Queens Park Rangers' Centre of Excellence - currently spearheaded by Steve Gallen and Marc Bircham (both pictured, below) - has enjoyed great success over the years, most recently clinching the 2010/11 Football League Youth Alliance South East League title.
The Club's youth set-up has consistently produced sides capable of challenging for honours on a consistent basis and, perhaps more importantly, moulding players that have gone on to represent the First Team.
The latter is what the R's Centre of Excellence is all about.
Rangers currently reside in the Premier League and, with that, its aim is to produce players capable of lighting up the biggest stages around the world consistently and successfully.
The Club is eager to see who will follow in the footsteps of a number of its graduates, namely Ian Gillard, Dave Clement, Gerry Francis, Clive Allen, Paul Goddard, Gary Waddock, Alan McDonald, Nigel Quashie, Danny Dichio, Dougie Freedman, Kevin Gallen and Richard Langley.
Other names that have gone on to represent QPR at First Team level recently include Angelo Balanta, Michael Harriman and Bruno Andrade.
Meanwhile, Dean Parrett and Raheem Sterling - also products of our youth set-up - have commanded sizeable transfer fees with recent moves to Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool respectively.
The Club realises that to continue the success already earned, it must look for the stars of the future.
There is always a chance for younger players to make a name for themselves at Loftus Road - and R's gaffer Neil Warnock has a track record for giving young players a chance in the First Team.
The Club has teams from Under-9s upwards, but it is not unknown for a future star to arrive late on the scene and prove his quality.
A recent example is the late Ray Jones, whose elevation from youth to senior ranks was as rapid as the player himself.
Education plays a big part in the development of our players at the Club - on and off the pitch.
We're lucky enough to have Steve Quashie (also pictured, above) on board - a qualified teacher - who is the Centre of Excellence's Head of Education and Welfare and is with the boys on a daily basis.
We do not hold open trials, instead relying on our scouting network that, in particular, focuses on the West London area.
The Club must prioritise its scouts and therefore we would give initial consideration to district/county level players first.
However, again in the case of Ray Jones, it is possible to be a 'late bloomer'.
Should we be interested in a player, it is likely that we'd send a scout to watch him play.
If the player then impresses, he will be invited for a six-week trial with the Centre of Excellence.
Hard work is a minimum. The most important thing that we're looking for is intelligence - intelligent, clever and technical footballers.
Speed is a bonus, having the ability to pass and head the ball is fantastic.
But if a player walks through the door and is an intelligent decision maker, that catches the eye.
Terry O'Sullivan, our Head of Youth Recruitment, is always on the look-out for new talents.
If you would like to send him a trial request form - click here (COE Trial Form) to download - or have any other questions, please e-mail terry.osullivan@qpr.co.uk.
