Crystal Palace co-chairman Steve Parish says their highly regarded academy is more than just a producer of football talent.
Parish says their youth system is the centre of the local community.
"Our Academy is part of the club and a fabric of the community," Parish told the London Evening Standard. "It's 170 kids; most of them won't make it in football but they're doing something positive with their lives. The Academy is the focal point for all the local clubs for where you want to try and get to as a player. It spawns a whole lot of activity and sport among disaffected youths and kids looking for purpose.
"Our Academy isn't just about the kids that do make it. It's about all the kids that don't. We've got a study centre at the training ground and offer help to kids with educational problems. There's a lot of good that the Academy does."
