Newcastle’s Benton training ground has long been the subject of derision amongst fans since the pictures of players in water-filled wheelie bins and inflatable paddling pools appeared online. Images which have been synonymous with the tight-wad nature of Mike Ashley’s tenure as Newcastle owner.
Thankfully, the new owners wasted no time in upgrading the training facilities, giving them a fresh coat of paint and performing some minor upgrades during the season. Now that the season has ended and players are off on their holidays or linking up with their international teams, the bulldozers have descended upon Benton to make some more tangible improvements.
Long term, it is likely that Newcastle will move their base of operations entirely to create a mega training park like the one Manchester City train out of, but it’s good to see they aren’t hanging around waiting for that to come to fruition and are taking steps to improve what is already there, hopefully in time for the upcoming season.
According to The Chronicle, the new upgrades will include a revamped physio and sport science rooms, new changing rooms, a state-of-the-art kitchen, an extended dining room, a new presentation room, and a players’ lounge and hydro pools. That’s pools, not bins!
Newer facilities will not just help the current squad progress but will help the likes of Dan Ashworth and Eddie Howe sell the club to prospective transfer targets.
Imagine being the subject of a £50m bid and offered £120,000 a week and being told to cool down in an inflatable paddling pool picked up from the “middle of Lidl”.