CONFIRMED HSBC Sports Ground - New first team training centre

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crazyblade1889 said:
It would be nice if the club put back into the community and built a quality site that could be used for grass roots sports with equally good facilities. I wont hold my breathe! In 20 years we'll wonder why our national team is so bad and we hardly have any English players playing in the top leagues.
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We will. This problem is already showing up in other sports, most notably Rugby Union and Cricket. Part of the problem is lack of places to play.
 

Revolution said:
We will. This problem is already showing up in other sports, most notably Rugby Union and Cricket. Part of the problem is lack of places to play.
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Yeh the amount of quality cricket grounds that have gone from Sheffield now and will never be replaced is scary and we wonder why our team is so bad. Yet another blow to the grass roots game.
 
Wonder why it’s come out now?
Spin,spin, spin.
The Prince will,and has no intention of being around or fronting any money to make it happen.Just like the Chancellor, announcing the abolition of national insurance, at some future date.He also knows it won’t be him, who makes it happen, so an easy promise to make.
I challenge the Prince to now say, he will stick around to make it happen.Until then, it’s just spin, on a very bad news week.
 
Bladeloyal said:
Talk to the council they have loads of unused pitches,still a cost though
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Do any of these pitches have 7v7 markings or 9v9 markings?

Also do they have nets to suit these age groups as well.

What about floodlit facilities for training during the winter months?

All suggestions you're making are valid, but there's still not enough facilities in Sheffield available, which is the point we are arguing.

Sure we can get plenty of availability in SW Sheffield, but 9pm -10pm slots aren't really suitable for an under 9 team.
 
Pleased for United as this will likely be a step in the right direction when it comes to improving our facilities. However, I must admit to feeling a little saddened as this ground was where I played some of my best years at amateur/lower semi-pro level.

I was playing at Sheffield FC between 2001 - 2002, playing 9 times for the first team. At the same time I was playing regularly for Sheffield's U19 team. A few of us were deemed good enough to make the step up to the first team.

Back then, Dave McCarthy (now United's Head of Commercial) was Sheffield FC's first team manager and worked at HSBC. Despite breaking into Sheffield's first team in the latter stages of the 2001-02 season, McCarthy suggested I join HSBC's first team who played in the County Senior Premier (a step below what Sheffield FC were playing in at the time). McCarthy knew HSBC's first team manager well so there was a nice link which allowed HSBC to have first dabs on fringe Sheffield FC players. The move was a 'loan' but I suspected my opportunities at Sheffield were somewhat limited (never played for them again after joining HSBC). I was 18/19 at the time (centre half) and hadn't quite come to terms with playing against seasoned non-league centre forwards.

I moved to HSBC for the start on the 02-03 season and Limb Lane was our home ground. The pitch was immaculate, with a full time groundsman, and far superior to the agricultural surface at the Coach & Horses Ground. There were well kept, spacious changing rooms and a modern bar to socialise in afterwards. Even though it was a step down the football pyramid, the facilities on offer were far superior to those at Sheffield FC. Our pitch was the top one, nearest to the A625 Hathersage Road. I'd moved to right-back at this stage and playing at the top end of the pitch (there was a wing to wing slope) when kicking away from the club house was an absolute joy. A carpet like surface with the slope offering so much opportunity to get down the line and cross a ball in.

One of my most memorable games at Limb Lane was playing in the Sheffield & Halllamshire Association Cup Quarter Final (03-04 season) against the newly formed AFC Barnsley. Those that remember will recall AFC Barnsley being a 'breakaway' club formed as a result of disgruntlement over Barnsley FC's plight (a bit like FC United of Manchester). AFCB had started in County Senior Div 2 but were absolutely hammering teams every week. They had access to a lot of released Barnsley academy players, and their set up was quite impressive. They came to Limb Lane having won every game in the league. Two coach loads of supporters accompanied the 'players coach'. I remember them stepping off the coach in pristine tracksuits and thinking 'this lot look handy'. Such was the occasion, I even invited my then girlfriend to come and watch. We were 3rd or 4th in the County Senior Premier, with AFCB top of the third tier league. However, they probably entered the game as favourites.

AFCB took the lead after 60 seconds without us touching the ball. It was clear that many of their players were several levels higher than County Senior standard. Their goal involved most of their players touching the ball, me being skinned down their left side, and a low hard cross being casually hit first time into our net. I feared an absolute hammering in front of my then girlfriend. Sickening.

Ten minutes later, and having steadied the ship, we won a penalty. I was our penalty taker that season, and despite shitting myself under the watchful eye of my bird, the penalty was duly despatched. Astonishingly we went on to win the game 5-2, with the AFCB lads completely losing their heads after experiencing defeat for the first time in the club's short history. We went on to win the Association Cup that year, beating Athersley Rec 3-2 after extra time at Doncaster's old Belle Vue.

Limb Lane was an absolutely brilliant set up for that level of football. I played at HSBC for three season and not once did we have a fixture pile up at the end of the season due to postponements, such was the robustness of the playing surface. The pitch handled any amount of rain and even in mid-winter the surface was immaculate. Delighted that United have secured the facility, but losing the place where I spent many happy Saturday afternoons is a little saddening.
 
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Cold up there like. Hope they provide the players wooly gloves.
 
biggiesablade said:
SUFC have virtually annexed the facilities ant they. We will be replacing the locals with our signings next. Disgusting really, the peasants of Dore are suffering here.
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Sheffield United. Still ruining people’s lives in 2024.
 

crazyblade1889 said:
Yeh the amount of quality cricket grounds that have gone from Sheffield now and will never be replaced is scary and we wonder why our team is so bad. Yet another blow to the grass roots game.
Click to expand...
Part of the issue is that kids don’t want to
play rugby or cricket in anything like the numbers they used too.
Rugby participation at youth level has fallen dramatically and it was happening before Covid struck.
Facilities are not an issue in rugby as most clubs own their own ground, there are just so many other options for kids these days.
 
KidA said:
Pleased for United as this will likely be a step in the right direction when it comes to improving our facilities. However, I must admit to feeling a little saddened as this ground was where I played some of my best years at amateur/lower semi-pro level.

I was playing at Sheffield FC between 2001 - 2002, playing 9 times for the first team. At the same time I was playing regularly for Sheffield's U19 team. A few of us were deemed good enough to make the step up to the first team.

Back then, Dave McCarthy (now United's Head of Commercial) was Sheffield FC's first team manager and worked at HSBC. Despite breaking into Sheffield's first team in the latter stages of the 2001-02 season, McCarthy suggested I join HSBC's first team who played in the County Senior Premier (a step below what Sheffield FC were playing in at the time). McCarthy knew HSBC's first team manager well so there was a nice link which allowed HSBC to have first dabs on fringe Sheffield FC players. The move was a 'loan' but I suspected my opportunities at Sheffield were somewhat limited (never played for them again after joining HSBC). I was 18/19 at the time (centre half) and hadn't quite come to terms with playing against seasoned non-league centre forwards.

I moved to HSBC for the start on the 02-03 season and Limb Lane was our home ground. The pitch was immaculate, with a full time groundsman, and far superior to the agricultural surface at the Coach & Horses Ground. There were well kept, spacious changing rooms and a modern bar to socialise in afterwards. Even though it was a step down the football pyramid, the facilities on offer were far superior to those at Sheffield FC. Our pitch was the top one, nearest to the A625 Hathersage Road. I'd moved to right-back at this stage and playing at the top end of the pitch (there was a wing to wing slope) when kicking away from the club house was an absolute joy. A carpet like surface with the slope offering so much opportunity to get down the line and cross a ball in.

One of my most memorable games at Limb Lane was playing in the Sheffield & Halllamshire Association Cup Quarter Final (03-04 season) against the newly formed AFC Barnsley. Those that remember will recall AFC Barnsley being a 'breakaway' club formed as a result of disgruntlement over Barnsley FC's plight (a bit like FC United of Manchester). AFCB had started in County Senior Div 2 but were absolutely hammering teams every week. They had access to a lot of released Barnsley academy players, and their set up was quite impressive. They came to Limb Lane having won every game in the league. Two coach loads of supporters accompanied the 'players coach'. I remember them stepping off the coach in pristine tracksuits and thinking 'this lot look handy'. Such was the occasion, I even invited my then girlfriend to come and watch. We were 3rd or 4th in the County Senior Premier, with AFCB top of the third tier league. However, they probably entered the game as favourites.

AFCB took the lead after 60 seconds without us touching the ball. It was clear that many of their players were several levels higher than County Senior standard. Their goal involved most of their players touching the ball, me being skinned down their left side, and a low hard cross being casually hit first time into our net. I feared an absolute hammering in front of my then girlfriend. Sickening.

Ten minutes later, and having steadied the ship, we won a penalty. I was our penalty taker that season, and despite shitting myself under the watchful eye of my bird, the penalty was duly despatched. Astonishingly we went on to win the game 5-2, with the AFCB lads completely losing their heads after experiencing defeat for the first time in the club's short history. We went on to win the Association Cup that year, beating Athersley Rec 3-2 after extra time at Doncaster's old Belle Vue.

Limb Lane was an absolutely brilliant set up for that level of football. I played at HSBC for three season and not once did we have a fixture pile up at the end of the season due to postponements, such was the robustness of the playing surface. The pitch handled any amount of rain and even in mid-winter the surface was immaculate. Delighted that United have secured the facility, but losing the place where I spent many happy Saturday afternoons is a little saddening.
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That's a good anecdote KidA , but don't leave us hanging on the ladyfriend front!
 
www.sufc.co.uk

Impressive new addition at Shirecliffe

United's players are set to kick-off 2021 with a sparkling, state-of-the-art first team training centre. The board of directors has given the green light for the project, despite the current economic challenges facing the football industry. The two-storey building, which will be comprised of a gym,
www.sufc.co.uk www.sufc.co.uk

This one didn't get off the ground due to financial constraints presumably down to Covid. Whilst it is progress that the Club can add agreement on acquiring land for a new first team training centre to its asset portfolio, actually purchasing it is a different matter. Then the cost of building the new facilities has to be added on top.

The Shirecliffe upgrade was estimated to cost between £ 2-3 million and included hydrotherapy and physiotherapy centres, both missing off the list in the latest statement. Both are crucial to upgrading our injury management which is sadly lacking at the moment. Presumably this is just an oversight in the wording of the announcement as getting players back on the pitch trumps accommodation for players.

The cost of the new facility when added to land purchase would indicate it is considerably higher than the original estimates for the Shirecliffe upgrade 4 years ago taking into account prices have risen considerably post Covid.

It will be interesting to hear how the Club have budgeted for this. Do we have a spare £5-6 million down the back of the Championship sofa? Where are we with planning applications.? When is the sale of the Land predicted to happen? What is the timescale for completion of the project? The promised interview with Mr Bettis should shed some light if it ever happens.
 
Jacobsenthecrab said:
Facilities are not an issue in rugby as most clubs own their own ground, there are just so many other options for kids these days.
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Like what? Playing fortnight I guess. Everything that’s wrong with kids these days and parents. They want to play Xbox games instead of being outside playing sport. Pathetic
 
CaptainMorgans said:
The timing is off.

We haven't seen any plans, we don't know if we have any planning permissions and it doesn't sound like we've actually purchased it (yet).

It has the feeling of a rushed attempt to distract from bad press.
A proper build will cost 10s of millions and he doesn't have it.
So what's his plan?

I think the news is being met with an appropriate level of scepticism.
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I get the scepticism but HSBC would not have announced this bad news for their staff any sooner than they needed to…. Or if a deal was not fully agreed.
 
Addison said:
www.sufc.co.uk

Impressive new addition at Shirecliffe

United's players are set to kick-off 2021 with a sparkling, state-of-the-art first team training centre. The board of directors has given the green light for the project, despite the current economic challenges facing the football industry. The two-storey building, which will be comprised of a gym,
www.sufc.co.uk www.sufc.co.uk

This one didn't get off the ground due to financial constraints presumably down to Covid. Whilst it is progress that the Club can add agreement on acquiring land for a new first team training centre to its asset portfolio, actually purchasing it is a different matter. Then the cost of building the new facilities has to be added on top.

The Shirecliffe upgrade was estimated to cost between £ 2-3 million and included hydrotherapy and physiotherapy centres, both missing off the list in the latest statement. Both are crucial to upgrading our injury management which is sadly lacking at the moment. Presumably this is just an oversight in the wording of the announcement as getting players back on the pitch trumps accommodation for players.

The cost of the new facility when added to land purchase would indicate it is considerably higher than the original estimates for the Shirecliffe upgrade 4 years ago taking into account prices have risen considerably post Covid.

It will be interesting to hear how the Club have budgeted for this. Do we have a spare £5-6 million down the back of the Championship sofa? Where are we with planning applications.? When is the sale of the Land predicted to happen? What is the timescale for completion of the project? The promised interview with Mr Bettis should shed some light if it ever happens.
Click to expand...

Good post, spot on.
 
Jacobsenthecrab said:
Part of the issue is that kids don’t want to
play rugby or cricket in anything like the numbers they used too.
Rugby participation at youth level has fallen dramatically and it was happening before Covid struck.
Facilities are not an issue in rugby as most clubs own their own ground, there are just so many other options for kids these days.
Click to expand...
The PE offering in secondary schools over the last 10/15 years is pretty pathetic. Some sports aren't offered anymore with lessons shorter and from my experience it seems easier to just set a 5 aside football up for 30/40 mins let the kids crack on rather than introduce sports that they wouldn't normally play
 
Just had a look concorde has pitches for tommorow and every other day 11.aside for a full game is £125.6 and 7 aside about 45 quid they do have many time slots,floodlit astro
onslowblade said:
Do any of these pitches have 7v7 markings or 9v9 markings?

Also do they have nets to suit these age groups as well.

What about floodlit facilities for training during the winter months?

All suggestions you're making are valid, but there's still not enough facilities in Sheffield available, which is the point we are arguing.

Sure we can get plenty of availability in SW Sheffield, but 9pm -10pm slots aren't really suitable for an under 9 team.
Click to expand...
 
Defo being sold, had email at work about it. Used to play in 5/6 asides up there and 11 asides in work leagues in the 2000s. Waddle used to play as a ringer even in the 5/6 aside matches.
 

IdLiketoRogerMoore said:
My lad used to play for Eccy Rangers and the main reason we shifted was the horrendous 'experience' of every home game. Once you've picked up the dog Shit, filled in the badger holes, dodged the quad bike tracks, you had the sloping pitch, sub-Arctic wind and water-logged pitches from Oct-May... Fair play to the ones that play there every week!
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Houston_Blade said:
Great attitude to have towards grassroots football!

I hope there’s a contingency for the kids at Ecclesall Rangers in terms of pitches, there’s a criminally low amount of decent grassroots facilities in the city/county/region despite being one of the greenest cities in the UK.
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Greenest & hilliest
 
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