I am told that in order for SJP to be selected for Cup and/or England games, we would have to allow the teams to train at Boro who have "world class" training facilities. If this is true, it's a desperate reflection on us.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

Answers

Shameful, but accurate sadly.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

Yes, I can follow that line of thinking. At least it wasn't the Mackems tho!!

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

Maybe I'm just being thick(no change there then), but what difference does it make to NUFC where an international team trains if they play games at SJP? We rent the facilities at Riverside as it is(don't we?), so can't see how that would generate any real money to us. Certainly not as much as an international at SJP would.

Of course, with the current state of our pitch, I could see that being a very viable excuse to not wanting any extra matches.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

It's the fact that our training facilities are so bad that I'm bemaoning, Ciara. Probably the worst in the PL and then we wonder why we get so many injuries and cross players.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

The Dutch journalists who did that interview with Robson were astonished how shoddy the facilities were.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

It's indicative of a "2nd best is acceptable" mentality, just like the continuing lack of anyprogress whatsoever on the long- awaited Youth Academy.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

Sorry, Dougal. Misunderstood your post. I thought you were saying the reason we weren't getting the games is because teams couldn't/wouldn't train at Riverside. Agree it's a disgrace that we don't have our own proper training facilities. I was surprised to see the team training on frozen astroturf(!?!) because the grass pitches were frozen and snow covered. This meant some players couldn't train at all because Bobby didn't want to risk further injury. Just not good enough for a club that's supposed to have ambition.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

Arsenal are reputed to have an undersoil heated training pitch!!

Robson has said it, Rob Lee has said it, surely there must be something planned to build our own facilities. How much does it cost to have a few changing rooms, showers canteen and physio rooms?? Give me an hour and I could put a cost to it. Then there is only the security, facilities for the fans, and half a dozen excellent training pitches. Would probably cost the same as an 18 year old prosepct from Div 2!

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

The equation seems simple to me: if you want top class players, you need top class facilities.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

Not true Dougal....you need the MONEY to buy them, the MONEY to pay them, be in the position where they can WIN things and it'd help if we were in fashionable london where the smog and dirt are so much more evident....training facilities probably comes way down the list of things needed to attract players....

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

Here we go then people. I've spent ten minutes putting some basic costings for a new training facility!!! An 1800 square metre sports pavilion, including changing rooms, social area and physios rooms, which is probably far too big but what the hell! Six full size football pitches including one extra pitch sized area for other work and a 60 space car park excluding the purchase cost of the land would roughly cost.

£2,103,667.00

When you think that Liverpool's new complex cost about £10 million god knows what they've got in there!!

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

2 mill for you to do it, 15 mill for Cameron Hall....wonder who would get the contract?

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

Did you know a new football pitch including goal posts costs just over £12,000!! I dare say the professional ones are a bit more expensive due to the seeding but looking at our pitch, I'd say about £10,000 would do!

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

What about gym and swimming pool in the training complex, DB? Plus press conference facilities. Plus pasta machine.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

Dunno about a new pasta machine.

But a completely new Health and Fitness Leisure centre including pool and fitness facilities will probably push the development cost, without the purchase price of the land, to about £2,450,000.

If they spend that much they could employ a proper Italian bloke to cook fresh pasta and forget the machine.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

After I watched Chelsea train I had lunch with them. Vialli had actually employed a chef from a favourite restaurant in Turin as club chef. The food was outstanding, and I had a chat to him (the chef) afterwards. He said that they have a nutrition expert who ensures the food is correct for the players, and all of the juniors eat there as well. In fact, the juniors eat there three times a day to ensure they are too full to eat any junk food after training!

Does anyone know where/what our players eat for lunch?

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

Straight down to " Sweaty Bettys " curry hoose in Durham.

Knocking bet!!!

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

Dunno what's on the menu but they all have lunch with Bobby at Chester le St the day before a game.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

The Ch_Le_St thing could be changing soon Watch this space.........

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

For how long do we have to watch this space because I'm leaving work in twenty minutes and they haven't got internet access in the pub!!

If you know something and it is okay to share it post it! If you are bound and cannot say owt, why say owt in the first place?

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

Why Not??

I am under the immpression that Durham councill and ch-le-st have that area earmarked for something else thats all.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

What? Worm growing?

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001