There are not many clubs who can boast such a successful youth policy as Sunderland in recent years.
The Black Cats have a proud history of nurturing local talent - you only have to look at Jordan Henderson lifting the Champions League trophy with Liverpool to see that.
But while Henderson and England goalkeeper Jordan Piickford are the two posterboys for Sunderland's commitment to youth development, it's only the tip of the iceberg.
The current Black Cats first team is littered with Academy graduates, while there are plenty more on the fringes of the squad - and the next generation is pushing for more involvement next season.
Stuart Rayner was given exclusive behind-the-scenes access to to Sunderland's Academy to see just how they operate on a day-to-day basis.
From training sessions and video analytics to education and dealing with the pressures life as a footballer brings, Paul Reid's team are looking to do things differently.
Along the way, he spoke to all the key figures involved. Academy manager Reid, under-23 coach Elliott Dickman and Don Peattie, the Academy of Light’s head of education and welfare; key players such as Lynden Gooch, Jordan Hunter and Jake Hackett; and first-team manager Jack Ross and director Charlie Methven.
Below is a list of all the pieces in the series as we set out the strategy on Wearside as the look to produce the next generation of stars.
