Chelsea Football Club will today (Thursday) unveil our new state-of-the-art training headquarters aimed at grooming stars for the future.

 

The multi-million pound facility in Cobham, Surrey, will be the focal point for all Chelsea FC's main training activity confirming the club's long standing commitment to produce more home grown players.

 

Cobham is one of the largest and most ambitious investments in First Team, Academy and Community football ever undertaken by a football club and has been planned and built in close consultation with Elmbridge Borough Council.

 

The project is designed to unify all football activities at Chelsea in a 'campus' style, providing an inspirational atmosphere for aspiring first teamers.

 

Phase 1, the main building, has taken nearly two years to build and will be followed in a year's time by Phase 2, the overspill Academy and Community facility, home to our ever growing community programme in the area.

 

The main building features the latest in training, rehabilitation, medical, pitch and media technology as well as key environmental and architectural aspects to meet the green belt requirements of the local landscape.

 

Architects AFL worked with the planning authorities to come up with the idea of a curved roof with a natural living surface to remain faithful to the surroundings.

 

The height of the main building is no taller than any of the buildings in the immediate area and another distinctive aspect of the new design is a moat allowing light into the basement.

 

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said: 'Today is a great and proud day for Chelsea. We are very near the culmination of many years hard work to find and build a facility that is key to the future of the club and will be one of the leading centres in the world.

 

'Developing home grown players is a vitally important goal for Chelsea. Cobham gives us the perfect platform for that. Our young players, Academy and Community coaches will be working closely with the first team, this is very much part of our club philosophy.

 

'To achieve this Roman has invested in the land, the infrastructure and the latest training, medical and other technology to give us the best chance of meeting those goals.

 

'We are also totally committed to expanding our community programme in the local area and we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership with Elmbridge Borough Council and its residents who have been extremely supportive and positive throughout the process.'

 

The Mayor of Elmbridge, Councillor Rosemary Dane, who will be attending the official opening, said:

 

'Chelsea Football Club's continuing work in the community, whether running training sessions for young people and disadvantaged groups or visiting local schools to encourage a healthy lifestyle, is very valued by us all.

 

'Whilst developing the site of their training facilities, Chelsea FC has worked alongside Elmbridge Council to ensure that this project has addressed environmental issues sensitively and they have built a beautiful centre to be proud of.My congratulations to everyone involved.'

 

The facility also features biometric finger print recognition technology for entrance to the players' area and artwork by Temper, one of the country's leading graffiti artists.

 

Click on Slideshow to view more pictures of the training headquarters development.