Crystal Palace have formally unveiled their new £20m Academy redevelopment, with the site being opened by former Palace graduate and current England manager, Gareth Southgate. More than 220 young players will benefit from world-class playing, training and education facilities.
Southgate graduated from Palace’s youth system in 1990, having joined the club aged 16. Having made 191 Palace appearances, including captaining the club to the First Division title, he returned to the club this week to officially open the new academy facilities, which were recently completed following the commencement of the work back in June 2020.
The redevelopment created five grass training pitches, a full-size outdoor 3G pitch with floodlighting, a show pitch, a full-size covered indoor training pitch and gymnasium, as well as a complex of offices, analysis rooms, a lecture room, meeting rooms, classrooms, restaurant and kitchen. A state of the art medical rehab and extended gym therapy area are currently underway and will form the final phase.
Chairman Steve Parish said: “The new Academy will have a transformative effect on the future of the football club and the local community, not only enabling us to attract and retain the best players in one of England’s richest footballing areas but also to help scores of young people and local schools enjoy the facilities.
“We will also be able to offer a comprehensive educational and player care programme ensuring that even those players that don’t make it have an improved set of life choices.
“Gareth was a pivotal part of creating the current academy system and his success is testament to the type of person and player this club strives to produce. He is an immensely proud part of our history and we also hope we can produce some home grown talent to help England win a major tournament. It is fitting that he should open our new facilities to mark this monumental step forward for our football club.”
Quite impressive...
