Why not incorporate our own state of the art training fround at the same time?

FIELD OF DREAMS - the site off Waverdale Avenue, Walkergate, Newcastle, which Newcastle United is to use to build its soccer academy where it will train the players it hopes will become the next generation of stars IT was one man's vision of the future, a dream he wanted to turn into a reality.

And today Sir John Hall's long cherished plan to groom a generation of Tyneside's finest football talent into tomorrow's stars is set to happen.

Council chiefs have approved details of a 125-year lease on 25 acres of land at Waverdale West, Walkergate, in Newcastle's East End.

Work on the #10 million project is expected to start next year.

The academy is a key part of president Sir John's dream of turning United into one of Europe's premier clubs.

The aim is to stop the drain of talent away from the North East and groom youngsters for stardom at St James's Park.

There will be an indoor training centre, seven outdoor pitches, four goal practice areas, a 90-space car park, and a new access road. Plans also include a neighbourhood park, moving a trotting track and providing new school playing fields

Under the deal, the club will make a #230,000 contribution towards the #523,000 it will cost to carry out the improvements.

Officials believe that when reductions in maintenance costs are included the benefit to the council over 20 years will be #1 million. But a waste management licence may be needed. There is an old tip and clay pit on the site Talks are taking place with the Environment Agency.

Details are revealed in a report from Civic Centre officials to the council cabinet which says the deal will have "significant benefits."

Cabinet development spokesman, Coun Kevan Jones, who represents Walkergate and is chairman of the East End Partnership aiming to revive the area, said: "We've had a meeting locally and people are very supportive.

"It needs agreement with the Environment Agency but we hope a start can be made next year.

"It's great news for the East End with #10 million of investment in the community."

Nobody was available for comment at the club.

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

Answers

Nice to see the accedamybeing biult on wasteland in the heart of geordieland rather than some greenfield site in Northumberland or Durham.

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

Excellent news, and agree with Rik's sentiments.

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

Probably about five years too late though.

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

Why has it taken so long to get permission? It's no wonder the city is not thriving when councellors take so long to deal with business propositions. I wonder how many jobs have been missed while the council ponder on other business plans. We wouldn't blame the club if they said "sod this" 7 moved to a nice greenfield site in Durham. How much in lost revenue has the city planners cost the club in delays & should the club sue?

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

Whilst planners are notorious for taking their time, they wouldn't take this long to make a judgement, besides the Appeal to the Secretary of State option could have been taken up.

I can only think the planners have been refusing the club permission on the site and possibly others so they must be all mackems.

There who said reasoned argument is dead and buried!

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

Who has said the Council took a long time to grant the application?
I may be missing something here, but how do we know the Club haven't only recently submitted this application?

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

It was in the Chronicle in 1998 & in that time I've moved away & worked two years. The council where I live now have managed to build a shopping centre with 100 new shops & eateries 10 yards from my flat in the time our council have diliberated over the suitability of a training centre in a run down district of Newcastle. So the Borough council where I live have created another 10000 new jobs in an area which hardly needs 'em while the city planners have created nothing in an area which desparately needs employment. I may blame Maggie Thatcher for starting the decline but Newcastle city council seem to do nowt to turn things around.

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

Yez berra watch ya mouths. Walkergate is not a wasteland as rik put it, i would rather it be described as a Brownfields or underdeveloped city landscape. Wasteland you can give to the smogs and the makems ( Black cats....never)

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

Dave,
Are you quite sure that NUFC have had a planning application with the City Council for a development for THIS particular site for over two years?
I seem to recall the original plan was for a greenfield site at Woolsington, and did't think a Council could legally sit on a planning application for that long without a legitimate reason. Public consultation or a referral to the Seretary of State can of course take for ever, but I don't recall hearing about any public opposition to any planning application for this development.

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

I'm sure I read about the plan 2 1/2 years ago, I thought at the time, would it not be better out in the sticks? Generally the council have always put obsticles in the way of the club, if they do that to all business, no wonder the city doesn't fulfill it's potential & why so many have found themselves moving away.

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

I seem to recall Jonno saying that at the last AGM, the Woolsington site was still being talked about and FS said that the club anmd Counciljust had to cross all thed boxes. I may be wrong, though... What good a training centre will do for the East End, I don't know. NUFC itself only employs about 200 people. Obviously there'll be building work but waht will the long terms advantages be?

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

That was exactly my recollection Dougal, without being absolutely sure.

I would have to ask you, what harm does it does in the East End? It certainly saves 25 acres of greenbelt which is disappearing fast enough as it is, and it will create even a few greatly needed jobs in that area.

With regard to the Council putting obstacles in the way of the Club, it has certainly been difficult to see them supporting the development of the Club in the way that it should have, given it's perceived position and importance to the community and economy. However, the Club simply hasn't used it's muscle in the way that it could, and IMO should have, to influence events in the way that say Nissan or Proctor & Gamble would have done locally. I still believe they should have dug their toes in regarding the planning application for a totally new stadium and the associated redevelopment of the Leazes Park and Castle Leazea areas - however, that's just another hairy old chestnut of mine. Unfortunately, it's also a very dead issue.

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

Oh, it does no harm at all and I'm glad we haven't done a Makems/Man United and ruined some countryside. It's just that there seemed to be a feeling that there were massive benefits to the esat end in having it there and I can't see that many. I agree that it was appalling the way the Castle Leazes thing was blwon out of the water but, I must say, walking up towards Gallowgate, I love the fact that SJP is right there in the centre of things, a monument to local pride.

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

>>> I'm glad we haven't done a Makems/Man United and ruined some countryside.

I take you you've never been to Carrington then Dougal. It was hardly a beauty spot before the ManUre was spread.

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

At a mere #10 million it will save Necastle United a fortune, Cant see it doing much for the city other than reclaiming and redeveloping a fairly run down inner city WASTELAND.

The area in question is only used as a trotting track for a few local gypsies horse traders and as somwhere to get pissed and take some drugs for the local teenagers. It's good that it's being put to good use.

not sure on the details of the accedemy yet, is it a (high) School for with football lessons for selected youngsters, If so how many and how can I get my kid into it?

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

I think that Clarky and Dougal are right.....if memory serves from the original idea, the Woolsington 'ground' was the sports ground behind the Wheatsheaf, which coincidentaly was one of the sports ground of Scottish & Newcastle.

I wonder if the deal went pear shaped when they announced the NTL deal earlier this....S&N throw their toys out of their pram perhaps....or am I barking up the wrong tree.

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

Oh and if you're wondering, My ancestors are from the Hexham Avenue, Scrogg road area of Walker.Many of whom now reside at her majesty's pleasure in Durham jail.

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

Rik, I knaa you're only winding me up mate. I used to date a lass from scrogg road, had many a great night being chased down hexham by the locals.

-- Anonymous, October 04, 2000

Good timing for this to come out. Do our proposed facilities include an all weather pitch!:-0

MANCHESTER UNITED are set to spend up to #8.5 million on their new Carrington training complex, in order for it to meet the requirements of the Football Association. The English champions spent #14 million on the new facilities, but they have been told that they need to invest the extra money, if they want to retain FA academy status.

"We need to add to the training centre in order to meet the FA academy requirements," said property manager George Johnstone. "We'll build a full-sized all-weather pitch and an indoor arena with all the required changing facilities."

Bradford City are currently the only Premiership side who do not carry academy status.

-- Anonymous, October 05, 2000