Swansea City' s Centre of Excellence run eight playing age groups starting with the Under 9's and continuing up to and including Under 16's.

Each age group has two qualified coaches that are responsible for the coaching and running the team on match days. The department is overseen by Anthony Avo, the Centre of Excellence Co-ordinator.

Each player is offered a one year contract up to 12 years old at which time they can them be offered a two year contract depending on the player's ability.

The players train on two occasions per week and then fulfil the Football League fixtures each Sunday morning on a home and away basis.

The Centre of Excellence has around 130 players on its books and the future of the club will always have to rely on the system producing home grown players.

The club also has a Centre of Development system that mirrors the Centre of Excellence and has around 120 players, who can all progress into the CoE.

The total number of players that are either signed or attached to SwanseaCity is around 360, so the system has to be monitored on a weekly basis.

The club also has two major partnerships involving local authorities, Rhondda-Cynon-Taf and Pembrokeshire County Council.

The both Local Authorities have agreed to become a partner and have set up Centres of Development within their own counties and both are self-funding.

Any player that shows promise will be guaranteed an opportunity and will be given a trial at Swansea City.

Both Centres have already produced players that have been signed on contracts at various age groups within the Centre of Excellence so the both partnerships are paying dividends.

The Centre at Pembroke recently opened with an official Council reception at which various members of the Pembrokeshire Council and Swansea City FC were present.

Each year the Centre of Excellence strives to improve the system and last year saw a big improvement in various sections.

The backroom staff and support of the board has enabled the Centre of Excellence to make a big impact during the Football League audits regarding the system and its administrative results and are now among the better clubs.

For further details on the club's Centre of Excellence, contact the Youth department on 01792 616609.