The training ground

JJpool

JJpool

Well-known member
With the apparent announcement imminent, should be for real this time, what are people expecting? Hoping for?

I think the mooted location was Garstang Road west, but maybe with the community pitches near Bloomfield Road on the land near the north.

What sort of facility are we expecting? What do we need?

Edit. skip here for official training ground announcement discussion.

The training ground

The board says they could expect the signature at literally any moment. Could be hours or days. That being said it’s been dragging on for months longer than they had hoped so if it’s just another week or two I’m sure we can live with it ! The fact they admitted to preparing the press release...
avftt.co.uk
 
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FLATBACKFOR said:
Lawson Road would be the best location ?
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No one has heard anything about that or seen any sort of planning for that site.

The rumour was Garstang Road west.

BIG_BERTHA said:
Is Lawsons Rd big enough ? I dont know how much space is available.
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Not really, could be enough for a small one but I thought they would want more than that.

The only thing it has going is the central location.

But the question of the thread was smart to be are people expecting a top facility?
 
JJpool said:
No one has heard anything about that or seen any sort of planning for that site.

The rumour was Garstang Road west.


Not really, could be enough for a small one but I thought they would want more than that.

The only thing it has going is the central location.

But the question of the thread was smart to be are people expecting a top facility?
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I suspect it will be on a site that can potentially addon facilities. Lawsons Rd needs the allotments and even then I don't know just what that could accommodate. GRW is limited by future purchases (FAIK). So I/m not expecting a fully finished TG with everything ready to go, more a functional TG that has potential.
 
I'd love us to go for a cat 1 academy set up, but unfortunately I think it would be too expensive at this moment in time for us. But if we're serious about having a long term strategy of getting home grown youth players in the first team, it may be necessary eventually, as cat 1 get the best young players.
 
BFC_53 said:
I'd love us to go for a cat 1 academy set up, but unfortunately I think it would be too expensive at this moment in time for us. But if we're serious about having a long term strategy of getting home grown youth players in the first team, it may be necessary eventually, as cat 1 get the best young players.
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but, if lots of Clubs go Cat 1 the best kids are shared out more.
 
fcblackpool said:
but, if lots of Clubs go Cat 1 the best kids are shared out more.
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True, but if we're the only one that doesn't, we could get left behind and would never have youngsters that are good enough for the first team because other clubs youngsters would always be better.
 
Bloodtangerine said:
Everything that can be sold is owned privately
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Not in this case. the land on GRW is subject to council sale approval as far as I know, it was public owned land. Any expansion into 'private land' could well be subject to limited supply and maximum demand economics.
 
The Garstang Road West site used to be the home of St Mary’s school so I would assume some kind of public ownership. Surprised it’s never been sold off for housing before now
 
BFC_Aspie said:
I'm hoping for something at least equal, but hopefully better than Poolfoot farm.
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Not interested in the club going down the pub/restaurant route or even all the extras like walking football,running leagues/hiring pitches out etc so a bit different from Poolfoot.

It should be available for kids,ladies team and the clubs different sides for me.
 
BFC_53 said:
True, but if we're the only one that doesn't, we could get left behind and would never have youngsters that are good enough for the first team because other clubs youngsters would always be better.
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Which is why I've always said that we should be looking at the 18/19yo who have been released for the likes of City, Lpoo etc. I think you'll be a better gamble for your money doing that. This was one reason why I was quite happy to think we were getting a U23 manager/coach from a pl club and when that fell through we went for NC who I thought would tap his contacts and resources there- odd that hasn't happened.
 
fcblackpool said:
Which is why I've always said that we should be looking at the 18/19yo who have been released for the likes of City, Lpoo etc. I think you'll be a better gamble for your money doing that. This was one reason why I was quite happy to think we were getting a U23 manager/coach from a pl club and when that fell through we went for NC who I thought would tap his contacts and resources there- odd that hasn't happened.
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Yes I thought that too, very strange that we haven't gone down that route, and doesn't really look like we will.
 
Proposed training ground - Garstang Road West - I've always thought it a bit soulless, out of the way location. The Showground area on Lawsons Road/East Park Drive would be my choice as it is mainly Council owned and could include the allotments to give extra space. Also, has the added benefit of being in close proximity to the Village Hotel/Herons Reach so could be "loaned" out to visiting teams or for Junior Football Tournaments.
 
MartonBB was born on Lawson Road and I can categorically say that William Lawson covenanted that land to Blackpool Corporation with the proviso that it could not be built on.
In the 70’s they were looking at building a private hospital on the land but the residents knew they could not, subsequently it was built on St. Walburges Road.
Of course prefabs were built on the land after the war but were always temporary and later demolished.
It may be that the covenant only lasted a set number of years so without looking at the documents I cannot say.
 
MartonBornandBred said:
MartonBB was born on Lawson Road and I can categorically say that William Lawson covenanted that land to Blackpool Corporation with the proviso that it could not be built on.
In the 70’s they were looking at building a private hospital on the land but the residents knew they could not, subsequently it was built on St. Walburges Road.
Of course prefabs were built on the land after the war but were always temporary and later demolished.
It may be that the covenant only lasted a set number of years so without looking at the documents I cannot say.
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There’s always a way round these things. As some would say, time waits for no man and maybe we have to be progressive. If it’s the right spot then why not.
 
Obviously there have been a few creases to iron out on this deal. We were told that there was going to be a big reveal on this project before the end of the year (2021), it’s now May! Hopefully problems solved and we can progress this
 
The Catcher in the Rye said:
Obviously there have been a few creases to iron out on this deal. We were told that there was going to be a big reveal on this project before the end of the year (2021), it’s now May! Hopefully problems solved and we can progress this
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From what I heard , there were small parcels of land that needed to be purchased which were proving difficult, but I don’t know how much land was involved
 
I believe the club will be investing in a new irrigation system and extending the current building infrastructure at squires gate this summer. So whatever this announcement is I don’t expect the move to happen quickly ☹️
 
JJpool said:
With the apparent announcement imminent, should be for real this time, what are people expecting? Hoping for?

I think the mooted location was Garstang Road west, but maybe with the community pitches near Bloomfield Road on the land near the north.

What sort of facility are we expecting? What do we need?
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Is there an imminent announcement?
 
Am I right in thinking that Lawsons has to be kept relatively open and unused to accomodate the Air Ambulance? Hence no concerts or big events held on there never mind a tg development?
 
Not sure where lawsons has come from, there was multiple rumours that Garstang Road West was it.
 
MartonBornandBred said:
MartonBB was born on Lawson Road and I can categorically say that William Lawson covenanted that land to Blackpool Corporation with the proviso that it could not be built on.
In the 70’s they were looking at building a private hospital on the land but the residents knew they could not, subsequently it was built on St. Walburges Road.
Of course prefabs were built on the land after the war but were always temporary and later demolished.
It may be that the covenant only lasted a set number of years so without looking at the documents I cannot say.
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I lived the first four years of my life on Lawson Rd MBB so we form something of an exclusive club on this site. Congratulations!
 
JJpool said:
Not sure where lawsons has come from, there was multiple rumours that Garstang Road West was it.
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Lawson's Rd was the first choice back in the day. That's where they were preparing for, but as MBB says and I said at the time the public backlash and consultations could take years for maybe a 'NO'.
 
What do we reckon, announcement today?

Have they have been waiting for this to coincide with ST sales?... It’ll have to be soon.

You'd want ST announced ASAP definitely this week, but early as possible for me.

Does a training ground announcement, that people are excited about to see the future, but may not actually see unless its like Fleetwood, create ST buzz? For me it does as its an integral part when presented with our future plan.

Am sure they will but.... I hope they sell it, the ambition, the ideas etc.
 
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I seem to remember something about when Lawson Road was gifted to the council, there was a caveat that it could not be developed fully and had to remain open land for the towns folk to use.
 
seasideone said:
I seem to remember something about when Lawson Road was gifted to the council, there was a caveat that it could not be developed fully and had to remain open land for the towns folk to use.
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With that land, even if the council are bending over backwards there'd be years of public consultations and environmental studies which is why I've never seen that area as a viable option.
 
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