Tottenham Move to their New Hotspur Way Training Centre
By Logan Holmes
Tottenham’s new Hotspur Way Training Centre [from tottenhamhotspur.com]Tottenham have completed the move to their new training facility at Bull’s Cross, Enfield. The move had been expected to be undertaken in time for pre-season training but was delayed until during the international break. The facilities had been made available to the Brazil Olympic squadduring the summer and the Under-18 team played a League match against Manchester United at the start of the season. The players who were away on international duty were highly impressed at the facilities available on their return to the training ground which will be known at Hotspur Way. Andre Villas-Boas conducted his first training session at the new centre on Wednesday.
Spurs have used the Spurs Lodge training grounds at Chigwell since 1996 when it was officially opened by Labour party leader, Tony Blair.
The new Hotspur Way centre is very impressive and has been designed to provide the best possible facilities for all the needs of the players. As the club attempts to attract top class players they want to be able to offer them appropriate training facilities. The club aimed to develop a world-class facility to house the First Team, Development and Academy squads and they have certainly been successful in meeting that goal.
Back in 2006, Ledley King wrote to the Enfield Council in support of the club’s planning request for the training centre. “In the senior squad, we are very excited about the prospect of the new training ground. We’re up against the best players in the world on a weekly basis and we know that to compete regularly and challenge the top teams in the Premiership and Europe we need to develop our training facilities. This would not only give us the best chance in the top flight, but it would also ensure that young, local talent can rise to the top and we can give our fans the Club they deserve.” It has taken six years for these plans to come to fruition and King like many of the players in the Tottenham squad at that time are no longer with the club to take advantage of the excellent centre that has been provided.
Tottenham Chairman, Daniel Levy, speaking during the early construction work on Hotspur Way said,
"“I’m delighted to say work on the new training ground is now well under way and will without doubt be one of the best in Europe.”"
On Twitter @Nad-THFC tweeted some photographs of the Hotspur Way training centre. The photographs give a great impression of the excellence of the facilities. Not surprisingly, the players were very impressed by their new Hotspur Way training centre.
The Outdoor Pitches at Hotspur Way
The Outdoor Pitches
Kyle Walker on Twitter:
"“Just got to the new training ground and it’s the best I have seen and been in hopefully the start of something special #COYS“"
The Indoor Pitch at Tottenham’s new Training Centre at Enfield
The Indoor pitch at Hotspur Way.
Aaron Lennon tweeted:
"“Just left the new training ground and all I can say is #wow!!!!!! “"
The Hotspur Way Gym fitted out with the best equipment available
The Gym Area
Dean Parrett tweeted on Monday:
"“The new training ground is unreal!! #bestWorkPlace“"
The Changing Rooms at Tottenham’s Hotspur Way
The Changing Rooms
Michael Dawson, the club Captain, on the Club’s website described the facilities as
"“Special. The lads are coming here excited. It’s fresh, everything’s new. When you look at the facilities, there aren’t that many better.”"
Area for the Players to Chill and Relax
Players’ Area to relax
Jake Livermore on the club website said,
"“It’s perfect for what we want to achieve as a club. It’s got everything we could possibly want. The pitches are fantastic, all the equipment, the gym facilities, the pool for recovery and also off the pitch, there are areas for us to relax.”"
Emmanuel Adebayor described Hotspur Way as,
"“This is one of the best training grounds in Europe, no doubt about that. The most important thing is the place you work. Everything is here for us, from the pitches to recovery, the gym is incredible, the restaurant, everything is in place.”"
Hotspur Way is the completion of the first part of Tottenham’s major development plans with the work on the new stadium under the title of the Northumberland Development Project as phase two.