Leicester announce plans for new £80m training ground
Leicester have trained at Belvoir Drive since 1963
Written by Simon Austin — February 3, 2018
LEICESTER CITY have announced plans for a new £80m training centre “to rival the very best in the UK”.
The new facility will be on a 180-acre site previously occupied by Park Hill Golf Club in Charnwood, near Loughborough.
A programme of public consultation has been scheduled for Spring 2018, giving local residents, businesses, communities and fans the opportunity to discuss proposals.
The new training centre will include facilities for first team, development squad and Academy, as well as supporting the club’s community programme. Leicester have also vowed to engage with the region’s major educational establishments to offer opportunities for “progressive collaboration in a world-class environment”.
Vice chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said: “The club has experienced an extraordinary rate of growth in the last seven years and keeping the Leicestershire community at the heart of that growth has been and will continue to be a fundamental principle of our vision.
"The new training ground is a truly exciting phase of our development and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to demonstrate our ambition.
"We want to invest in the best possible training facilities to develop and attract the world’s elite sporting talent to Leicester and to give them a competitive edge in a game that is constantly evolving.
“It is crucial to us that the benefits brought about by the new development make the facility a source of pride for the Leicestershire community – known for so many years for its rich tradition in sporting development.”
Manager Claude Puel added: “It is a good development, it is a good feeling that can improve the club without losing the spirit of the training ground. We do not have a lot of space now. In the dressing room, we have 20 people changing at the same time with a little place.
"There is a good feeling between people who have a good relationship and good understanding. We need all the space, all the possibility to improve the club, but without losing the quality of the spirit. I think it is crucial for the future to have a good structure for the Academy, for the professionals, for the staff.”
The future of City’s existing training facility, at Belvoir Drive, is unclear. The site has been City’s training base since 1963.
