O'Neil: We Move Into 'Incredible' New Training Ground Building Ahead of Opening Game
Thursday, 30th Jul 2026 10:33

Town boss Gary O’Neil says the new training ground building, which he and his squad are set to move into in the week ahead of the opening game of the season against Sunderland, is an incredible facility.

Work has been been ongoing at Playford Road on the new main training ground building costing around £30 million for just over a year.

Having watched it emerge behind fences during that time, the squad will start to use the facility as they prepare for the opening game of the Premier League season against Sunderland.

“They’ve done an unbelievable job with that, it’s one of the best I’ve seen,” O’Neil said. “I was at Liverpool for a bit doing the 21s and we in there, a new building, but that was shared between 21s and the first team.

“This is an incredible facility for the first team lads to be around. It shows how serious the owners are.

“The fans are, as they know, incredibly lucky to have such supportive, ambitious, owners. There’s other clubs around that maybe don’t have the same sort of backing and this club, the journey it’s been on and what the owners have done for the place over the last few years has been incredible.

“The training ground is a big statement really as to what’s gone on and the growth that’s occurred and all we need to add to it now is a successful Premier League campaign and then we can start to build and grow.”

O’Neil got his first taste of playing in front of the fans at Colchester last night and is similarly excited about his first game at Portman Road.

“It was great, a strange experience, I don’t think I’ve done it home game at a different ground, I guess this is sort of a home game and sort of an away game, an interesting one,” he added.

“I’m looking forward to to Portman Road, to be honest. I can’t wait to get there and to stand in the dugout and in the technical area in front of the crowd. I’m looking forward to it.

“So we get a couple of little trial runs and then we can get the real party started against Sunderland at home and see if we can do something special.”

Photo: ITFC

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tetchris added 10:59 - Jul 30 Probably would have been better for it to have been finished a little bit sooner. A week before first game of season is t ideal as bound to be teething problems like there is with any new building if this type.
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FlittonBlue added 11:05 - Jul 30 You ever had the builders in? Ideally they would be done before the kids return to school and end up finishing just in time for Halloween!!!
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JewellintheTown added 11:15 - Jul 30 I'm sure with all the money involved, this isn't your average build, so glitches will be pounced on and resolved quickly & properly. It'll be fine.
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Cervantes added 12:22 - Jul 30 It's not as if they've had no training facilities before the opening of the new one. It's a welcome improvement, whenever it's available. Coaches and players will adapt, even if they had to train in Bourne Park.
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Bazza8564 added 18:30 - Jul 30 Gary, you re beginning to appreciate the journey we've been on since 2021, thats excellent, but we are counting on you to deliver this time. It's great we have this facility, but worthless if we have another 24-5. That still hurts. Hopefully we will have the start on 22/8 we all crave and make it count
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armchaircritic59 added 19:20 - Jul 30 The more I hear from Gary the more I like what he says, he seems to " get " the club too. However he'll know better than anyone that the talking stops on August 22nd and the doing starts. I hope we get to see a detailed video of the new facility, it sounds quite something.
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Linkboy13 added 08:08 - Jul 31 Can't fault the ambition of the club when it comes to the infrastructure. We now have to match it on the playing side. World class training grounds won't turn championship players into Premier players im afraid.
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