The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
TAKE IT AS RED
Legend Fergie sets ball rolling on Dons’ bright new future
The most successful manager in football history returned to the northeast yesterday to unveil Cormack Park.
Sir Alex Ferguson said Aberdeen FC’s new £12 million training facility would be “the envy of many other clubs, not just in Scotland”.
Under his leadership in the 1980s, Aberdeen were able to conquer both Scotland and Europe, winning three Scottish League championships, four Scottish Cups and the European Cup-Winners’ Cup in 1983.
Speaking as Cormack Park was unveiled, the former Dons and
Manchester United boss said he hoped the site would help lay the groundwork for future successes.
“The positive impact on performance and morale of best-in-class training facilities cannot be underestimated – and these facilities are up there with some of the best I’ve seen,” Sir Alex said. “There is no doubt that Cormack Park will help the club to attract, retain and develop the players and coaches the
club needs to compete at the highest level.”
The new training campus is the first phase of Aberdeen FC’s plan to bring them back to the top of Scottish football. The second phase will include construction of a new stadium, with the club confirming yesterday it should be completed in 2023.
Aberdeen FC chairman Stewart Milne said: “As a focal point for our footballers and their coaches to train and interact with the community, as well as offthe-pitch operations, it will achieve our ambition of driving maximum socio-economic benefits into our communities
through the power of and passion for football. This progressive modernisation strategy will lead the way in Scottish football with an integrated facility that acts as a destination and visitor attraction, forming a key part of the regeneration we are seeing across the city and wider region.”
Vice-chairman Dave Cormack, who the new facilities have been named after, said: “It is a great day for the region.
“The Aberdeen FC Community Trust will have access to the same facilities as the first team to help the disadvantaged children of the area and the wider community as a whole.”
“These facilities are up there with some of the best I’ve seen”
It will bear his name as a lasting reminder of his investment in the club but Cormack Park means so much more to Aberdeen vice-chairman Dave Cormack.
The Atlanta-based businessman was given the honour of having the club’s near £13 million training ground named after him and while naturally thrilled with the honour the former chief executive is most proud that his family will have lasting legacy in the Granite City.
Cormack said: “When I am no longer above the daisies generations of our family can remember Aberdeen is home. That was important to (my wife) Fiona and myself. It’s a very proud day but we’re only a small part of it.
“Many people, led by the chairman, have brought us to this point and it’s fantastic to be involved.”
Former Dons boss Sir Alex Ferguson officially cut the ribbon to open the club’s new training home at Kingsford yesterday as phase 1 of the ambitious training ground and stadium was completed.
The budget of £10m was exceeded in delivering the first phase but Cormack insists the investment will be money well spent.
He said: “It is a quality environment. We have spent closer to £13m than the £10m budgeted when we started. We’ve invested in a hybrid pitch, which the English Premier League teams use, at a cost of £750,000 on its own but it will be really durable in the winter.”
T h e C o r m a c k Foundation regularly supports charitable projects and having given £1m to the AFC Community Trust Cormack is delighted the trust will also have a home at the new facility.
He said: “We want to be part of the fabric of the community and the community trust has done a fabulous job. We are delighted it will also be for use by the community.”
Phase 2 – the stadium – is due for completion in 2023 and chairman Stewart Milne, while proud to see phase 1 reach fruition, knows major challenges still lie ahead.
He said: “We have to be realistic, it has been a massive challenge to raise the £12m-plus to realise phase one.
“So it’s going to be an even bigger challenge to get the £45m or so for the new stadium, especially in the current economic climate.
“A big part of it will be getting as much value as we can out of Pittodrie and that will need the property market to be a lot stronger.
“At this point in time I think a realistic target is summer 2023, which sounds a long way off but is just round the corner.
“A lot of work would need to be done to get that up and running. The focus for the next period is putting the training ground to work.
“I will enjoy this moment, the club needs to take a deep breath after delivering this and we will see how we move forward.”
The longer term and more challenging task for Milne and his board will be raising the funds for the stadium but Milne was happy to take a momentary break – even if it is only for a day.
He said: “I can honestly say we never lost belief but I didn’t think it would take us 20 years to get here.
“There were times it looked pretty bleak, the planning process has been a challenge and this is the third attempt at it.
“So seeing it all come to fruition is a very proud moment, for the club and for me personally.
“I don’t see it as my legacy because so many people have worked hard on this and have committed big chunks of their lives to deliver this facility.”