Sheffield United Girls' Centre of Excellence (SUGCOE) has been announced as one of the Football Association's newest groups of Elite Centres.
Organisers say the centre's successful bid will open up opportunities to young people across South Yorkshire and strengthen the game of women's football.
All current centres were invited to apply for an Elite Centre of Excellence licence after the FA, which part-funds Centres of Excellence (C of E), announced a restructure - and SUGCOE has made the grade as one of the final 30.
SUGCOE is supported by Sheffield United and provides opportunities for talented female football players aged ten to 16 years old.
The centre, based at the Blades Academy in Shirecliffe, was also previously chosen by the FA to pilot the Long Term Player Development scheme which is now in place across the country.
To become one of the new Elite Centres, SUGCOE had to meet strict criteria including providing a direct link to the eight FA Women's Super League clubs as well as demonstrating a track record of producing England players, or the infrastructure and potential to do so.
SUGCOE is one of the biggest and longest standing C of Es in the country. Established in 1999, the Sheffield United Centre accommodates 80 players including Molly Johnson, who has been capped twice this year at Under 15 level, and Jessica Sigsworth and Meaghan Sargeant who were both represented at England's Under 17s in Poland in April.
The FA expects its overhaul to improve long-term sustainability, develop grassroots clubs at younger age groups and provide women's teams with well-educated and better-equipped players.
SUGCOE Centre Director Dean Smith said: "We are so pleased that our commitment, drive and passion has been recognised by the FA.
"Having an Elite Centre of Excellence in Sheffield will offer female players in our region a fantastic opportunity to compete at the top level in women's academy football and an opportunity to enhance their skills and technical abilities in Britain's fastest growing sport.
"To achieve this status is a proud moment for our centre and is credit to all the hard work that went into our bid.
"We have had incredible support from the Sheffield and Hallamshire FA, Sheffield United, Doncaster Rovers Belles and, of course, the centre's players and their parents, whose enthusiasm and dedication made it possible for us to achieve our aspiration of becoming an Elite Centre of Excellence."
Following the FA's monitoring and evaluation, those who were not successful in their bid for an Elite Centre licence will be considered by the FA for new Player Development Centres. Three new Elite Performance Camps will also replace the Regional Talent Camps.
SUGCOE will now hold trials on 8th, 10th, 15th and 17th June for the following age groups - U9, U11, U13, U15 and U17.
For further information please visit www.sugcoe.com
