recent seasons, Jordan Henderson and Jordan Pickford have both represented England at senior international level. and Lynden Gooch has been capped for the United States.