Source: FOOTYMAD
Work starts at Gawthorpe
Work is finally underway to improve the facilities at Burnley Football Club's training ground at Gawthorpe and will finally allow the players to have a self contained training centre rather than reporting to Turf Moor. The upgrade will see a new modern changing area in the existing building and will also see upgraded facilities for coaches and officials as well as providing a players' lounge, an eating area for the players and an office for manager Eddie Howe. To add to that, a new training area is being created whilst the top pitch (the current first team training pitch) receives an overhaul whilst the work is being completed over the bridge to allow the youth team to return there for their fixtures. The work is expected to be completed for the beginning of the new season which will mean the players reporting directly to Gawthorpe on training days for the first time since the end of the 2003/04 season. Stadium manager Doug Metcalfe said: "This is something the manager has been very keen to see developed so that Gawthorpe becomes a self-contained training base for the first team when needed. "We were the first club to establish an off-stadium training ground over 50 years ago and those facilities have needed modernisation and improvement. Re-development of Gawthorpe is something we have wanted to do and this is the start. "The aim is to provide facilities fitting for a club of our stature to help create a suitable first team environment for our existing players and to help to attract potential new ones."
