It will open in summer 2005 on the Greenwich Peninsula in East London alongside the Dome where Anschutz Entertainment Group is building an arena and entertainment district as part of the 80-hectare acre redevelopment. A sister Academy will be unveiled at The Home Depot Center in Los Angeles later this year.
Beckham said: “As a young boy I attended the Bobby Charlton Soccer School with dreams of becoming a professional footballer. Ever since then, my ambition has been to give children the chances I had and thanks to Anschutz Entertainment Group that dream is now a reality.”
The David Beckham Academy comprises two full size pitches and an extensive series of buildings featuring state of the art classrooms, dinner hall, training facilities and changing rooms.
Using the latest technology, the Academy is designed to provide a fun and interactive experience for children of all skill levels, unlike anything currently seen in UK football.
Targeted at all ability levels, The David Beckham Academy in London will initially welcome 15,000 boys and girls aged eight-15 years on an annual basis. Of those, 10,000 places will be channelled free of charge through several infrastructure partners including the UK Youth Sports Trust, Football Foundation and Football Association. This also includes 2,000 that will be given free to schools local to the Academy.
More than 17,500 schools will gain access to activities and resources based on soccer skills, aimed at encouraging a healthy lifestyle and a positive attitude to sport in general.
