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Echo News 'It's like Christmas' - Shrimpers make full-time move to £1million training venue

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£1m - didn't Ron claim it was much more than that?

Or is that what COSU have stuck into it? (Apologies can't read article at the moment)
 
SOUTHEND United striker Tom Hopper says Christmas has come early for the Shrimpers after making a full-time switch to their new training facility.

Blues have now made a permanent move to their Fossetts Training Ground base which cost £1million to build in addition to the land fees.

And, speaking ahead of Saturday's crunch clash with Solihull Moors at Roots Hall, Hopper admitted the move had been a big boost for the team.

“It makes you a bit giddy, it feels like Christmas really,” said Hopper.

“Everyone has been enjoying the new things and making it our home.

“It’s brilliant and we’re lucky to have it.

“We’ve been on the pitches for a while now but now to have the buildings here is brilliant and makes things a lot easier.

“Everyone is in one place and we want to make it our home now.

“The bigger picture is the club is looking to move in the right direction with investment from above.

“We’re all pushing towards that goal of promotion and this is another indication of where the club wants to go.”

Blues’ players had until today, still been using facilities at Boots & Laces to change and wash before and after training on the pitches at Fossetts.

But additional facilities - including offices, changing rooms, gyms, kit rooms and a canteen have now been added alongside the pitches with an analysis and media suite still to come.

And boss Kevin Maher feels it is a big step forward for the Shrimpers

“I’m delighted,” said Maher.

“We’ve been using the pitches for a little while now but to get the players into our own home now is a huge step for us.

“A lot of work has gone into it from the people here so we’re grateful to them for getting it done.

“There are still a few bits to get done of course but we’re delighted and it’s really going to help us.

“There’s excitement coming to a new facility and the gym is up and running now too so we’re delighted to have everyone here.

“When we finish changing we don’t have to shoot off so they can do extra work in the afternoon now as well.

"When we get the analysis suite up and running as well we can do extra work with the players there too but as a football club where this is taking us it’s huge.

“It’s a massive boost for everyone.”
 
We can't underestimate the magnitude of this. Players having to go to Boots and Laces with how dilapidated it was and serving as a constant reminder of Ron's era, must have been subconsciously hard for all concerned. This new facility epitomises a new direction and a new begining. Potential targets can now be shown this, which will serve as a genuine indication that the club is on the up, rather than showing them Boots and Laces and depicting a club that is crumbling before their very eyes. Players and staff will want to come to us now.

COSU, take a huge bow and I'm sure the best is yet to come, but just be mindful everyone. They have invested heavily and still are, on many things behind the scenes. Please do not expect a flurry of top class players on big money. They are spending their money wisely and for the greater good, please appreciate and accept that. Utb!
 
Last edited:
Blues4LifeDan said:
We came underestimate the magnitude of this. Players having to go to boots and laces with how dilapidated it was and served as a constant reminder of Ron's era, must have been subconsciously hard. This new facility epitomises a new direction and a new begining. Potential targets can be shown this which will serve as a genuine indication that the club is on the up rather than showing them boots and laces and depicting a club that is crumbling before their very eyes. Players and staff will want to come to us now.

COSU, take a huge bow and I'm sure the best is yet to come. But just be mindful everyone. They have invested heavily and still are, on many things behind the scenes. Please do not expect a flurry of top class players on big money. They are spending their money wisely and for the greater good, please appreciate and accept that. Utb!
Click to expand...
Well said
 
To be honest, moving into the new training ground this season is as (if not more) important than making the playoffs. I know it is like a comparison between apples and grapefruit, but point is that the huge investment in infrastructure is as much a statement of intent as overspending on big name journeymen players.

Boots and Laces was an embarrassment of the highest order, run down in every sense of the word, and i am pretty sure hadnt been maintained to even basic hygiene standards. That has a psychological impact, and our players deserve to have a decent workplace as much as anyone else. COSU have recognised this, and invested heavily to make this happen. Anyone questioning their priorities now has the answer. Decent employers look after their people!

In the bigger picture, i would take a season or two longer in this league over a Ron style boom/bust operation any day of the week. With the new training facilities, work happening around Roots Hall and improvements on the pitch now evident, we are finally getting our club back !
 
Its hard to remember when we are being occasionally toasted by part timers in non league. But what cosu are doing is pretty phenomenal and we should count ourselves lucky.

Soon we will have everything of league 1 standard. Just need to get there on the pitch now....
 
excellent ,having this new training facility will also help in recruitment off decent talent , show them and there managers what we have to offer compared to so many of our competitors and also the plans for ROOTS HALL along with what they already know when it comes to supporters and im sure we will have convinced them this is a club with a future now , and one that would be a joy to represent .
 
I do feel a new name for the training ground should be mooted. Fossetts will always for me remind me of the days of Ron and his long proposed much changed stadium.

I get that Fossetts Way is the name of the road and a past nod to a farm, but Boots and Laces wasn't called the Eastern Training Ground.

I'd much rather it was named something like "Shrimpers Park" / "Robert Jack Fields" or "Trigg Training Complex"

Anything that moves away from Fossetts which will always remind me of Ron. And as grateful as I am to COSU I don't think it should be named after them.
 
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