Stoke City Commences Construction on £12m Training Ground Pavilion

Stoke City’s first team has seen the commencement of construction work on a new £12 million pavilion. These new facilities at the Clayton Wood training ground are part of the club’s strategy to achieve a return to the Premier League, according to club officials. Owner John Coates expressed his sentiments, stating, “I love the club and just want us to be successful.” He elaborated on his role, adding, “One of the key roles I can play in that is investing in facilities to help us build towards that success.” The initial phase, which involves the new pavilion for the first team, is slated for completion in December 2025. The subsequent second phase will involve the refurbishment of the club’s existing pavilion building, which will then exclusively serve its category one academy and women’s team. Stoke City vice chair Richard Smith detailed that the new structure would feature a gym, a swimming pool, a hydrotherapy suite, a cryotherapy suite, and offices for support staff, in addition to catering facilities. He also mentioned that a tactics room would be included, where coaches and players will engage in video analysis. Mr. Smith affirmed the club’s clear ambition to return to the Premier League. He stated, “We spent 10 years there, we’ve been out of it for a while now, and we’re very keen to get back up there.” He further commented, “We want to make ourselves ready for that transition before we actually get in there.” Once the construction of the new building is finalized, work to refurbish the existing facilities will commence. Mr. Smith noted that recent improvements, such as a new fan zone and upgrades to Ricardo’s bar, have been highly beneficial for the club, drawing more supporters to the club earlier on match days. He remarked, “We want people to enjoy an overall matchday experience as a Stoke supporter, and it’s an experience they haven’t had available to them before.” Club bosses indicated that this project represents their most significant financial outlay on an individual undertaking since the bet365 Stadium was constructed in 1997, and that it forms part of a seven-year plan for facility enhancements. This investment will push the total expenditure on the club’s training base beyond the £25 million mark. Sporting director Jon Walters commented, “It shows the mentality of the owner and the football club, and the direction they want to take.” He continued, “It’s part of a wider project, but a message to everyone here, who currently works for the football club, that’s where we want to be.” He added that it demonstrates the club’s commitment to progress. Walters further stated, “As a sporting director, to have an owner like John Coates to be really backing that and really progressing the club and driving it from his side, it’s music to my ears.”