Exeter City Football Club has unveiled its new £3m training facility.
The opening ceremony took place at Cliff Hill Training Ground on the Sidmouth Road and was attended by supporters, volunteers, sponsors, staff and local dignitaries. It was conducted by David Fursdon, HM Lord Lieutenant of Devon.
The new two-storey facility includes a larger fitness suite, separate canteen facilities, larger changing and physiotherapy facilities, improved office accommodation and multi-use theatre/match preparation/classroom space. It was constructed off-site using modular construction techniques, and then transported and erected at the training ground.
The new facility was constructed to replace the old ground, which was constructed in 1974 and had been in need of regular maintenance.
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Exeter City Football Club, which is owned by its supporters, gave members of its Supporters’ Trust the opportunity to vote on whether the project should go ahead.
Nick Hawker, chair of the Supporters’ Trust, said: “Opening the new training facility this week was a truly significant moment in our club’s history. It is extremely fitting that this important project was completed during the 20th year celebrations of our club being purchased by the Supporters’ Trust.
“We intentionally invited supporters who had contributed so much to our club over the last two decades, and longer, to the opening. It was important to us that our fans were at the heart of this ceremony.”
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Mr Hawker added: “Supporter ownership brings its own challenges, but to see this development completed and the staff and players already reaping the benefits, is extremely rewarding for everyone across the club and a reflection of what can be achieved under our unique ownership model.
“Thanks to everyone who worked to hard to deliver this fantastic project.”
A campaign to ‘Kit Out the Cliff' raised £63,000 for the development, funding items for every room in the new building, including weights, mirrors and Watt bikes for the gym; an oven, dishwasher and refrigerated counter for the kitchen; cutlery, crockery, tables and chairs for the canteen, as well as TVs, WiFi, projector and screen, noticeboards, whiteboards and carpentry through the building.
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