UEFA president Michel Platini and the First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones have attended the official opening of Wales’s new National Football Development Centre in Newport, with Europe’s football chief praising the facilities being unveiled.
“It’s important to have good facilities and headquarters for the young people to have somewhere to become the best players,” said Platini. “If you want success in international football you have to work at the grassroots and then you have a good chance.”
The £4.4m facility at Newport International Sports Village, called Dragon Park, is part of a venture involving UEFA, FIFA, the FAW, the Welsh Government, Sport Wales and Newport Council. The development includes two premium grade pitches, 3G facilities and a state-of-the-art headquarters with conference facilities, coaching rooms, training recovery zones and an administrative base for the Welsh Football Trust.
The HQ building was built by international construction services group ISG, which won the contract following a competitive tender by the FAW. ISG appointed Boyes Rees Architects to develop the architectural and interior design, working alongside structural engineers Shear Design. Newport City Council provided a 125-year lease for the development of the project on its land and the hope is for further investment at Dragon Park to boost the current £30m infrastructure at Newport International Sports Village.
Speaking after the official launch, Boyes Rees director Clive Webb said; “Our design development brief was to deliver a combination of top-level training facilities with flexible office and meeting space and that has been achieved at Dragon Park. It has been a fantastic project to work on and it is rewarding to know that Welsh football squads at all levels will have access to such world-class facilities, all sited within one complex.”
ISG’s John Rawlinson, managing director – South West, added: “The new National Football Development Centre underlines the FAW’s commitment to delivering a sustainable future for Welsh football. This major investment in the very latest training and development facilities will undoubtedly provide the catalyst for greater participation at the highest levels of the game.”
The key aim of the centre is to improve the standard of football at all levels in Wales, particularly for men’s age-group and youth squads, women’s national and age-group teams and national disability squads. It will also be home to referees’ training and be used by foreign academies and training for visiting professional clubs.
First Minister of Wales, The Rt Hon Carwyn Jones, added: “The state-of-the-art facilities here at Dragon Park will inspire budding footballers of all genders, ages and abilities to develop and perfect their skills. We have committed £450,000 in capital funding for the first phase of this development which aims to increase participation in sport and bring wider economic benefits to the community by opening its doors to host matches and provide a world-class training venue.”