(Elite) academy. These requirements for Category 1, as outlined in the Elite Player Performance Plan, are wide-reaching, and include indoor and outdoor training facilities, education provisions, and dedicated youth training areas. Academy status is regularly assessed, and Sunderland maintained their status when assessed in 2013. Following Sunderland's relegation to EFL League One in 2018, they became the only club with a Category 1 academy outside of the top two divisions of English football. The club was purchased by Stewart Donald in May 2018 and he revealed that the cost of maintaining Category 1 status was £4m per year. Despite this, Donald insisted that maintaining Sunderland's category 1 academy status was a priority. Environmental development During construction, Sunderland enlisted the help of famous Ecologist David Bellamy to advise in the development of the area surrounding the academy. Wetland was introduced, and water used to wet the pitches at the academy is recycled back into these wetlands. A large area of woodland was also planted, using a variety of tree types. The academy area only accounts for of the site. The remainder is a wildlife preserve. References Stadia, Football Academies and Centres of Excellence - Sport England, 2000 SAFC Academy of Light - SAFC official site Association football training grounds in England Football academies in England Sunderland A.F.C.