Poole Council have approved plans from AFC Bournemouth to build a state-of-the-art training complex in a move which is a massive boost for the future of the club. The complex is to be built on a 57-acre site which was formerly the popular Canford Magna Golf Club in the town, but which has been vacant since closing unexpectedly in March 2016.
The council voted unanimously in favour of the new site which will feature ten full size football pitches, an indoor pitch, three junior pitches, along with medical and rehabilitation suites. The new venue will see the first team move from their current site in Kings Park next to the Vitality Stadium and in a phased development, they will be joined by the youth and development squads with the aim of housing the entire club in one purpose built site.
The application will now go to the Secretary of State for final approval but that now looks like a formality, and it is a major step for a club that was in League Two just a few short years ago. The Cherries have exceeded expectations on the pitch since arriving in the top flight, and the aim now appears for the off-field operations of the club to catch up over the next five years.
Since arriving in the Premier League, the facilities on the south coast and have come under intense scrutiny following their sharp rise, and a new stadium is the next step as the Cherries look to establish themselves as a top level outfit.
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The current stadium remains the smallest in the Premier League and talks about a bigger stadium are expected to be concluded soon, with the intention to remain within Kings Park made by the club earlier this year. Demand for tickets in the Bournemouth and Poole area far outreach the capacity at the Vitality Stadium and although the search for a new venue has been long and frustrating for supporters, the opportunity to boost match day revenue is one the club cannot afford to miss
Planning application is expected to go in in 2018 for the new stadium, and along with the new training complex, it appears as if the Cherries are a club moving in the right direction as they look towards the future.
AFC Bournemouth Chief Executive Neill Blake believes the new training ground is the first step in a long-term vision for the town and the football club.
A new training complex will be a huge step forward for the club and we have endeavoured to propose one which is befitting of a Premier League club, while also providing the perfect environment – both sporting and educational – to develop youngsters in the area.
The news is a timely boost for the club as they enter the busy Christmas period with a game against Liverpool live in front of the Sky cameras to look forward to this weekend. The Cherries slipped to an unlucky defeat at Old Trafford on Wednesday night, but memories of their famous 4-3 win over the Reds from last season will be fresh in their minds as they welcome Jurgen Klopp back to the Vitality.
Whatever the result on Sunday, the future looks bright for the Cherries.
