CONFIRMED HSBC Sports Ground - New first team training centre

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Rodley said:
Have we bought it? Or just signed a contract to buy it if we can get a satisfactory planning permission?
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Hopefully the latter, although as it already has a use as a sports field with buildings the principle of getting planning should be ok. The problem may come in the detail and highway usage.
 

Snowflake said:
Hopefully the latter, although as it already has a use as a sports field with buildings the principle of getting planning should be ok. The problem may come in the detail and highway usage.
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Abuts an Area of High Landscape Value and you’ll have the usual Green Belt considerations to contend with. Bit to contend with there but you’d hope the principle is sound.
 
Rodley said:
Abuts an Area of High Landscape Value and you’ll have the usual Green Belt considerations to contend with. Bit to contend with there but you’d hope the principle is sound.
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Surely our landscaping will be premier class and enhance the whole area (?), perhaps a newly planted wood in the goal area.
 
I
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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Dont know who you are, but I'm guessing JM.

I played alongside ya 🤣
 
crazyblade1889 said:
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
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Not just gaming, there’s so many more sports and activities available now. Loads of kids goto the gym rather than ‘play’ a sport.
Times have moved on
 

Exclusive, picture of new training facilities to be built at HSBC

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crazyblade1889 said:
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
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Unfortunately alot of the blame for that lies at parents. Parents don't want their kids playing outside (quite rightly in some areas) cos of paedos or being stabbed up. So they keep their kids were they can see them.
 
I can't work out all the negativity on this thread and how it has been hijacked by junior football nerds.
My only concerns are has the club actually bought the land yet? How is the skint Prince going to fund it along with the required upgrades? When will spades be going into the ground? Lots of questions but very few answers, I can very much understand fans being sceptical as this is announced just when Prince Abdul was in line to receive a lot of justified criticism.
 
metalblade said:
I can't work out all the negativity on this thread and how it has been hijacked by junior football nerds.
My only concerns are has the club actually bought the land yet? How is the skint Prince going to fund it along with the required upgrades? When will spades be going into the ground? Lots of questions but very few answers, I can very much understand fans being sceptical as this is announced just when Prince Abdul was in line to receive a lot of justified criticism.
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I can't work out all the negativity...
 
Kev Gee said:
Unfortunately alot of the blame for that lies at parents. Parents don't want their kids playing outside (quite rightly in some areas) cos of paedos or being stabbed up. So they keep their kids were they can see them.
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Can they not see them if they take them to play some sort of sport? 😂
 

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