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West Brom academy retains elite category one status

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West Brom's thriving academy team has promised to keep providing first-team players as it retained its elite, category one status.

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The Premier League have confirmed the club's status following the second cycle of Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) audits.

It comes as Albion's youngsters report back to the training ground after their summer break – a week before the senior squad are due in next Monday, July 4.

Teenagers Jonathan Leko, Sam Field and Tyler Roberts all made their Premier League debuts towards the end of last season, and the academy also produced Saido Berahino, the club's top scorer for two seasons in a row.

Chelsea's Isaiah Brown, Liverpool's Yan Dhanda, Derby's George Thorne and League Two player of the year Kemar Roofe are also recent products of the system.

Head coach Tony Pulis described it last season as the best academy he's seen in nearly 25 years of management.

"It's a reflection of the foundations put in place 10 years ago and built on over time," said Richard Garlick, the club's director of football administration.

"It also reflects the hard work of all the academy staff, often in unseen and unsociable hours, and in particular the way in which Mark Harrison organises and runs it.

"We've got a very good reputation for producing good young players.

"It's important because it's our organic recruitment, a recruitment we can control.

"It's not buying players and wondering what character we are bringing into the club.

"Our resources are limited in terms of what we can put into it but it is another area of the club which punches above its weight.

"And this is not the end of anything - this is the beginning of still more development which we will constantly strive to deliver."

Academy manager Mark Harrison has been at the club for 11 years and overseen the youth system for the past seven.

He was delighted to retain the elite category one status, which only 23 clubs held last season, and is determined to keep providing players for the first team.

"The audit is a very in-depth and detailed process which we are delighted to have satisfied," said Harrison.

"The assessors were very complimentary about our culture, our playing philosophy and coaching programmes. I'm particularly pleased for all the staff.

"As manager I have to drive the process forward but an awful lot of staff contribute and this reflects on all their work.

"If we want to keep this supply line, this blood line, coming through, then our challenge is to keep up a constant supply towards the first team.

"Tony Pulis has very strong principles about what he expects and it is up to us to develop players who possess not just the ability but the strong mentality and responsibility for Premier League football."

Retaining the category one status means the under-21s will be able to play in the Football League Trophy next season.

The club have expressed an interest in competing in the trophy and are waiting to hear back from the Football League for confirmation of their place.