Two Liverpool FC legends have partnered with housing and regeneration group Torus to secure the future of the club's iconic training facilities building - with plans for a new college and sports hub.
Melwood is to be opened up to the public for the first time after Jamie Carragher and Robbie Fowler's academy teamed up with the housing provider and Beth Tweddle Gymnastics and coaching firm 'Swim!'.
Torus had already announced plans to build almost 200 homes on the site of the club's former training ground after the Reds left the facility in November for a new, purpose-built site in Kirkby.
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The Fowler-Carragher Academy will take on operational responsibility for the existing building, which will host a college aimed at unlocking a range of brand-new training and educational opportunities for young people across the Liverpool City Region.
'Swim!' and Beth Tweddle Gymnastics – each with a focus on engaging children in activity at grassroots level and led by GB Olympians Steve Parry and Beth Tweddle MBE respectively – will launch a sporting hub from the facility. It will offer both swimming and gymnastics programmes, giving local children the chance to try a new sport.
A joint statement from Fowler and Carragher said: “Partnering with Torus to kick off the new chapter in Melwood’s history was a natural fit for the Fowler-Carragher Academy and our mission to give local kids and young people opportunities to aspire and succeed.
“We are extremely excited to provide the unique offer of a fantastic education alongside a professional football programme backed by sport science experts.
“Melwood will provide the opportunity of extending our offer and creating a beacon of national excellence, which we set out to create in 2015”.
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Both Fowler and Carragher said their careers were "nurtured and shaped" at Melwood, and that they are both excited about offering new opportunities to young people.
Tweddle added: “I know Melwood’s sporting heritage occupies a strong place in Liverpool’s heart, which is why we jumped at the chance to be involved in this project, providing gymnastics and swimming for the local community in a world-class facility.
“We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to be active and, through this new facility, we will be able to do just that.”
Torus said it is also working with the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) to explore options including supported housing at Melwood for ex-footballers with dementia and other care needs.
PFA Chief Executive Gordon Taylor OBE on behalf of the PFA Charity said: “We are pleased to support this project in principle with particular regard to looking after those of our former members in need.
"We hope Melwood could become a national blueprint for such supported housing projects.”
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Steve Coffey added: “We’re incredibly excited to begin this journey with Fowler-Carragher Academy, 'Swim!', Beth Tweddle Gymnastics and the PFA.
“By working together to both honour the site’s past and reimagine its future, Melwood will become an exemplar of how a housing-led scheme can meet multiple local needs and unlock sustainable positive change for communities.”