Manchester United announce Carrington upgrade

MANCHESTER UNITED have announced planned improvements to their Carrington Training Centre, which has been their home since 2000.

Owners the Glazers have come under fire from supporters for failing to upgrade both Old Trafford and Carrington. They did make a series of improvements to the training centre in the summer and have now submitted a planning application to Trafford Council for:

• All-seater stand: Capacity for almost 500 people, with a built-in broadcast and performance analysis platform adjacent to pitch i. This will replacing two smaller stands and a TV gantry. There will be eight positions for fans in wheelchairs, alongside their personal assistants.
• Pitch-side toilets
• Electricity sub-station
• New fencing: Along east side of training centre.
• Improved access for disabled users: Hard standing areas and paths; new toilet block with disabled WC.
• LED floodlights: “Will enable more flexible use of the training pitches.”

In addition, planning applications will "shortly" be submitted for two new bespoke pavilions to host additional changing facilities, offices, gyms and catering areas. Plans for overflow car parking are also “in the pipeline.”

However, Chief Operating Officer Collette Roche admitted that: “Longer term, we are looking at fuller redevelopment plans for Carrington to ensure it will be a state-of-the-art, fully integrated facility for our men’s, women’s and Academy groups.

“Significant, game-changing investment will be made into our training facilities to take Carrington to the next level once again. In the meantime, our team have been working exceptionally hard over the summer and into this season on these improvements.”

Inevitably, there will be questions about whether the works go far enough - especially when rivals Leicester City, for example, recently moved into a new £100m training facility.

The new stand means that the Under-23s might be able to play matches at Carrington. Along with Manchester United Women, they currently play home matches at Leigh Sports Village. The U18s and U23s train at Carrington in the day, with the U13s and U14s onwards training there in the evenings.

Renovations that took place at Carrington this summer were:

• Pitches rebuilt.
  
• Women’s team facilities refurbished.
  
• Manager’s office refurbished.
  
• Restaurant areas upgraded.

Roche added: “Part of the challenge for us is to create an inclusive place for everyone who works and trains at Carrington, while making sure that it is a Covid-secure environment.

“We also want to make the site more accessible for those who may need to use a wheelchair or have disabilities. The new stand and access pathways are important parts of that.”

The Carrington Training Complex is located in the village of Carrington, just outside Sale in south Manchester and about five miles from Old Trafford.