Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
New training centre is platform for future Dons success says Sir Alex
SIR Alex Ferguson told Aberdeen they had the platform to be successful again after opening the club’s new training facilities.
The former Aberdeen manager cut the ribbon at the £12 million Cormack Park, part of wider plans for a new stadium.
The development gives the club their first training facilities of their own, with Ferguson and his fellow former Dons bosses having to train their team on public parks, university grounds and even t he beach.
Ferguson, who led Aberdeen to the European Cup Winners’ Cup and European Super Cup i n 1983, told a ceremony: “I’m delighted to see the progress at the club.
“Don’t forget, in 78 we were the first club to have an all-seated stadium.
“So it’s not beyond Aberdeen to show the way ahead.
“And they are doing it again, particularly so for the coach. This is for the coach, to set out the proper progress for young people to train properly.
“That’s an i ndication about the progress of the club now.
“It’s absolutely imperative to have a training ground in the modern day with the athletes you are producing and the competitions you are in today. It’s different from my time.
“The kind of players we had i n my time were special, it’s hard to find these diamonds.
“We had stalwarts like Bobby Clark and Willie Miller, these were legends in the club. We could have trained on the beach every day and still won t he league.
“It was an amazing group of players to be involved with. It was a pleasure to be here at that time.
“But today is a different day and you have a great platform now to move on and be successful again. And I’m really delighted for that.”