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Bowlee Training Facility - Statement
Bowlee Training Facility - Statement
Monday, 19th Jul 2010 13:00 by Dale Trust

The Trust, along with club director Andrew Kelly, have issued a statement regarding the Bowlee training facility.

Following requests by the Trust Board, Andrew Kelly, who has been the Club Director most directly involved in the provision of a fully resourced training facility, has, we believe, clarified the position in the statement below. We should care to add the following.

 Ironically, it is the success of the Team through its Management over the last three years which has significantly changed the criteria demanded of any proposed training facility, and the Trust believes that to utilise hard earned funds on a facility which fails to provide this resource would be to fail all those who contributed. Bowlee was the venue in the frame when we set out, but we believe that it’s the achievement of the most suitable training facility with the funds available that’s vital – wherever that venue may be.

We should also like to underline the final part of Andrew’s statement which refers to those who contributed in achieving the challenging funding objective. These funds remain exclusively for the attainment of the most appropriate training facility available, and any proposal/s to achieve this objective by utilising this money raised will not proceed without the approval of the Trust members.

I have been requested by the Trust to give the up to date position on Bowlee. 

 

When this project was conceived some six plus years ago it was seen by the Board, at that time, to be the answer to the Club’s lack of training facilities. When I joined the Board four years ago the project was being managed by Rod Brierley, who resigned two years ago. I took on the mantle of trying to push this project forward and, to this end, the Trust volunteered to adopt the task of funding and managing the completion of the project. During the course of the last three years, many things have changed, including the success and aspirations of our management team. More recently, it became apparent to me that Bowlee would not meet the standards that they required to capitalise on their remarkable achievements, and I therefore embarked on finding an alternative site.

In discussions with Keith Hill and Dave Flitcroft, it was determined that an ideal training ground should comprise an area equivalent to the size of 3-4 pitches. This would enable the squad to rotate on grass and, additionally, allow the Youth Team to train alongside the First Team squad, allowing the management to assess their abilities more closely. They currently train at different locations.

I have made considerable progress with the Council in identifying an alternative site and, once discussions are completed, and only after agreement with the Trust, through its members with regard to funding, will an announcement be made.

The Trust and its members have completed a remarkable task in raising the necessary funds, and I would, on behalf of the Board, like to thank everyone who has contributed. Until discussions regarding an alternative site are concluded, and agreed by the Trust members, this Board will not request, and the Trust will not release, any monies that have been raised. Please be assured that the Trust Board is a worthy custodian of your funds.

Andrew Kelly

Director

 

 

 

 

Photo: Action Images



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BlueDutch added 15:24 - Jul 19
Better late than never. Hopefully the new venue will be a lot closer to Spotland than Bowlee. I wonder if they might now comment on the Hornets rumours?
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bilbobaggins added 17:35 - Jul 19
why not just build a two sided stand over the road at the sandy lane end over the road and develope the park into a full training ground come comunity area ,,,, im sure with another three pitches over in the park one for rugby and reserves to play on and another two for other uses like training ,,,,im sure the council would go for that as the park insnt used for much else and if brought upto a better level would be beneficial to all,,,,with a little brains it could be a win win all round and common sence
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Birchy915 added 19:54 - Jul 19
Screw training pitches, lets build a 100ft statue of Desmond!
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Cleedale added 12:55 - Jul 20
Let's just hope that whatever anyone has in mind for the benefit of training facilities for the club, that this matter starts to gain immediate momentum, as it seems to me that the Bowlee project has been going on for years and years.

Surely, and with collateral interests in the Stadium, the Council would want to take this promotion year seriously and provide the RIGHT and JUSTIFIABLY EARNED facilities that have been so desperately needed by the club.

Let's hope something proper turns up and that agreements on all sides can see this
project move forward for the benefit of all concerned.
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