Manchester City’s new state-of-the-art £200 million (Dhs1.1 billion) training complex was opened on Monday by former manager and captain Tony Brook.
The Barclays Premier League champions have been training at the new complex, adjacent to the Etihad Stadium, since October.
City Football Academy’s remarkable 80-acre facility boasts 16 full-sized pitches and brings all the club’s teams from youth to senior, male and female, together at one location.
The first-team building houses spacious changing rooms, top-class medical facilities, gymnasiums, pools, a refectory and hotel-standard rooms for every member of the squad. The squad already stays there the night before home games.
Of the pitches at the complex, one of them is within a 7,000-capacity mini stadium for use by reserve and women’s teams and another is fully indoors.
The whole project was six years in the making, as City’s rapid development following the takeover of Abu Dhabi-based Sheikh Mansour in 2008 continues apace on and off the field.
“It makes a massive difference,” said City defender Pablo Zabaleta ahead of Monday’s official opening of the complex.
“Manchester City have become a top club, not just in England but in the world and you need this new facility, a good training ground.
CFA: Take a pictorial tour of the new facility with our image gallery http://t.co/ifdH1Q4duv #WelcometoCFA pic.twitter.com/IAHaGfZXiX
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) December 8, 2014
CFA: The history of our new facility, featuring exclusive interviews: http://t.co/K1D2BsmEwN #WelcometoCFA pic.twitter.com/d9WJoT0z7q
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) December 8, 2014
The 7,000 capacity Academy Stadium will be used by the EDS, @MCWFC and the local community. #WelcometoCFA pic.twitter.com/Hq8GoEnZxS
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) December 8, 2014
Over 450 players will train every week at the CFA from Under 6s to the first team. #WelcometoCFA pic.twitter.com/tnWW59WDaE
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) December 8, 2014
There are 29 hours a week allocated to local college, community and disability teams on CFA pitches. #WelcometoCFA pic.twitter.com/Qe8bmjK13P
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) December 8, 2014
CFA: Read the official press release for today’s opening: http://t.co/7cCeB6oOBZ #WelcometoCFA pic.twitter.com/Ps94tpvzpn
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) December 8, 2014
£3m – financial contribution towards new community facilities. #WelcometoCFA pic.twitter.com/lQwStoX0bW
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) December 8, 2014
City might have opted for an out-of-town site but chose a more costly option that involved cleaning contaminated land. A portion of the plot acquired was then donated to the community for a new leisure centre and sixth-form college.
Around 1,200 people worked on the project during construction, 70 per cent of whom were drawn from the north west.
The club see a lot of their community work as a responsibility, with no ulterior motives, but there is a great wish for some of it to reap reward with local players coming through to the first team.
That is one area where City’s development is yet to bear fruit but, at the CFA, the pathway for young players is now clearer.