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Training ground plans
Comments
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Depends when the break clauses is in the rental agreementForeverAddickted said:Wonder if it would be more beneficial in the long run if Thomas just moved us to a brand new location somewhere in Kent rather than trying to improve upon what we've got at Sparrows Lane AND having to pay the old bastard rent.4 -
You realise that's completely CGI right? It's not been built yet, but planning is approved.Athletico Charlton said:
Especially when we are in competition now a few miles down the road with this at Palace...bolloxbolder said:Went on the first organised tour of the training ground yesterday morning. Apart from the two astroturf pitches for the academy, and the standalone Pippin Hall facilities for the women, I was very unimpressed.
Until we are able to purchase the training ground from the Rat this will remain the case. A collection of portacabins, dotted around. Even with additions from Sandgaard, both the physio and training room resources were inadequate and in need of a drastic upgrade.
The tiny portacabin which Tracey operates out of is a disgrace. Good luck with showing that to any successor.
https://mobile.twitter.com/cpfc/status/1453708146384515075?s=21
Our approved training ground looked good too, but I can't find the pictures. This was the story: https://www.cafc.co.uk/club/club-overview/the-training-ground.
Looking back I can see there's a lot of it in @Henry Irving's first post on this thread. Obviously delayed by the Rat being landlord.
Hopefully the plan can be similar for a new site if TS cannot complete the purchase soon.
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I know its a typo Red but thanks for making me laugh this morning.Redmidland said:Im sure the facilities and general standing of the property (The Valley) is the role of the COO (Chief OPERATING Officer) who should be reporting said issues back or using his nonce to get them fixed/spruced up......but then our COO is quite clearly not doing his job, or ensuring other are, and this role is well beyond his capabilities.........................I would imagine!!!
Where's Gary Glitter when you need him eh?3 -
Eh? It’s not CGI, it opened last weekDazzler21 said:
You realise that's completely CGI right? It's not been built yet, but planning is approved.Athletico Charlton said:
Especially when we are in competition now a few miles down the road with this at Palace...bolloxbolder said:Went on the first organised tour of the training ground yesterday morning. Apart from the two astroturf pitches for the academy, and the standalone Pippin Hall facilities for the women, I was very unimpressed.
Until we are able to purchase the training ground from the Rat this will remain the case. A collection of portacabins, dotted around. Even with additions from Sandgaard, both the physio and training room resources were inadequate and in need of a drastic upgrade.
The tiny portacabin which Tracey operates out of is a disgrace. Good luck with showing that to any successor.
https://mobile.twitter.com/cpfc/status/1453708146384515075?s=21
Our approved training ground looked good too, but I can't find the pictures. This was the story: https://www.cafc.co.uk/club/club-overview/the-training-ground.
Looking back I can see there's a lot of it in @Henry Irving's first post on this thread. Obviously delayed by the Rat being landlord.
Hopefully the plan can be similar for a new site if TS cannot complete the purchase soon.
There are some sections not completed yet and shown as CGI in the video but most of it is done0 -
What? You mean like their 'new stand' which four years into to the release of the most unrealistic Architects drawings since the loft conversion on Stonehenge, still has at least four hurdles to get over, not least actually trying to buy some land from Sainsbury's who have no intention of selling to Palace - particularly as their Asset and Land Director is a long term Brighton ST holder.Dazzler21 said:
You realise that's completely CGI right? It's not been built yet, but planning is approved.Athletico Charlton said:
Especially when we are in competition now a few miles down the road with this at Palace...bolloxbolder said:Went on the first organised tour of the training ground yesterday morning. Apart from the two astroturf pitches for the academy, and the standalone Pippin Hall facilities for the women, I was very unimpressed.
Until we are able to purchase the training ground from the Rat this will remain the case. A collection of portacabins, dotted around. Even with additions from Sandgaard, both the physio and training room resources were inadequate and in need of a drastic upgrade.
The tiny portacabin which Tracey operates out of is a disgrace. Good luck with showing that to any successor.
https://mobile.twitter.com/cpfc/status/1453708146384515075?s=21
Our approved training ground looked good too, but I can't find the pictures. This was the story: https://www.cafc.co.uk/club/club-overview/the-training-ground.
Looking back I can see there's a lot of it in @Henry Irving's first post on this thread. Obviously delayed by the Rat being landlord.
Hopefully the plan can be similar for a new site if TS cannot complete the purchase soon.
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@Swisdom is the man to ask.
There are ways to get Cat 1 without a total rebuild but not owning the ground understandably limits what would be spent.
Meanwhile Palace are now a Cat 1 side and have just had a £82m cash injection.
Thanks Roland for everything you did and continue to do for our club9 -
I was also on the training ground tour yesterday and it's remarkable how tired the whole place is. There's a portakabin for the canteen, another for Tracey (which was essentially a shed) another one for the gym, as the gym equipment (all looking ropey and ripped) doesn't fit in the current gym room) and an empty one next to that for the academy gym soon, speaking of which the academy changing rooms are in a portakabin, opposite the portakabin for the academy staff, which is next to the communications staff portakabin, just past the referee portakabin. This isn't a "Covid means we need more space" deal either, many of the cabins have been there for a good number of years.
As a player turning up to that, it doesn't feel like you're walking into the training hub of a top level football team, at all. I've been to cricket clubhouses fitted out better4 -
I’ve not been to the training ground, for 40 odd years ? (wonder if it’s changed much?) would it put us off of attracting players, or is it all about the 💰?0
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I thought a training ground needed a couple of pitches, some goal nets, bibs, ball, dummy walls, changing rooms and showers.
Oh and a trench running through it.3 -
Doesn't stop major investment on a different site. Even the bluff of it is much more meaningful than bluffing about the Valley.charltonnick said:There is never going to be any major investment in the training ground , as long as it is owned by Roland.2 - Sponsored links:
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Have to say when I saw mention of tour of the training ground I did wonder what there was to see, do they encourage you to dig a trench ?bolloxbolder said:lWent on the first organised tour of the training ground yesterday morning. Apart from the two astroturf pitches for the academy, and the standalone Pippin Hall facilities for the women, I was very unimpressed.
Until we are able to purchase the training ground from the Rat this will remain the case. A collection of portacabins, dotted around. Even with additions from Sandgaard, both the physio and training room resources were inadequate and in need of a drastic upgrade.
The tiny portacabin which Tracey operates out of is a disgrace. Good luck with showing that to any successor.1 -
A few years ago we (my father's company) were asked to assist on the training ground AFTER a lot of the work had started. Roland had a vision which comprised a lovely facility...and tried to do it on the cheap. Champagne taste with Asti spumante money. He tried to get resources (staff and materials) in from Benelux as they were cheaper but, as the old adage goes, pay peanuts get monkeys and that's exactly what we got.Henry Irving said:@Swisdom is the man to ask.
There are ways to get Cat 1 without a total rebuild but not owning the ground understandably limits what would be spent.
Meanwhile Palace are now a Cat 1 side and have just had a £82m cash injection.
Thanks Roland for everything you did and continue to do for our club
The new "clubhouse" looked nice and spangly but had too much glass on it so would have overheated like a motherfucker and essentially cooked everyone inside.
The legendary trenches were a shambles and they are still suffering from the sub standard works carried out (and abandoned). We had several staff there a couple of days before christmas 2 years ago until about 9pm pumping out excess water from a blocked drain that was flooding the lower pitches and getting to the surrounding properties and gardens. We had to install new pumps to make the pitches playable. Much of this was done for the love of the club as opposed to a fee.
The training ground is looking dated - nobody will dispute that - however it is still better than numerous ones at the level we are playing at and we still have one of the most successful academies in the country consistently turning out great footballers. It would be nice to see something like Crystal Palace have just released but that's not happening for the forseeable however players hopefully look beyond the pretty lighting and changing facilities and realise the standard of coaching at Charlton, and the opportunities, are as good if not better. The only league 1 club currently with a Cat 1 is, i believe, Sunderland. There are 8 clubs at Championship level and the rest are Premier League. Once we get it it would be a huge boost for the club.
First things first we need to get a Cat 1 academy status to prevent losing players for peanuts - then we will attract even more players to the club. Remember there is an absolute abundance of talent in and around Charlton and we need, and want, to capitalise on that. Cat 1 status does not necessarily mean we need to spend millions on construction of a facility - there are other ways as other clubs have proven.
Watch this space.
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We also need a better training ground for the first team.Swisdom said:
A few years ago we (my father's company) were asked to assist on the training ground AFTER a lot of the work had started. Roland had a vision which comprised a lovely facility...and tried to do it on the cheap. Champagne taste with Asti spumante money. He tried to get resources (staff and materials) in from Benelux as they were cheaper but, as the old adage goes, pay peanuts get monkeys and that's exactly what we got.Henry Irving said:@Swisdom is the man to ask.
There are ways to get Cat 1 without a total rebuild but not owning the ground understandably limits what would be spent.
Meanwhile Palace are now a Cat 1 side and have just had a £82m cash injection.
Thanks Roland for everything you did and continue to do for our club
The new "clubhouse" looked nice and spangly but had too much glass on it so would have overheated like a motherfucker and essentially cooked everyone inside.
The legendary trenches were a shambles and they are still suffering from the sub standard works carried out (and abandoned). We had several staff there a couple of days before christmas 2 years ago until about 9pm pumping out excess water from a blocked drain that was flooding the lower pitches and getting to the surrounding properties and gardens. We had to install new pumps to make the pitches playable. Much of this was done for the love of the club as opposed to a fee.
The training ground is looking dated - nobody will dispute that - however it is still better than numerous ones at the level we are playing at and we still have one of the most successful academies in the country consistently turning out great footballers. It would be nice to see something like Crystal Palace have just released but that's not happening for the forseeable however players hopefully look beyond the pretty lighting and changing facilities and realise the standard of coaching at Charlton, and the opportunities, are as good if not better. The only league 1 club currently with a Cat 1 is, i believe, Sunderland. There are 8 clubs at Championship level and the rest are Premier League. Once we get it it would be a huge boost for the club.
First things first we need to get a Cat 1 academy status to prevent losing players for peanuts - then we will attract even more players to the club. Remember there is an absolute abundance of talent in and around Charlton and we need, and want, to capitalise on that. Cat 1 status does not necessarily mean we need to spend millions on construction of a facility - there are other ways as other clubs have proven.
Watch this space.
Yes it might be better than many/most clubs in L1, but that's not where we want to be. When we are back in the Championship, I doubt our training ground compares favourably to the other clubs there.1 -
Many thanks for that, Swisdom.
Clarity regarding this issue is much appreciated.4 -
The playing surfaces are the important bit and that will be worked on but a period of growth and sustainability needs to happen before we can throw money at something (especially whilst we don't own it).killerandflash said:
We also need a better training ground for the first team.Swisdom said:
A few years ago we (my father's company) were asked to assist on the training ground AFTER a lot of the work had started. Roland had a vision which comprised a lovely facility...and tried to do it on the cheap. Champagne taste with Asti spumante money. He tried to get resources (staff and materials) in from Benelux as they were cheaper but, as the old adage goes, pay peanuts get monkeys and that's exactly what we got.Henry Irving said:@Swisdom is the man to ask.
There are ways to get Cat 1 without a total rebuild but not owning the ground understandably limits what would be spent.
Meanwhile Palace are now a Cat 1 side and have just had a £82m cash injection.
Thanks Roland for everything you did and continue to do for our club
The new "clubhouse" looked nice and spangly but had too much glass on it so would have overheated like a motherfucker and essentially cooked everyone inside.
The legendary trenches were a shambles and they are still suffering from the sub standard works carried out (and abandoned). We had several staff there a couple of days before christmas 2 years ago until about 9pm pumping out excess water from a blocked drain that was flooding the lower pitches and getting to the surrounding properties and gardens. We had to install new pumps to make the pitches playable. Much of this was done for the love of the club as opposed to a fee.
The training ground is looking dated - nobody will dispute that - however it is still better than numerous ones at the level we are playing at and we still have one of the most successful academies in the country consistently turning out great footballers. It would be nice to see something like Crystal Palace have just released but that's not happening for the forseeable however players hopefully look beyond the pretty lighting and changing facilities and realise the standard of coaching at Charlton, and the opportunities, are as good if not better. The only league 1 club currently with a Cat 1 is, i believe, Sunderland. There are 8 clubs at Championship level and the rest are Premier League. Once we get it it would be a huge boost for the club.
First things first we need to get a Cat 1 academy status to prevent losing players for peanuts - then we will attract even more players to the club. Remember there is an absolute abundance of talent in and around Charlton and we need, and want, to capitalise on that. Cat 1 status does not necessarily mean we need to spend millions on construction of a facility - there are other ways as other clubs have proven.
Watch this space.
Yes it might be better than many/most clubs in L1, but that's not where we want to be. When we are back in the Championship, I doubt our training ground compares favourably to the other clubs there.
I gatecrashed the Millwall "consultation" the other week to talk about their proposed new site in West Kingsdown. They are looking at at least £12m to develop the site they have bought into an academy and training facility. The initial setup is not planned to be Cat 1 straight away but will have everything they need so they can activate it as and when required - with a little more investment. So those are the figures you would be talking about if we were to pick it up and move it. It's not a minor investment.6 -
the pitches at footscray rugby club are better now than ive ever known them - i'm assuming the dispute with them and Charlton has been cleared up now and we have helped sort their pitches out?0
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I'm inclined to agree with this option but if handled badly could become an own goal. I think the Valley would need to be purchased before showing your hand about the training ground.ForeverAddickted said:Wonder if it would be more beneficial in the long run if Thomas just moved us to a brand new location somewhere in Kent rather than trying to improve upon what we've got at Sparrows Lane AND having to pay the old bastard rent.3 -
we maintain them in exchange for use of them and their 4G pitches for CACT and some academy stuff.DOUCHER said:the pitches at footscray rugby club are better now than ive ever known them - i'm assuming the dispute with them and Charlton has been cleared up now and we have helped sort their pitches out?1 -
The Palace academy has been in the building phase for at least 18 months, and is now complete, I have watched it being built and developed from the Hayes Line trains, and it always makes me a little bit sick going past it and seeing how far ahead of us they now areDazzler21 said:
You realise that's completely CGI right? It's not been built yet, but planning is approved.Athletico Charlton said:
Especially when we are in competition now a few miles down the road with this at Palace...bolloxbolder said:Went on the first organised tour of the training ground yesterday morning. Apart from the two astroturf pitches for the academy, and the standalone Pippin Hall facilities for the women, I was very unimpressed.
Until we are able to purchase the training ground from the Rat this will remain the case. A collection of portacabins, dotted around. Even with additions from Sandgaard, both the physio and training room resources were inadequate and in need of a drastic upgrade.
The tiny portacabin which Tracey operates out of is a disgrace. Good luck with showing that to any successor.
https://mobile.twitter.com/cpfc/status/1453708146384515075?s=21
Our approved training ground looked good too, but I can't find the pictures. This was the story: https://www.cafc.co.uk/club/club-overview/the-training-ground.
Looking back I can see there's a lot of it in @Henry Irving's first post on this thread. Obviously delayed by the Rat being landlord.
Hopefully the plan can be similar for a new site if TS cannot complete the purchase soon.4 -
No chance of this happening IMO, there's already too much work in the pipelines and work already done for us to abandon the site. For instance the Women's facility and training pitches were barren land before TS turned up, there's a reservoir at the top of the site above the 4G pitch that is used to water the whole site that's pretty new, and not to mention the fact that it's almost impossible to get planning permission for housing on it, and land in Kent won't come much cheaper.ForeverAddickted said:Wonder if it would be more beneficial in the long run if Thomas just moved us to a brand new location somewhere in Kent rather than trying to improve upon what we've got at Sparrows Lane AND having to pay the old bastard rent.
Only way w'll move out is if we buy it from RD and then work with the local council to sell it for housing, and use the funds from that to purchase a new area of land to build upon, but it's a protected area of land and I can't see local residents liking a new mega complex of houses being built in the middle of it all4 - Sponsored links:
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If we buy from Roland he can insert a clause that if the land gets planning permission then he also benefits in the upvaluation of the land.1
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No club has ever been awarded Cat 1 status in L1 and from what I understand none ever will be, apart from the compulsory staffing levels being unaffordable in L1. Therefore we need to get promoted out of this division first, even if plans are put in place.Swisdom said:
A few years ago we (my father's company) were asked to assist on the training ground AFTER a lot of the work had started. Roland had a vision which comprised a lovely facility...and tried to do it on the cheap. Champagne taste with Asti spumante money. He tried to get resources (staff and materials) in from Benelux as they were cheaper but, as the old adage goes, pay peanuts get monkeys and that's exactly what we got.Henry Irving said:@Swisdom is the man to ask.
There are ways to get Cat 1 without a total rebuild but not owning the ground understandably limits what would be spent.
Meanwhile Palace are now a Cat 1 side and have just had a £82m cash injection.
Thanks Roland for everything you did and continue to do for our club
The new "clubhouse" looked nice and spangly but had too much glass on it so would have overheated like a motherfucker and essentially cooked everyone inside.
The legendary trenches were a shambles and they are still suffering from the sub standard works carried out (and abandoned). We had several staff there a couple of days before christmas 2 years ago until about 9pm pumping out excess water from a blocked drain that was flooding the lower pitches and getting to the surrounding properties and gardens. We had to install new pumps to make the pitches playable. Much of this was done for the love of the club as opposed to a fee.
The training ground is looking dated - nobody will dispute that - however it is still better than numerous ones at the level we are playing at and we still have one of the most successful academies in the country consistently turning out great footballers. It would be nice to see something like Crystal Palace have just released but that's not happening for the forseeable however players hopefully look beyond the pretty lighting and changing facilities and realise the standard of coaching at Charlton, and the opportunities, are as good if not better. The only league 1 club currently with a Cat 1 is, i believe, Sunderland. There are 8 clubs at Championship level and the rest are Premier League. Once we get it it would be a huge boost for the club.
First things first we need to get a Cat 1 academy status to prevent losing players for peanuts - then we will attract even more players to the club. Remember there is an absolute abundance of talent in and around Charlton and we need, and want, to capitalise on that. Cat 1 status does not necessarily mean we need to spend millions on construction of a facility - there are other ways as other clubs have proven.
Watch this space.
If we are going to compare ourselves with "numerous ones at the level we are playing at" then we may as well give up now, in my opinion. Most of these clubs in L1 are businesses that are half to a quarter of the size of Charlton. There are about half a dozen clubs that we could reasonably compares ourselves with.
Is the road across the rugby club site now operating as an access to the training ground or did Roland waste the money he spent on it, along with all the other money he wasted?8 -
Someone has to break the mould.....Airman Brown said:
No club has ever been awarded Cat 1 status in L1 and from what I understand none ever will be, apart from the compulsory staffing levels being unaffordable in L1. Therefore we need to get promoted out of this division first, even if plans are put in place.Swisdom said:
A few years ago we (my father's company) were asked to assist on the training ground AFTER a lot of the work had started. Roland had a vision which comprised a lovely facility...and tried to do it on the cheap. Champagne taste with Asti spumante money. He tried to get resources (staff and materials) in from Benelux as they were cheaper but, as the old adage goes, pay peanuts get monkeys and that's exactly what we got.Henry Irving said:@Swisdom is the man to ask.
There are ways to get Cat 1 without a total rebuild but not owning the ground understandably limits what would be spent.
Meanwhile Palace are now a Cat 1 side and have just had a £82m cash injection.
Thanks Roland for everything you did and continue to do for our club
The new "clubhouse" looked nice and spangly but had too much glass on it so would have overheated like a motherfucker and essentially cooked everyone inside.
The legendary trenches were a shambles and they are still suffering from the sub standard works carried out (and abandoned). We had several staff there a couple of days before christmas 2 years ago until about 9pm pumping out excess water from a blocked drain that was flooding the lower pitches and getting to the surrounding properties and gardens. We had to install new pumps to make the pitches playable. Much of this was done for the love of the club as opposed to a fee.
The training ground is looking dated - nobody will dispute that - however it is still better than numerous ones at the level we are playing at and we still have one of the most successful academies in the country consistently turning out great footballers. It would be nice to see something like Crystal Palace have just released but that's not happening for the forseeable however players hopefully look beyond the pretty lighting and changing facilities and realise the standard of coaching at Charlton, and the opportunities, are as good if not better. The only league 1 club currently with a Cat 1 is, i believe, Sunderland. There are 8 clubs at Championship level and the rest are Premier League. Once we get it it would be a huge boost for the club.
First things first we need to get a Cat 1 academy status to prevent losing players for peanuts - then we will attract even more players to the club. Remember there is an absolute abundance of talent in and around Charlton and we need, and want, to capitalise on that. Cat 1 status does not necessarily mean we need to spend millions on construction of a facility - there are other ways as other clubs have proven.
Watch this space.
If we are going to compare ourselves with "numerous ones at the level we are playing at" then we may as well give up now, in my opinion. Most of these clubs in L1 are businesses that are half to a quarter of the size of Charlton. There are about half a dozen clubs that we could reasonably compares ourselves with.
Is the road across the rugby club site now operating as an access to the training ground or did Roland waste the money he spent on it, along with all the other money he wasted?
but seeing as you know everything we'll just knock it on the head then.2 -
Will we get Cat 1 status before or after we’re playing regularly in Europe ?4
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I'm well aware that's what they are trying to do, but the bigger clubs don't want Cat 1 lower down the league and they tend to prevail.Swisdom said:
Someone has to break the mould.....Airman Brown said:
No club has ever been awarded Cat 1 status in L1 and from what I understand none ever will be, apart from the compulsory staffing levels being unaffordable in L1. Therefore we need to get promoted out of this division first, even if plans are put in place.Swisdom said:
A few years ago we (my father's company) were asked to assist on the training ground AFTER a lot of the work had started. Roland had a vision which comprised a lovely facility...and tried to do it on the cheap. Champagne taste with Asti spumante money. He tried to get resources (staff and materials) in from Benelux as they were cheaper but, as the old adage goes, pay peanuts get monkeys and that's exactly what we got.Henry Irving said:@Swisdom is the man to ask.
There are ways to get Cat 1 without a total rebuild but not owning the ground understandably limits what would be spent.
Meanwhile Palace are now a Cat 1 side and have just had a £82m cash injection.
Thanks Roland for everything you did and continue to do for our club
The new "clubhouse" looked nice and spangly but had too much glass on it so would have overheated like a motherfucker and essentially cooked everyone inside.
The legendary trenches were a shambles and they are still suffering from the sub standard works carried out (and abandoned). We had several staff there a couple of days before christmas 2 years ago until about 9pm pumping out excess water from a blocked drain that was flooding the lower pitches and getting to the surrounding properties and gardens. We had to install new pumps to make the pitches playable. Much of this was done for the love of the club as opposed to a fee.
The training ground is looking dated - nobody will dispute that - however it is still better than numerous ones at the level we are playing at and we still have one of the most successful academies in the country consistently turning out great footballers. It would be nice to see something like Crystal Palace have just released but that's not happening for the forseeable however players hopefully look beyond the pretty lighting and changing facilities and realise the standard of coaching at Charlton, and the opportunities, are as good if not better. The only league 1 club currently with a Cat 1 is, i believe, Sunderland. There are 8 clubs at Championship level and the rest are Premier League. Once we get it it would be a huge boost for the club.
First things first we need to get a Cat 1 academy status to prevent losing players for peanuts - then we will attract even more players to the club. Remember there is an absolute abundance of talent in and around Charlton and we need, and want, to capitalise on that. Cat 1 status does not necessarily mean we need to spend millions on construction of a facility - there are other ways as other clubs have proven.
Watch this space.
If we are going to compare ourselves with "numerous ones at the level we are playing at" then we may as well give up now, in my opinion. Most of these clubs in L1 are businesses that are half to a quarter of the size of Charlton. There are about half a dozen clubs that we could reasonably compares ourselves with.
Is the road across the rugby club site now operating as an access to the training ground or did Roland waste the money he spent on it, along with all the other money he wasted?
but seeing as you know everything we'll just knock it on the head then.2 -
they don’t lose players of the same quality we do quite as regularly and therefore it does not drive them as much.Airman Brown said:
I'm well aware that's what they are trying to do, but the bigger clubs don't want Cat 1 lower down the league and they tend to prevail.Swisdom said:
Someone has to break the mould.....Airman Brown said:
No club has ever been awarded Cat 1 status in L1 and from what I understand none ever will be, apart from the compulsory staffing levels being unaffordable in L1. Therefore we need to get promoted out of this division first, even if plans are put in place.Swisdom said:
A few years ago we (my father's company) were asked to assist on the training ground AFTER a lot of the work had started. Roland had a vision which comprised a lovely facility...and tried to do it on the cheap. Champagne taste with Asti spumante money. He tried to get resources (staff and materials) in from Benelux as they were cheaper but, as the old adage goes, pay peanuts get monkeys and that's exactly what we got.Henry Irving said:@Swisdom is the man to ask.
There are ways to get Cat 1 without a total rebuild but not owning the ground understandably limits what would be spent.
Meanwhile Palace are now a Cat 1 side and have just had a £82m cash injection.
Thanks Roland for everything you did and continue to do for our club
The new "clubhouse" looked nice and spangly but had too much glass on it so would have overheated like a motherfucker and essentially cooked everyone inside.
The legendary trenches were a shambles and they are still suffering from the sub standard works carried out (and abandoned). We had several staff there a couple of days before christmas 2 years ago until about 9pm pumping out excess water from a blocked drain that was flooding the lower pitches and getting to the surrounding properties and gardens. We had to install new pumps to make the pitches playable. Much of this was done for the love of the club as opposed to a fee.
The training ground is looking dated - nobody will dispute that - however it is still better than numerous ones at the level we are playing at and we still have one of the most successful academies in the country consistently turning out great footballers. It would be nice to see something like Crystal Palace have just released but that's not happening for the forseeable however players hopefully look beyond the pretty lighting and changing facilities and realise the standard of coaching at Charlton, and the opportunities, are as good if not better. The only league 1 club currently with a Cat 1 is, i believe, Sunderland. There are 8 clubs at Championship level and the rest are Premier League. Once we get it it would be a huge boost for the club.
First things first we need to get a Cat 1 academy status to prevent losing players for peanuts - then we will attract even more players to the club. Remember there is an absolute abundance of talent in and around Charlton and we need, and want, to capitalise on that. Cat 1 status does not necessarily mean we need to spend millions on construction of a facility - there are other ways as other clubs have proven.
Watch this space.
If we are going to compare ourselves with "numerous ones at the level we are playing at" then we may as well give up now, in my opinion. Most of these clubs in L1 are businesses that are half to a quarter of the size of Charlton. There are about half a dozen clubs that we could reasonably compares ourselves with.
Is the road across the rugby club site now operating as an access to the training ground or did Roland waste the money he spent on it, along with all the other money he wasted?
but seeing as you know everything we'll just knock it on the head then.0 -
So the tour of the training ground was a PR success then…8
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Went on the training ground tour and enjoyed it. The most frustrating thing for me is the untapped potential of the site.
If TS could get ownership, the sky's the limit.
But, I suppose, "untapped potential" is what Charlton is all about at the moment.
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BFG94 said:Went on the training ground tour and enjoyed it. The most frustrating thing for me is the untapped potential of the site.
If TS could get ownership, the sky's the limit.
But, I suppose, "untapped potential" is what Charlton is all about at the moment.
Couldn't make the tour but have to say the location of our training ground is spot on in the heart of S London. Comments about moving to Kent are a mistake I think as this location has worked so well for years. Move away and the worry would be another club like Palace buying it and having a small feeder academy there or similar.
If we can get promotion in the next 18 months and stay up plus maybe have a kid or two come through the academy that we can sell for big bucks (plus Pope sell on?) Then maybe we unlock funding to buy this and invest into it that way. Slow, organic growth. Difficult to do but would be the dream I would think.2 -
location is indeed spot on for an academy and with the train station so close as well - would be a travesty if issues with RD ever made us uproot from there2
