season-review-2013-14

Go online for more info:review.premierleague.comPREMIER LEAGUESEASON REVIEW 2013/14Stoke City’s grand designAs part of EPPP funding, clubs commit to ensuring that they cater for every element of a player’sdevelopment. This includes the environment in which players train and, to support that,our clubs are now undertaking the largest capital investment programme in academy facilities.Last season Stoke City opened their new £7m Clayton Road training ground.Stoke City Academy DirectorDave Wright talks us throughtheir transformation.1Five years ago we had four Portakabins at the training ground aswell as a handful of grass pitches which were always waterlogged...2... The EPPP makes clubs prioritise where theywant to invest their money and whether theyare serious about the development of youngfootballers in this country. We , ve investedheavily in bricks and mortar...3... For the Academy we now have: three full-sizegrass pitches, a floodlit show pitch, a full-size 3Gpitch, two specific goalkeeping areas, mini-soccerareas, changing rooms, medical facilities, physioroom, hydrotherapy pool, laundry facilities,strength and conditioning areas, dining room,parents , room, meeting rooms as well as twomultimedia classrooms...4... The change has been phenomenal and, for me, that is a signal of howserious the club is in wanting to produce home grown players, not onlyfor Stoke City but for the game...5 6... Facilities help you to deliver theprogrammes that you want to deliver,and work with the players in the wayyou want to work with them...... Clayton Road has to be an inspirational place. We have displays on the club’sidentity, what we are involved in, what we stand for, and what our philosophy is –so they are living and breathing it on a regular basis.17