My personal view on the training ground……

M

Martonmosser

Well-known member
….. is also something I shared with Simon and the board at one of the structured dialogue meetings a year or so ago (maybe even longer as time seems to go so fast and I have been to a couple as well as the one regarding fan behaviour).
Anyway my view is that I would be happy for SS to ditch the main one on Garstang Road if we could manage with the community pitches as well as a private first team one next to the stadium similar to the one at Leeds behind their main stand.
The obvious benefit would be a massive reduction in capital expenditure by Simon out of his own pocket which could be redirected into the squad and ground but also at the ground there’s already facilities for feeding the players, a physiotherapist area, changing rooms, car parking, conference rooms etc etc that the players, coaches and manager could walk straight into.
The other benefit would be the proximity to the match day pitch which could be used for specialist training like set pieces.
Anyway, what will be will be and in the meantime there’s still Squires Gate and the sand dunes that were good enough for Stanley Matthews et al 🤔😀
 
Is there enough pitches to accommodate the first team and youth etc at the Revoe site?

Garstang rd plans has multiple pitches or will we still be sending our other teams to train and play elsewhere?
 
Martonmosser said:
….. is also something I shared with Simon and the board at one of the structured dialogue meetings a year or so ago (maybe even longer as time seems to go so fast and I have been to a couple as well as the one regarding fan behaviour).
Anyway my view is that I would be happy for SS to ditch the main one on Garstang Road if we could manage with the community pitches as well as a private first team one next to the stadium similar to the one at Leeds behind their main stand.
The obvious benefit would be a massive reduction in capital expenditure by Simon out of his own pocket which could be redirected into the squad and ground but also at the ground there’s already facilities for feeding the players, a physiotherapist area, changing rooms, car parking, conference rooms etc etc that the players, coaches and manager could walk straight into.
The other benefit would be the proximity to the match day pitch which could be used for specialist training like set pieces.
Anyway, what will be will be and in the meantime there’s still Squires Gate and the sand dunes that were good enough for Stanley Matthews et al 🤔😀
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There's not enough room near the stadium.
 
You need multiple grass pitches for each group of players. You need different sized pitches to practice for playing at different away grounds and you then need spare pitches to use so you can stop the pitches degrading so quickly.

It’s not like the stadium pitch used for 50/60 hours a season. Training pitches would get used 50/60 hours every fortnight.

Top clubs don’t have massive training campuses for shits and giggles.
 
poolseasider said:
Is there enough pitches to accommodate the first team and youth etc at the Revoe site?

Garstang rd plans has multiple pitches or will we still be sending our other teams to train and play elsewhere?
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No. The below is all there is going there. Fine for kids etc nowhere near big enough for a professional team. No privacy, open to the wind etc. Even squires gate is small and that would be a big amount of space round there. Potentially you can fit another small ish pithch in the bit near taco Bell, but no one knows what's happening with that bit yet, it's not in the plans any more. Even then it just wouldn't work.

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JJpool said:
No. The below is all there is going there. Fine for kids etc nowhere near big enough for a professional team. No privacy, open to the wind etc. Even squires gate is small and that would be a big amount of space round there. Potentially you can fit another small ish pithch in the bit near taco Bell, but no one knows what's happening with that bit yet, it's not in the plans any more. Even then it just wouldn't work.

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Thanks for that, so we can now put this thread to bed.
Garstang Road or carry on with Squires Gate.
 
Martonmosser said:
….. is also something I shared with Simon and the board at one of the structured dialogue meetings a year or so ago (maybe even longer as time seems to go so fast and I have been to a couple as well as the one regarding fan behaviour).
Anyway my view is that I would be happy for SS to ditch the main one on Garstang Road if we could manage with the community pitches as well as a private first team one next to the stadium similar to the one at Leeds behind their main stand.
The obvious benefit would be a massive reduction in capital expenditure by Simon out of his own pocket which could be redirected into the squad and ground but also at the ground there’s already facilities for feeding the players, a physiotherapist area, changing rooms, car parking, conference rooms etc etc that the players, coaches and manager could walk straight into.
The other benefit would be the proximity to the match day pitch which could be used for specialist training like set pieces.
Anyway, what will be will be and in the meantime there’s still Squires Gate and the sand dunes that were good enough for Stanley Matthews et al 🤔😀
Click to expand...
I would expand that idea further and bulldoze the houses from Back Henry street all the way to Central Drive. This would enable the East Stand to be developed further incorporating indoor Training pitches, gym, rehabilition/medical rooms, cafeteria etc and you would have something similar to the Poolfoot training ground right on the doorstep of Bloomfield Road. This with the other planned training pitches would give a multi-use community facility which would generate income for the Football Club. Squires Gate could be used for the Academy/Junior teams.
 
poolseasider said:
Thanks for that, so we can now put this thread to bed.
Garstang Road or carry on with Squires Gate.
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The Garstang Road site is huge, it dwarfs squires gate. The club said it had exchanged contracts on 100 acres of land and the highlighted TG bit below 'only' equals just over half that, it is still massive.

blackpool-fc-training-ground-site-e1652688915497.jpg

To put into context here is a similar size area to the planned TG, but around the stadium area.

1000009409.jpg
 
Cods only have 2 pitches as you drive into Poolfoot on your left for the first team, how many more do you need? As others have said leave the academy teams at SG, they’re ok there at the moment so why move?
 
Seainsea said:
I would expand that idea further and bulldoze the houses from Back Henry street all the way to Central Drive. This would enable the East Stand to be developed further incorporating indoor Training pitches, gym, rehabilition/medical rooms, cafeteria etc and you would have something similar to the Poolfoot training ground right on the doorstep of Bloomfield Road. This with the other planned training pitches would give a multi-use community facility which would generate income for the Football Club. Squires Gate could be used for the Academy/Junior teams.
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The council plan is already to do that to central drive, those houses are meant to go in a later phase, but there isn't room for a TG, see pics above.

Martonmosser said:
Cods only have 2 pitches as you drive into Poolfoot on your left for the first team, how many more do you need? As others have said leave the academy teams at SG, they’re ok there at the moment so why move?
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Top clubs have a unified set up so all levels can link together and progress under the same strategy.

The TG is very ambitious TBF. I kind of wish the rumoured east would be a bit more, as that's something we'll see every game and also we could be filling it in no time in big games if things went our way.
 
JJpool said:
The council plan is already to do that to central drive, those houses are meant to go in a later phase, but there isn't room for a TG, see pics above.


Top clubs have a unified set up so all levels can link together and progress under the same strategy.

The TG is very ambitious TBF. I kind of wish the rumoured east would be a bit more, as that's something we'll see every game and also we could be filling it in no time in big games if things went our way.
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We’re not a top club, we’re league one at the moment and probably have to cut our cloth accordingly. Maybe if we do get back in the Prem and a lot more money becomes available then the other training ground could be revisited?
 
Until I see a spade turning the soil I don't believe the Garstang Rd one will ever happen. As Mosser suggests a smaller version seems more feasible and I wouldn't be surprised if this decision has already been taken.

The East needs to be completed or ££ funding will be lost .
That will bring challenges of its own, lost revenue, away fans relocating etc. But this will be the clubs priority at the minute.
 
Martonmosser said:
We’re not a top club, we’re league one at the moment and probably have to cut our cloth accordingly. Maybe if we do get back in the Prem and a lot more money becomes available then the other training ground could be revisited?
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Well, we aim to be a championship club, if not higher, although that's less likely but you never know, but championship is a fair aim.

They've said one way we aim to punch above our weight is by hopefully having a good development set up and using that to get some players for the team, sell some off etc, a revenue stream. Our youth teams have their home games at Bamber Bridge dont they? Not how it should be for BFC.

I don't see why it can't be built in stages.

blackpool-fc-training-ground-site-e1652688915497.jpg

Maybe they could leave those 4 pitches top right off until a later date, or the bottom 2 if they need them all together. That should shave a bit off the cost, also inflation is falling so by the time it's ready to start maybe costs will have fallen a bit too?

That would leave enough big pitches for 1st team and youth, the indoor one and the TG building.

These big projects take a long time and a lot of planning. I doubt they are completely league dependent. We could be in the championship and start it and by the time it's nearly done be back in league 1. At some point you have to commit to it and pretty sure SS said along the lines of money set aside for it...
 
Martonmosser said:
….. is also something I shared with Simon and the board at one of the structured dialogue meetings a year or so ago (maybe even longer as time seems to go so fast and I have been to a couple as well as the one regarding fan behaviour).
Anyway my view is that I would be happy for SS to ditch the main one on Garstang Road if we could manage with the community pitches as well as a private first team one next to the stadium similar to the one at Leeds behind their main stand.
The obvious benefit would be a massive reduction in capital expenditure by Simon out of his own pocket which could be redirected into the squad and ground but also at the ground there’s already facilities for feeding the players, a physiotherapist area, changing rooms, car parking, conference rooms etc etc that the players, coaches and manager could walk straight into.
The other benefit would be the proximity to the match day pitch which could be used for specialist training like set pieces.
Anyway, what will be will be and in the meantime there’s still Squires Gate and the sand dunes that were good enough for Stanley Matthews et al 🤔😀
Click to expand...
Which fan behaviour are you on about Mosser was it at the dialogue meeting in March and who were the fans in reference to the incident at the fans dialogue meeting
 
It will all come down to money, nothing else.
The clubs finance bloke Jonty Castle has been very quiet recently, has he fallen in to the Ormerod money hole? 😇*


*worth a bookmark
 
Martonmosser said:
Cods only have 2 pitches as you drive into Poolfoot on your left for the first team, how many more do you need? As others have said leave the academy teams at SG, they’re ok there at the moment so why move?
Click to expand...
We’re bigger than Fleetwood. We’ve got to aim bigger than Fleetwood. Poolfoot is a nice facility for a small club. It however is not an elite training facility suitable for multi-million pound players, international footballers and the very best talent the UK has to offer at all age groups.

Imagine Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne training 20 meters from a Pizza Resturaunt and Portacabin selling hot dogs ffs ?!

Not a single top level training facility is open to the general public - there’s good reason for that.
 
Mcewans Mullet said:
It will all come down to money, nothing else.
The clubs finance bloke Jonty Castle has been very quiet recently, has he fallen in to the Ormerod money hole? 😇*


*worth a bookmark
Click to expand...
Was there any of the board there the other day ,it looked quite empty from my padded seat.👀☹️
 
I think the excitement for Sadler has long since worn off. In fact I don’t think he’d manage to get excited if Kelly Brook popped around to dance on his dining room table in her birthday suit. He only has eyes for Critch.
 
JJpool said:
The Garstang Road site is huge, it dwarfs squires gate. The club said it had exchanged contracts on 100 acres of land and the highlighted TG bit below 'only' equals just over half that, it is still massive.

blackpool-fc-training-ground-site-e1652688915497.jpg

To put into context here is a similar size area to the planned TG, but around the stadium area.

View attachment 17846
Click to expand...
Thanks for that it gives a good indication of what land is available. IMO 2 full size pitches with one indoor facility and several smaller pitches is plenty for a club of our size. Having a training ground closely connected to the main stadium allows for economies in terms of equipment use, personnel and infrastructure. So all the medical, rehabilitation and conditioning facilities can be housed in one place. Just because "big" clubs have these massive training complexes doesn't mean that is the best model for "smaller" clubs. We have to be smarter not bigger to compete.

Sports science has evolved exponentially in the last 20 years and if anything it is building that science into the development of elite athletes that is more important than having full size pitches for loads of different age groups. Also take into account that sports turf technology has evolved with more durable surfaces able to take heavier use. There will be millions of reasons why this can't happen but my view is it is a wasted opportunity to develop the East Stand with additional revenue generating capability.
 
I’d be enquiring about the timing of the Pilley POCA mention hearing about compensation and confiscation orders.
Would make sense for BFC to just buy Poolfoot and let the Cods hire Squires Gate.
Imagine it would be cheaper than our proposed TG development. Wouldn’t take much to rebrand it. Also, it brings cash in, something our TG doesn’t do.
 
JJpool said:
Maybe they could leave those 4 pitches top right off until a later date, or the bottom 2 if they need them all together. That should shave a bit off the cost, also inflation is falling so by the time it's ready to start maybe costs will have fallen a bit too?

That would leave enough big pitches for 1st team and youth, the indoor one and the TG building.
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Can you explain to me why you think costs will fall because inflation is falling?

Also, why you think losing four or two pitches will be ok? You do know that four is double of two so struggling to understand your theory.

I admire your enthusiasm but I don’t think there’s any educated theories behind your post.
 
But those outside the stadium are intended to be used as community pitches you can’t just change their intended use now it’s started it’s a ridiculous suggestion the council will have none of it.
 
Seainsea said:
Thanks for that it gives a good indication of what land is available. IMO 2 full size pitches with one indoor facility and several smaller pitches is plenty for a club of our size. Having a training ground closely connected to the main stadium allows for economies in terms of equipment use, personnel and infrastructure. So all the medical, rehabilitation and conditioning facilities can be housed in one place. Just because "big" clubs have these massive training complexes doesn't mean that is the best model for "smaller" clubs. We have to be smarter not bigger to compete.

Sports science has evolved exponentially in the last 20 years and if anything it is building that science into the development of elite athletes that is more important than having full size pitches for loads of different age groups. Also take into account that sports turf technology has evolved with more durable surfaces able to take heavier use. There will be millions of reasons why this can't happen but my view is it is a wasted opportunity to develop the East Stand with additional revenue generating capability.
Click to expand...
Yes but as you can see there simply isn't enough space near the stadium for what they want, community pitches and a TG. They have 2 pitches at squires gate so there would be little point if we only again go for 2 pitches, as it doesn't give is the unified setup they want.
 
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LA1 Seasider said:
We’re bigger than Fleetwood. We’ve got to aim bigger than Fleetwood. Poolfoot is a nice facility for a small club. It however is not an elite training facility suitable for multi-million pound players, international footballers and the very best talent the UK has to offer at all age groups.

Imagine Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne training 20 meters from a Pizza Resturaunt and Portacabin selling hot dogs ffs ?!

Not a single top level training facility is open to the general public - there’s good reason for that.
Click to expand...
Full English at Poolfoot is bloody delish. 👍
 
tangomonkey said:
Can you explain to me why you think costs will fall because inflation is falling?

Also, why you think losing four or two pitches will be ok? You do know that four is double of two so struggling to understand your theory.

I admire your enthusiasm but I don’t think there’s any educated theories behind your post.
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Well I meant as inflation and the cost of living eases, relative prices should reduce. Also it could be in 5+ years it starts, as the east is now the priority and would be done first, we may be heading for recession and there are other factors leading to price reduction or relative price reduction. Some prices have fallen apparently and some pressures starting to ease.

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As for the pitches it was simply saying MAYBE they can build it in stages, having 4 pitches grouped together is probably better for a unified setup than the seperate ones. I'm sure we could cope with the 4, the main pitch and the indoor one. The cost for flattening the ground, sorting 2 pitches (+ the other little areas next to it), drainage etc, landscaping those big areas would still cost and therfore would be a reduction to the overall cost if it was left out.

You tell me how much it would cost just to create those 2 pitches plus areas around, to the level they want, then minus that off the total.
 
tangomonkey said:
Can you explain to me why you think costs will fall because inflation is falling?

Also, why you think losing four or two pitches will be ok? You do know that four is double of two so struggling to understand your theory.

I admire your enthusiasm but I don’t think there’s any educated theories behind your post.
Click to expand...
Inflation falling doesn't mean costs go down. They are still increasing but at a slower rate.
 
clappers said:
I think the excitement for Sadler has long since worn off. In fact I don’t think he’d manage to get excited if Kelly Brook popped around to dance on his dining room table in her birthday suit. He only has eyes for Critch.
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Is that an option clappers ? Just asking cos my birthday is mid-Feb .
 
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