When Newcastle United was taken over in October, we knew it needed investment in a lot of areas.
The squad was, naturally, the most pressing issue, as was investing in a new manager and coaching team.
The academy, which has always played second fiddle to Sunderland’s in the North East, was next on the list.
Then we come to the training facilities. A lot has been said about Darsley Park. Some of it true, some of it untrue or outdated. We’ve all seen the photos of players using wheelie bins and inflatable pools as ice baths, but the training ground does have a dedicated ice bath room.
It does also have essential facilities including a masseuse room, a medical and treatment room, manager’s office, press facilities, and both indoor and outdoor training facilities. It’s not exactly the bleakest training complex around, but it’s certainly nothing earth-shattering.
And, as our new owners have recognised, it’s not the type of facility that’s going to appeal to world-class footballers.
It’s good to know, then, that wheels are in motion to give the training ground the world-class upgrade it definitely needs. On Friday 6th May, the club submitted a proposal for upgrades.
At the very least, the drawn-up plans make it look less like a bundle of sheds cobbled together around a few fields.
It’s also encouraging that it could be ready in time for the new season. In an ideal world, we’d have it upgraded by the transfer window opening and the player recall, but these things take time.
Expected as part of the upgrade are improved dining facilities – which, although seemingly insignificant, means the players won’t be eating in what looks like a run-down village school’s dinner hall.
Hydrotherapy facilities and plunge pools have also been proposed, which is a welcome addition. Hydrotherapy is well-known for being a gentle way of exercising for those with injuries, aches or pains and is easy on the joints. But underwater treadmill training can also speed up the recovery from injuries to the knees, ankles and calves.
Better physio rooms and sports science capabilities will be added, while the outdoor training pitches will see the addition of “hard and soft landscapes”, allowing the team to train on different terrains and put their bodies and abilities to the test.
As well as all of this – in my eyes, the most important features – there will also be a new presentation room and players’ lounge with upgraded facilities. Ultimately, a training ground should focus on its training and rehabilitation functions, but small touches like this show that Staveley is thinking of the bigger picture.
She’s also recognised that these much-needed upgrades are short-term. Darsley Park likely doesn’t have the space to accommodate her future vision of a genuinely world-class training ground. But even if it does, the entire training complex would be easier to bulldoze and start again than to try and build on top of again.
The future plans are to move to an entirely new training ground, but this process will take even longer. Ideally, the owners will be working on this in the background while the team trains at the updated Darsley Park.
The updates for now serve to improving the outdated, budget mess that Mike Ashley left the club in, as well as attracting new players with more than a couple of sheds and fields to train in. Oh, and a school cafeteria.
Yet another key promise that looks to be delivered on shortly by Staveley and the boys.
It’s refreshing to see our owners stick to their promises instead of them just ending up as nothing more than empty words.
No more wheelie bins then?
MinnesoToon(Quote)