Chairman Julian Tagg gives supporters an update on plans for new 3G facility
Plans to install a new 3G pitch at Exeter City’s Cliff Hill training ground are well under way, with chairman Julian Tagg saying work on the project is due to start in two to three weeks.“The planning permission has been achieved,” said Julian. “There are still one or two stipulations that need to be worked through, which are primarily environmental issues, but we are very confident those can be satisfied.
“We are progressing fast towards retaining a contractor to start the work. And, while there is still a considerable amount of work needed, with organising and reorganising schedules to ensure that the Cliff Hill Training Ground can run affectively, we are hoping to start construction within two to three weeks.
“It is not a certainty, but we hope to complete the work by mid-November.”
The installation of the outdoor 3G surface will benefit the club in a number of different ways.
The major benefit will be that it will enable the first team players to train at the Cliff Hill Training Ground during the winter months.
In previous seasons this has not been possible due to the grass pitches at the training ground becoming waterlogged making any kind of training extremely difficult, unsatisfactory and unacceptable for a professional club.
Installing a 3G pitch will also hugely benefit the club’s Academy not only in providing guaranteed practice hours but significantly reducing hire costs.
Training and match opportunities will now be provided for the Exeter City Ladies team and the Football in the Community department will also be able to use a great new surface to promote and introduce football at Exeter City to thousands of youngsters.
Whilst the longstanding goal of this 3G target is close to being hit the club, in conjunction with the Trust, have already started the process of addressing the club’s next infrastructure aim of getting the Academy – who have helped produce many of the players in the current first team – from a category three status to a category two level. To achieve this a full-sized indoor 60x40 facility, with a 3G surface, is the next target.