A different world dawns for Foxes
BRENDAN Rodgers will be able to build a “Leicester City way” and shape the club from top to bottom at the club’s spectacular new training ground.
City’s senior team move into their new £100 million home at Seagrave tomorrow with the rest of the football operation following soon after, as all of the youth sides will work alongside the first-team stars on one of the 21 training areas at the complex.
Upon signing his new contract last December, Rodgers said he wanted to build a side that, 30 years from now, would be remembered for its achievements, while he also had the vision of developing a philosophy that permeated through the club at every level.
At Seagrave, a “different world” to Belvoir Drive, he will be able to achieve that vision.
“To be able to move to one of the most advanced training facilities in the world makes us so excited,” said Rodgers.
“I have been dropping in there over the last few months and now it’s the time where we get to go in.
“We will come into our new facility which is arguably the biggest investment that the new owners have made since they have been here but it really underlines their commitment to develop and improve players and people so we are looking forward to it.
“What is also great is that it has facilities for everyone, from under-sevens to the first team, so it allows you to be on one site and you can monitor and oversee.
“We have a pitch where our second team can play with 500 seats so we have all of these added things… it’s the sheer scale of it. “As soon as you drive in you can see the indoor facilities which are incredible. “What we have here (at Belvoir Drive) is a really good and historic training ground. The owners have developed it tenfold but now we are going into a different world.” While that is a longterm goal, there are short-term benefits too. The recovery and rehabilitation facilities are as sophisticated as can be, and will help give the players that vitally important extra few per cent in a congested season.
“On the recovery of players, the facilities are elite standard for sports science and medical,” Rodgers said.
“Recovery is such an important aspect in modern football, especially with the kind of season that we are in, with games coming thick and fast, with the intensity and speed of the games, so to have the facility there will aid players’ recovery.
“We will have a swimming pool, hydrotherapy, it will have altitude chambers, cryotherapy, all the needs you would have in order to recover and prepare so that is probably one of the key aspects.”
But it’s not all about work.
The site was built on the former Park Hill Golf Club, but nine of the 18 holes have been retained.
However, the players won’t be able to get their clubs out yet as the plan is to keep the course pristine until chairman Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha can tee-off.
“We are trying to leave that for Top, we are trying to let him have the first official tee-off if we can,” added Rodgers. “When you spend over £100 million you should at least be the first one that can hit the ball on the first tee.”
■Training ground picture special - see pages 40 and 41