London & South East

New goal for Seagulls

Brighton FC Training

Construction of a £30 million training ground and academy for football club Brighton & Hove Albion FC continues to make great progress.

The project – which is set for completion in June 2014 – will see five training pitches installed at the Lancing site, along with seven pitches for the team’s youth academy.

The construction of the training facility is viewed by Brighton & Hove Albion FC as a vital move which will ensure that the team can develop and grow moving forward. Two of the new training pitches have been designed to replicate existing pitches at the club’s American Express Community Stadium.

Work on the project is scheduled to reach completion ahead of pre-season training for the 2014/2015 season.

Brighton & Hove Albion FC Chief Executive, Paul Barber, said:

“It is a massively important project for us. It completes the infrastructure of putting the club on a good footing to progress in the future and move to the next level. It is not just about attracting young players. It is about retaining good players.”

Brighton & Hove Albion FC Executive Director, Martin Perry, said:

“It is important to attract young talent so we can compete against the major Premier League clubs in growing our home-grown talent. There are state-of-the art facilities as good as a Premier League club. It is a facility that will attract good first-team players as well. It gives us the ability to train all year round, with under-soil heating and it enables us to get the best performances out of our players. It really is important for taking this club forward.”

The training facility was given the go-ahead after land was made available by Adur District Council. In 2013 the club announced the purchase of the land with works beginning shortly after.

Leader of Adur District Council, Neil Parkin, said:

“This is the largest inward investment in Lancing’s history, and very important for the people of Lancing and Adur.”

Buckingham Group Contracting Ltd is the main contractor on the new training ground for Brighton & Hove Albion FC. Based in Silverstone, Buckingham Group Contracting Ltd is a multi-disciplinary contractor who has previously completed work on a range of sporting and leisure projects, including the Molineux redevelopment and a pit and paddock complex for Silverstone.

Adenstar Developments was appointed the contractor to construct the access road which links the site with Mash Barn Lane.

Buckingham Group Contracting Ltd and Adenstar Developments were appointed as the contractors on the project following the successful construction of the club’s American Express Community Stadium in 2011.

As well as the creation of the new pitches, the training ground will include an additional 8,000 seats, providing increased provisions for spectators.

Founded in 1901 under manager John Jackson, Brighton & Hove Albion FC (aka the Seagulls) rose from the Southern League to Third Division, before reaching prominence between 1979 and 1983 when they moved up to the First Division. In 1983 the club reached the FA Cup Final, whilst former managers have included Barry Lloyd, Jimmy Case, Chris Cattlin and Brian Clough.

With the new training ground and academy mere months away from completion the new facilities will showcase Brighton & Hove’s determination to ensure that as many up-and-coming players are given the right opportunities at the club.

Brighton & Hove Albion FC Development Squad Manager, Simon Ireland, said:

“This will be one of the best academies around in terms of the Premier League and around Europe. It is a great selling point for trying to attract young players to the football club and retaining the best young players, with the competition of big clubs around.”

Brighton & Hove Albion FC Chairman, Tony Bloom, said:

“Nothing excites me more than seeing our young players coming through the ranks and playing for Brighton. From a financial point of view it makes sense to go for them rather than have to pay out significant transfer fees on other players. The fans want some of their own – Brighton boys or Sussex boys – to be in the first-team squad. That is really important and something they all look forward to seeing.”

For more information about Brighton & Hove Albion FC, please visit: www.seagulls.co.uk.

Cheshire Wellness

Cheshire Wellness specialise in the design, build and installation of swimming pools for the domestic and commercial sectors. The company has been in operation since 1964 and within this time has provided a range of pools for use in an array of projects, from traditional sauna and steam rooms to snow rooms.

Cheshire Wellness has designed and installed pools for many high profile clients including Hilton Hotel, Cornwall Spa & Estate and DW Sports Fitness, amongst others. Most recently Cheshire Wellness completed a project at the Bedford Lodge Hotel in Newmarket, which saw a new five star spa installed at the hotel.

Working on the Brighton & Hove Albion project Cheshire Wellness is installing a 12m x 5m swimming pool for use by players, as well as a hot and cold plunge pool and steam room.

Cheshire Wellness Sales Manager, Will Skyner, said:

“A lot of football academies which are currently under construction are all looking for wet leisure facilities, so it is a fantastic opportunity for Cheshire Wellness to have this project amongst our portfolio.

“Brighton & Hove Albion has requested a number of bespoke features, making these facilities a little bit different, including massage stations – these were developed with the club’s head physiotherapist. We are also installing a counter-current swim jet and we have the potential to add an underwater treadmill at a later date. We are future proofing the facilities that we are installing.”

Will added:

“At Cheshire Wellness we pride ourselves on our designs. We have the ability to provide our clients with a bespoke products, exactly how they want them.”

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