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Renovated Melwood?

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Ray K:
Fowler and Carra are buying Melwood for use with their academies

Reds legends part of 'legacy beyond football' plans for Melwood - official Site


--- Quote ---A new partnership between North West housing and regeneration group Torus, the Fowler-Carragher Academy, swim! and Beth Tweddle Gymnastics has secured the future of Melwood's iconic training facilities building.

Since taking ownership of Melwood from Liverpool Football Club in August 2019, Torus has developed ambitious plans for a landmark mixed-use housing scheme, delivering affordable, sustainable, multi-generational living and enduring community connections.

With the team at Torus busy re-imagining Melwood as a lasting asset for the community, every effort was made to ensure the existing world-class facilities were retained, and opened up to the public for the first time.

Torus’ chief executive, Steve Coffey, said: “Melwood is an iconic site – for West Derby, for Liverpool and for Torus.

“We called our community consultation ‘a legacy beyond football’ to underline our vision for a landmark housing-led scheme. Retaining a strong sporting connection was always high on our list of priorities.”

The partnership announced today with a host of sporting legends gives the training facilities building a new lease of life.

The Fowler-Carragher Academy – the brainchild of Reds icons Robbie Fowler and Jamie Carragher – will take on operational responsibility for the existing building, which will host a college unlocking a range of brand-new training and educational opportunities for youngsters across the Liverpool City Region.

Swim! and Beth Tweddle Gymnastics – each with a focus on engaging children in activity at grassroots level and led by GB Olympians Steve Parry and Beth Tweddle respectively – will launch a sporting hub from the facility. Offering both swimming and gymnastics programmes, the hub will give local children aged 0+ the opportunity to try a new sport, make new friends and have fun.

“Partnering with Torus to kick off the new chapter in Melwood’s history was a natural fit for the Fowler-Carragher Academy and our mission to give local kids and young people opportunities to aspire and succeed,” said Carragher and Fowler, whose professional careers were nurtured and shaped at Melwood.

“We are extremely excited to provide the unique offer of a fantastic education alongside a professional football programme backed by sport science experts.

“Melwood will provide the opportunity of extending our offer and creating a beacon of national excellence, which we set out to create in 2015.”

Tweddle said: “I know Melwood’s sporting heritage occupies a strong place in Liverpool’s heart, which is why we jumped at the chance to be involved in this project, providing gymnastics and swimming for the local community in a world-class facility.

“We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to be active and, through this new facility, we will be able to do just that.”

Torus is also working with the Professional Footballers’ Association to explore options including supported housing at Melwood for ex-footballers with dementia and other care needs.

PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor, on behalf of the PFA Charity, said: “We are pleased to support this project in principle, with particular regard to looking after those of our former members in need. We hope Melwood could become a national blueprint for such supported housing projects.”

Coffey added: “We’re incredibly excited to begin this journey with Fowler-Carragher Academy, swim!, Beth Tweddle Gymnastics and the PFA.

“By working together to both honour the site’s past and re-imagine its future, Melwood will become an exemplar of how a housing-led scheme can meet multiple local needs and unlock sustainable positive change for communities.”
--- End quote ---


Why Robbie Fowler and I are buying Melwood - Jamie Carragher


--- Quote ---I am officially returning to my spiritual home today.

Robbie Fowler and I have joined forces to take over the site of Liverpool’s former training ground at Melwood. Our academies are merging to offer a pathway for those looking for work in the football or sports industry.

It is our ambition to help create a new generation of well-trained professionals who, if they cannot revive their playing careers, will become sport scientists, physiotherapists or coaches. We will be offering several courses and scholarships for those seeking help gaining employment across many fields.

Robbie and I have been in discussions for some time about forming a partnership, so when the Melwood site became available, the emotional connection was immediate and we realised it was the perfect venue. We’re thrilled the deal is being formally announced.

We will be keeping most of the Melwood facilities we enjoyed during our playing careers, including the main building and a couple of the football pitches. As ex-Liverpool players, we will also be preserving the spirit of the old training ground, ensuring visitors are left in no doubt about the rich history of the venue.

Although many who attend our academies are those we are trying to help get back into the game, the opportunities will extend beyond helping former or future professional footballers.

We are also liaising with other notable sporting figures such as Merseyside Olympians, gymnast Beth Tweddle and swimmer Stephen Parry, as we seek to take advantage of outstanding facilities Liverpool FC left behind when they relocated.

Robbie and I have also spoken to the Professional Footballers Association and will be offering the site as a hub for dementia research and support for members, a subject which the public has become increasingly aware of following several high-profile cases.

Since Liverpool vacated Melwood, it’s been a personal joy for me to be able to return to the place where I spent all of my playing career.

When I retired as a Liverpool player, my morning routine was so engraved in my memory I would sometimes find myself heading towards the training ground as if I was still working there. I would have to reverse the car and realise I was no longer a Liverpool player!

It makes me extremely proud to know that I can get back to driving through those famous gates again every day.
--- End quote ---

reddebs:
Superb that ^^

cdav:
Fantastic news that, hopefully giving local kids sporting opportunities in top class facilities for years to come

D🐶G:
Great news this is. Much rather Melwood be put to good use and be around in its current form, than it end up as another housing estate. Well done to all involved in making this happen.

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