Academy of Light

The Academy of Light is the name of the UEFA five star certified training facilities and youth academy for English football club Sunderland A.F.C. Officially opened in March 2003, the Academy of Light is a state-of-the-art training facility in Cleadon - just north of Sunderland. It covers an area of 220 acres (0.89 km2) of which 60 acres dedicated to football. It replaced the aging Charlie Hurley Centre, located nearby. The site is used as the primary training facility for the first team, but is also used to train the youngsters in Sunderland's U23 and U18 teams, it's the location of Sunderland's U18 home games, and is also the home of Sunderland A.F.C. Ladies. The academy plans were the focus of protests from local residents who were angered at the development on a green belt. After withdrawing initial ambitious plans, the club submitted new plans in 1999 which were rejected by South Tyneside Council. Following a public inquiry, Sunderland launched a successful appeal, and work began on the academy in 2001. Before building work was complete, Sunderland submitted plans for expansion to the site, to include indoor training facilities, which The Football Association had added to the list of necessary facilities for academies to achieve Category 1 status. Plans were rejected, and a further appeal was also rejected, meaning Sunderland were forced to use a disused ice rink in Sunderland City Centre for indoor training. Indoor facilities were finally added to the Academy of Light in an expansion completed in 2012. The initial site cost over £10 million to build, with the indoor training facility expansion costing an extra £3m.

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Sunderland A.F.C. Under-21s 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. 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.

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Monkwearmouth Academy

Monkwearmouth Academy is a state secondary school in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England, for pupils aged between 11 and 16. The most recent inspection report was in October 2013 and resulted in a judgement of good in all four aspects of the inspection.

Seaburn Dene

Seaburn Dene is a northern suburb of Sunderland, England, located about one mile inland from the North Sea, near the boundary with South Tyneside. The first part of the development (Shields Road) was laid out just before the Second World War, but building resumed in the 1950s. The oldest houses in Seaburn Dene are those in the bottom half of Shields Road spreading into Grizedale and Staveley. The majority of housing was completed by 1958 with later developments in Dovedale Road and Torver Crescent completed in 1962. The names of the local streets recall villages and valleys in the Lake District of Cumbria and Peak District of Derbyshire. Examples of this include Staveley Road, Martindale Avenue, Alston Crescent, and Dovedale Road - the main road through the area. Recent expansions to the estate include The Square development on Shields Road, on the western edge of the estate. These executive homes are amongst the most expensive ever built in Sunderland, with some selling for £750,000. Amenities on the estate include two churches, a newsagent, an off-licence, a takeaway, a sandwich shop, a beauty salon, a glass-blower and a dental surgery. Educational facilities include a lower school, Seaburn Dene Primary, and the main secondary school for north-eastern Sunderland, Monkwearmouth Academy. Both schools are on Torver Crescent. Public transport links include the 23 Stagecoach bus service to Thorney Close via Fulwell Road, Sunderland City Centre, Sunderland Royal Hospital and Thornholme Road. The last number 23 leaves the estate at 2240. From early 2009, the route is served by wheelchair accessible buses. Seaburn Dene is also bypassed by the 20, 20A and X20Go North East bus services at Shields Road, running from South Shields to Durham via Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange, Houghton-le-Spring and Belmont. Seaburn Metro station, on the Green line of the Tyne and Wear Metro system, is a short walk to the southwest. The area lies in the Fulwell ward on Sunderland City Council, and is currently represented by three Conservative Party councillors.

Sunderland Greyhound Stadium

Sunderland Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track situated at Fulwell in the City of Sunderland and English county of Tyne and Wear. The stadium is owned by ARC and racing takes place every Wednesday and Friday evening as well as an additional BAGS meeting on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The circumference of the track is 378 metres.