Arsenal Training Centre
Location | London Colney, Hertfordshire |
---|---|
Coordinates | 51°42′40″N 0°17′5″W / 51.71111°N 0.28472°W |
Owner | Kroenke Sports & Entertainment |
Type | Football training ground |
Construction | |
Built | 1998–1999 |
Opened | 11 October 1999 |
Construction cost | £10 million |
The Arsenal Training Centre, branded as the
Constructed after manager
Alongside accommodating Arsenal's first teams and youth teams, the centre acted as the training base for the
History and development
When
By February 1998,
Richard Marshall and Dearle & Henderson designed the training ground and its facilities.
The Arsenal Training Centre was opened by
Facilities
The training centre covers an area of 143 acres (0.58 km2). In all, there are ten full-size pitches at the site.[10] Inside the complex, there are training and rehabilitation areas, physiotherapy and massage rooms and remedial and hydrotherapy pools.[10] There are also squash/basketball courts, sauna, steam and weight rooms, a restaurant for staff and players, conference rooms, offices, classrooms and a TV studio to interview players and staff for Arsenal TV.[15]
All ten pitches have undersoil drainage and an automated sprinkler system. In addition, two have undersoil heating. Each pitch is built to match the playing surface specifications of the Emirates Stadium.[10] Three of the pitches are reserved for the Arsenal youth team, three for the reserves and three for the first team.[10] The tenth pitch is where first team friendlies and Under-18 league fixtures take place.[10]
A medical and rehabilitation centre was completed in October 2011, tailored to meet the needs of the Arsenal players.[16] The centre houses apparatus such as an anti-gravity treadmill and a range of screening equipment.[16] Players returning from injury are able to focus on their rehabilitation "in a separate, specialised space", with medical staff on hand.[16] Extra training pitches are also set to be laid.[17] In February 2015, Arsenal installed 1,400 m2 of artificial grass for some pitches at the centre, ordered from Tisca Tiara.[18]
In March 2015, Arsenal announced plans for a major redevelopment of its training centre.[19] The plans included expanding and upgrading the main building, constructing a player performance centre, and refurbishing the visitors, educational and media centre. Specific gym improvements include new 40m running tracks.[19] New offices and meeting rooms were to be built for the scouting team, academy staff, and data analysis personnel.[19] Upgraded training medical and training facilities include a spa, a cryochamber, and ice baths.[19] The project was supported by the Sport England with planning approval given by the Hertsmere borough council planning committee.[20] These developments were completed by the beginning of the 2017–18 season.[19]
Criticism
The ground has attracted criticism from local residents. A parish council meeting in October 2001 revealed that Arsenal players had not been involved with local initiatives, despite claims during its planning phase that the ground would allow the club to develop links with the local community.
In March 2006,
Other uses
The England national football team frequently trained at the ground when preparing for games in London; the agreement with Arsenal began in March 2003.[23] They have since 2012 relocated their training base to St George's Park National Football Centre.[24] Arsenal's training ground was used by the national team in November 2013, for the friendlies against Chile and Germany after St George's Park reported a stomach bug.[25]
For the UEFA Champions League final at Wembley Stadium in 2011, Barcelona used the centre's facilities to train.[26] NFL side St. Louis Rams trained at London Colney in preparation for the 2012 NFL International Series in London.[27]
In November 2009, the ground held a tournament between teams of colleagues from eight local organisations, which raised £1,500 for charity.[28]
References
- ^ a b c Callow, Nick (13 March 1998). "Revolution shakes the Gunners". The Guardian. London. p. S8.
- ^ "Wenger stands by his winners for Dons battle". Evening Standard. London. 1 November 1996. p. 66.
- ^ Williams, Rhys (12 May 1998). "Arsenal's playing and coaching staff will no longer have to get changed in a St Albans hotel if Arsene Wenger's dream of a new, purpose-built training complex, planned for next summer, is finally realised". Evening Standard. London. p. 14.
- ^ "Happy Wenger enjoying his role in control". The Independent. London. 30 September 1997. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ^ a b c Howarth, Anita (10 July 1998). "Arsenal FC scores Green Belt training centre". EGi News. London.[permanent dead link](subscription required)
- ^ "The UCL Sports Ground". Google Maps. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
- ^ "Arsenal Training Ground". AFCi. Arsenal Football Club. Archived from the original on 18 September 2000. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ^ a b Taylor, David (21 October 1999). "Arsenal gets a complex". Architects' Journal. Emap. p. 20.
- ^ a b c d e "Arsenal venture into the future". Evening Standard. London. 11 October 1999. p. 85.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Training Centre". Arsenal.com. Arsenal Football Club. Archived from the original on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ^ Pierce, Bill (12 October 1999). "Wenger 'shock' as Vieira faces a 5-game ban". Western Daily Press. Bristol. p. 38.
- ^ Tanner, Richard (12 August 2002). "Keegan's biggest gamble". Daily Express. London. p. 45.
- ^ "Shell found near training ground". BBC News. BBC. 20 August 2006. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- ^ "London Colney becomes Sobha Realty Training Centre". Arsenal F.C. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ a b c d Norton, Tommy (19 May 2006). "The village home of the European finalists". thisislocallondon.co.uk. Newsquest. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- ^ a b c "Medical Centre opens at training ground". Arsenal.com. Arsenal Football Club. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ^ Wilson, Jeremy (7 October 2010). "Arsene Wenger set for transfer budget boost from property sales". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
- ^ "Arsenal football club buys Swiss fake grass". SwissInfo.ch. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "Redevelopment Plans Unveiled". Arsenal.com. Arsenal Football Club. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- ^ "Arsenal expansion go-ahead granted by council for London Colney grounds". hertsad.co.uk. Archant Community Media Ltd. 23 February 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- ^ Samuel, Katie (27 January 2005). "Arsenal v Shenley". Watford Observer. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
- ^ a b c Bose, Mihir (30 March 2006). "Arsenal played England card to get their training ground". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
- ^ Hart, Michael (25 March 2003). "It won't be easy, warns Eriksson". Evening Standard. London. p. 71.
- ^ "Gerrard, Lampard miss England's first Burton session". AFP. Google News. 9 October 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
- ^ "England switch bases after St George's Park stomach bug scare". BBC Sport. BBC. 11 November 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ^ "Champions League final: Manchester United and Barcelona travel to London – in pictures". The Daily Telegraph. London. 27 May 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
- ^ "St Louis Rams train at Colney – pictures". Arsenal.com. Arsenal Football Club. 24 October 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ^ Cosgrove, Sarah (27 November 2009). "Work football teams raise £1,500 for charity". Times-Series. Newsquest. Retrieved 22 November 2013.