Planning application for new training ground facilities

[Super Ronnie Jepson]

Not 100% but i think they mean to "accommodate" the 1st team and Acadamy in terms people not sleeping over but to house more people like in the Gym,Classroom etc insted of having to take turns or wait?

Ohhhhh ok

 

[Grecian in Guzz]

That looks great, looks like the Watkins money is getting put to good use!

Maybe one of the buildings should be called "The Watkins Building" so a then England player called Ollie can open it ?
UTC

 

[grecian-near-hell]

Good to see it has a corner free kick and penalty practice area as well

 

[Red Nose]

These plans and the proposed facilities look fantastic. I played for the various ECFC youth teams in the early to mid 90's and I thought at the time the facilities were antiquated.

This is much needed investment, but I am curious to know the cost, which presumably will not be cheap. I note in the (terribly written) DevonLive article that there may be access to grants and funding, which would require planning permission to be in place.

 

[iscalad]

Good to see it has a corner free kick and penalty practice area as well

Wot??? No throw in practice area!! Farce

 

[Grecian in Guzz]

Can I suggest that all Grecians living in East Devon area register their support for the planning application ? UTC

 

[Matt Phillips]

That looks great, looks like the Watkins money is getting put to good use!

Or maybe not...

“In a situation where Exeter City struggles to even meet the upkeep costs of a building, which was constructed almost 50 years ago, any significant improvements to the facilities at the cliff Hill training ground will inevitably be achieved only through grants and funding, a prerequisite of which is evidence of planning approval."

I know that a couple of years ago there were early plans for a modular built facility, and that was still in excess of £1m. This looks more advance, so would imagine a sizeable cost. "Project Big Picture" specifically mentioned infrastructure funding for EFL clubs as part of the plan. Maybe there's a view that something similar is still likely...

 

[Grecian Max]

Is transfer fees not funding?

 

[malcolms]

Great investment, money spent on the youth is money in the bank.

It can be, but we need to find some way of making sure the ones that have 'real' value make a commitment that allows us to realise that 'real' value...

 

[jimbo-gould]

Love the club spending money this way. I share the temptation that others probably have in regards to spending on the first team for short term gain, but this is a better investment in my opinion.