Training ground

It’s a lot easier and quicker to chuck up some prefabs on a site you already own.

Aquiring appropriate land in a fairly densely populated area, covered by multiple authorities and then getting permission to create something from scratch is a lot more time consuming.

I’m not sure why the TG is being used as a stick to beat SS with. As long as it IS happening the time it’s currently taking seems perfectly acceptable to me given the scale of the project.

Some people seem to think it’s like chucking up an extension.
 
LA1 Seasider said:
It’s a lot easier and quicker to chuck up some prefabs on a site you already own.

Aquiring appropriate land in a fairly densely populated area, covered by multiple authorities and then getting permission to create something from scratch is a lot more time consuming.

I’m not sure why the TG is being used as a stick to beat SS with. As long as it IS happening the time it’s currently taking seems perfectly acceptable to me given the scale of the project.

Some people seem to think it’s like chucking up an extension.
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I agree with you. As long as it IS happening. And therein lies the problem- a lack of concrete information (npi).
 
why can Squires gate not be developed now? surely cheaper to sort the pitches there properly etc. There's room for a couple of pitches and some half decent changing facilities and utilities- if and when we get a bigger training ground, it could be used for community use, youth teams etc.
 
Junior_BentsPlatformShoes said:
why can Squires gate not be developed now? surely cheaper to sort the pitches there properly etc. There's room for a couple of pitches and some half decent changing facilities and utilities- if and when we get a bigger training ground, it could be used for community use, youth teams etc.
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Agree think squires gate is the best option, redevelop that.. the new current proposed training ground you will have to drive through one of the largest council estates in the UK, full of feral kids, smack heads, driving passed burnt out cars , boarded up houses just before you pull into what will resemble a high security prison to stop it being broken into or players cars being damaged.. it's really going to attract players when they come to look around!!
 
Probably not a popular thought - but wasn’t it always going to happen under previous owners? Promised but never developed?

I know we are further along - council funding, plans etc. But some form of comms on when ground is to be broken would be a welcome positive - especially when we are short on those.

In some instances the club is in danger of repeating the mistakes of previous owners - or at least giving the appearances of. And perception often jumps in to fill a vacuum.
 
Sunpool said:
Agree think squires gate is the best option, redevelop that.. the new current proposed training ground you will have to drive through one of the largest council estates in the UK, full of feral kids, smack heads, driving passed burnt out cars , boarded up houses just before you pull into what will resemble a high security prison to stop it being broken into or players cars being damaged.. it's really going to attract players when they come to look around!!
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Grange park aint that bad these days
 
Sunpool said:
Agree think squires gate is the best option, redevelop that.. the new current proposed training ground you will have to drive through one of the largest council estates in the UK, full of feral kids, smack heads, driving passed burnt out cars , boarded up houses just before you pull into what will resemble a high security prison to stop it being broken into or players cars being damaged.. it's really going to attract players when they come to look around!!
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That's an old stereotype, pretty sure it's nowhere near as bad these days.
 
Briggsysgonagetya said:
Grange park aint that bad these days
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I grew up on Grange Park, and it isn't too bad at all. It was even better years ago. As for the entrance to the new Training Ground, I think it will probably be on Garstang Road.

EDIT. If for any reason rhe new Training Ground can't be built on the proposed site, I would ask Andy Pilley if he would extend Fleetwood's Training Ground to accommodate Blackpool, then run it jointly. After all, Andy Pilley always was a Pool fan.

🧡UTMP🧡
 
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Junior_BentsPlatformShoes said:
why can Squires gate not be developed now? surely cheaper to sort the pitches there properly etc. There's room for a couple of pitches and some half decent changing facilities and utilities- if and when we get a bigger training ground, it could be used for community use, youth teams etc.
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That’s already in place and has been pretty much since the day SS walked into the building. In fact it’s been continually upgraded each preseason since. It’s prefabs but there’s adequate changing facilities, players lounge, offices, gym etc.
 
Don’t mind the public access being from Grange Park, but imo the player and ‘main’ entrance to create a favourable impression should be via Garstang Rd with appropriate landscaping. They own the land. Might need to create another entrance as part of the plan and get it done safely to appease Highways dept.
But there’s no intention at present to make the TG open to the public (missed opportunity for constant revenue stream imo - see Poolfoot for how it should be done), and the public shouldn’t be limited to the redeveloped area nr Bloomfield Rd.

Main issues for me are:
1st team pitch is too close to the pylon.
No CCTV security.
Design and style of Main building looks like a 1970’s sports hall and doesn’t need to ‘blend with the trees’, as I was told at the open consultation in July. It’s not in an area of outstanding natural beauty, so I don’t get the steer of self-imposed limitations.

They are going to be pushed to have the new TG open in less than 3 years for pre-season 2025/26.
 
Sunpool said:
Agree think squires gate is the best option, redevelop that.. the new current proposed training ground you will have to drive through one of the largest council estates in the UK, full of feral kids, smack heads, driving passed burnt out cars , boarded up houses just before you pull into what will resemble a high security prison to stop it being broken into or players cars being damaged.. it's really going to attract players when they come to look around!!
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Can't be had to be as high and mighty as you, obnoxious doesn't even start to cover it.
 
tangerine_neil said:
Don’t mind the public access being from Grange Park, but imo the player and ‘main’ entrance to create a favourable impression should be via Garstang Rd with appropriate landscaping. They own the land. Might need to create another entrance as part of the plan and get it done safely to appease Highways dept.
But there’s no intention at present to make the TG open to the public (missed opportunity for constant revenue stream imo - see Poolfoot for how it should be done), and the public shouldn’t be limited to the redeveloped area nr Bloomfield Rd.

Main issues for me are:
1st team pitch is too close to the pylon.
No CCTV security.
Design and style of Main building looks like a 1970’s sports hall and doesn’t need to ‘blend with the trees’, as I was told at the open consultation in July. It’s not in an area of outstanding natural beauty, so I don’t get the steer of self-imposed limitations.

They are going to be pushed to have the new TG open in less than 3 years for pre-season 2025/26.
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Agree on the new entrance.

Disagree on the public use, the new Revoe Sports village is for that, there isn't another professional club in the country who open their training ground up to the community, professional players and a professional academy should have a professional environment to train in away from the community imo
 
Northstandsinger said:
Exeter’s new training ground.

Smart and does the job it doesn't need to be spectacular.
Maybe we will have the facilities one day to rival these clubs like Exeter and Fleetwood but I won’t hold my breath.
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There is one major drawback with that training ground the physio room would need to be 5 x bigger to cope with our squad of sick notes, twisted socks and hamstrung players
 
Marton Monorail said:
Agree on the new entrance.

Disagree on the public use, the new Revoe Sports village is for that, there isn't another professional club in the country who open their training ground up to the community, professional players and a professional academy should have a professional environment to train in away from the community imo
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Fleetwood open their training ground to the public every single day.
 
The size of this new training ground does it need to be so big, can we not reduce the size of pitches etc to invest more money in the 1st team squad ?
 
Squires Gate can only accommodate 2 pitches - 3 at a push.

To bring First Team, Development Team and various academy sides together you need 8 pitches (so pitches aren’t overutilised) as a minimum, specific training areas for warm ups, sprints, GK’s etc, a showcase pitch (basically a replica of BR for proper games), an indoor area, several sets of changing rooms, gymnasium, offices, treatment rooms, lecture halls etc etc.

Not to mention artificial surfaces, adequate storage and facilities for ground staff, kitchens, laundry etc.

Squires gate simply can’t accommodate that. Not even close.
 
For years we've had accusations of small club mentality and self appointed experts on all things BFC, preaching about not doing things on the cheap. We now have plans in place for a purpose built training centre and have as many 'experts' saying "we don't need all this expenditure. Why don't we go for the cheap option? "
You couldn't make it up!
 
Briggsysgonagetya said:
Grange park aint that bad these days
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Our family was one of the first to get housed at pilling crescent back in 1959.you could leave your doors open at night ,every body knew everybody as kids we helped the council workers with the landscaping around the play area ,even remember marking the white lines for the footy pitches known as boundary park.loved going to Grange Park infant and junior schools,around 1967 my parents decided that we had to move because it had started to house the crack and smack heads ,undesirables from out of town even murderers.it must have gone full circle Briggsy
 
Udo_onwere said:
For years we've had accusations of small club mentality and self appointed experts on all things BFC, preaching about not doing things on the cheap. We now have plans in place for a purpose built training centre and have as many 'experts' saying "we don't need all this expenditure. Why don't we go for the cheap option? "
You couldn't make it up!
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But we do everything on the playing side on the cheap.
2x out of work managers
Loans and free agents
All of which has got us virtually relegated.
 
Skye Charlie said:
Our family was one of the first to get housed at pilling crescent back in 1959.you could leave your doors open at night ,every body knew everybody as kids we helped the council workers with the landscaping around the play area ,even remember marking the white lines for the footy pitches known as boundary park.loved going to Grange Park infant and junior schools,around 1967 my parents decided that we had to move because it had started to house the crack and smack heads ,undesirables from out of town even murderers.it must have gone full circle Briggsy
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I will sometimes cut through there if im walking to Poulton, its not as bad as some people make out. i think it still has a reputation from years gone by, there are much worse areas of Blackpool
 
Adams Kebab said:
This is a great point tbf.

Plans looked like a cross between Thornton Sports Centre from the 90’s or that indoor bowls place there was in town.
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Was told the ‘brown’ cladding and bricks were to blend in with the nearby tree line. 😮

I mean, Ffs. No wonder BB can’t sort quality on the pitch if he can’t detect other peoples’ bullshït at 100 paces. Or his quality control switch is broken / set to ‘meh’ 😵‍💫
 
Briggsysgonagetya said:
I will sometimes cut through there if im walking to Poulton, its not as bad as some people make out. i think it still has a reputation from years gone by, there are much worse areas of Blackpool
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I have worked in loads of properties on there through the council it’s still full of dossers, druggies and pond life.
 
Does anybody know if they bought the land

I'm sure I read they had last year but not seen anything recently

Maybe not one for the SLO though 🤷
 
LA1 Seasider said:
It was bought and contracts signed subject to gaining planning permission.
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You have said that before and fair enough etc. Was this on the OS?

Presumably Friday would be a good time to announce the FPP application, or hearing date, depending where it's up to.
 
fcblackpool said:
You have said that before and fair enough etc. Was this on the OS?

Presumably Friday would be a good time to announce the FPP application, or hearing date, depending where it's up to.
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Was at the last SDM I think. Pretty sure the club also made a statement on the club website confirming too
 
fcblackpool said:
You have said that before and fair enough etc. Was this on the OS?

Presumably Friday would be a good time to announce the FPP application, or hearing date, depending where it's up to.
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They also bought land nearest to Baines school which will be used for re-wilding and keeping the floodlights away from the residential houses on that side. Plus they own the land to the north - leading to Garstang Rd. Like I said above, I’d use that for the main player entrance. Do it in conjunction with the amended public right of way. Would require a much longer driveway into TG and they are deliberately keeping the car parks and driveways to a minimum. Not that I agree, but there you go.
 
tangerine_neil said:
They also bought land nearest to Baines school which will be used for re-wilding and keeping the floodlights away from the residential houses on that side. Plus they own the land to the north - leading to Garstang Rd. Like I said above, I’d use that for the main player entrance. Do it in conjunction with the amended public right of way. Would require a much longer driveway into TG and they are deliberately keeping the car parks and driveways to a minimum. Not that I agree, but there you go.
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Long before my time but didn’t that site off of Garstang Road used to be another school ? If so there likely wouldn’t be too much difficulty in the club getting permission to build an access road to the site if one previously existed.

That being said I noticed in the articles and announcements that they used the words ‘initially’ when reporting the facilities the TG would have - that to me suggests they’re leaving scope to extend and further develop the site down the line with additional pitches / facilities if and when needed. That would also explain a large swathe of undeveloped land to the Garstang Road side of the site and not planning to put an access road through that part of the site too.

I’d also consider it a clever move potentially as if that bit of the site previously was a school would it not be easier to get permission to build something that perhaps isn’t just a football pitch if the plot of land could be classed as ‘brownfield’ and not part of the greenbelt / open land between authorities (which is only really appropriate for development in the form of pitches)
 
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