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Cobham Training Centre

Coordinates: 51°19′0.84″N 0°23′10.30″W / 51.3169000°N 0.3861944°W / 51.3169000; -0.3861944
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Cobham Training Centre
Cobham
Map
LocationCobham, Surrey
Coordinates51°19′0.84″N 0°23′10.30″W / 51.3169000°N 0.3861944°W / 51.3169000; -0.3861944
OwnerChelsea F.C.
TypeSports facility
Construction
Built2004
Opened2007

The Cobham Training Centre, is the training ground of Chelsea Football Club located in the village of Stoke d'Abernon near the village of Cobham, Surrey. The Chelsea first team have trained at Stoke D'Abernon since 2005, but it was not officially opened until 2007.[1]

History

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When Roman Abramovich purchased Chelsea FC in July 2003, the club's training facilities were identified as an important area for new investment. Chelsea had used the Harlington training ground since the 1970s, but it was owned by Imperial College, and its facilities were regarded as outdated in comparison to those of clubs such as Manchester United (Trafford Training Centre) and Arsenal (Arsenal Training Centre).[2][3] Then-Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho regarded the move to a new, modern, training ground as "significant step forward" in the club's ambitions. Planning permission for a new state-of-the-art complex in Cobham was granted by Elmbridge Borough Council in 2004.[4] Chelsea began training at Cobham in 2005, while construction was still ongoing, and the facility was officially unveiled in July 2007.[1] In 2008, the final phase of the complex, an Academy and Community Pavilion for Chelsea's youth teams and Football in the Community department, was opened.[5]

Facilities

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Costing a reported £20 million,[6] the training ground is on a 140-acre site and, like a campus, it houses all of the club's football activities, from the first team to the academy, reserve and women's teams. It features "the latest in training, rehabilitation, medical, pitch and media technology"[7] and its facilities include nine football pitches (three with undersoil heating and six to Premier League standard), an indoor artificial pitch, a media centre, gyms, cold immersion pools, a sauna, a steam room and a 56 ft HydroWorx hydrotherapy pool.[8][9]

As a condition for receiving planning permission, none of the buildings in the complex were permitted to be taller than others in the surrounding area. Thus, approximately a third of the facility is underground; a moat was installed to reflect light into the basement rooms and to reduce energy usage.[10] The main building also has a turf roof in order to help it blend into its surroundings and to improve air quality. Water from the surrounding area is collected in a reservoir for use on the pitch irrigation system.[11]

Academy graduates

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Players who have graduated from the Cobham academy include:

Other uses

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Cobham has hosted the Surrey Positive Mental Awareness League, a football league for people with mental health problems.[13] It also hosts the Cobham Cup, a tournament for under-16 teams from around the world, including River Plate and Bayern Munich.[14] In 2007, the Chinese Olympic football team trained at Cobham for two weeks in preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics.[15] Old Malvernians play their home matches at Cobham.[16] The training facilities are also used by Cobham Rugby Football Club.[17]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b "New Chelsea training HQ unveiled". BBC. 5 July 2007. Archived from the original on 21 September 2007. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  2. ^ Simons, Raoul (27 September 2004). "Chelsea's £20million 'bunker'". London Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  3. ^ "True blue Cobham delighted to welcome the Chelsea set". The Times. 18 December 2004. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  4. ^ "Go-ahead for Chelsea plan". BBC. 27 September 2004. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  5. ^ "New Cobham Building Unveiled". Chelsea F.C. 23 August 2008. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  6. ^ "Ancelotti uses his guile to thrive where Scolari failed". The Independent. 9 February 2010. Archived from the original on 25 June 2010. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  7. ^ "Chelsea's New Training Ground for the Future". BBC. 5 July 2007. Archived from the original on 4 February 2009. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  8. ^ "Cobham in Depth: the Medical and the Media". Chelsea F.C. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  9. ^ "Cobham in Depth: a Building to Meet all Needs". Chelsea F.C. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  10. ^ "Revealing a Training Ground for the Future". Chelsea F.C. 7 July 2007. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  11. ^ "Chelsea FC Full Environmental Policy". Chelsea F.C. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Cobham calling: Chelsea's academy is colonising the Premier League | Jonathan Liew". the Guardian. 27 November 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  13. ^ "Mental health league kicked off". BBC. 5 December 2008. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  14. ^ "Blues Beaten". Chelsea F.C. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  15. ^ "Chelsea reveal all to China's Olympic team". Reuters. 1 February 2007. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  16. ^ "OM Football". Malvernian Society. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  17. ^ "Use of Chelsea's Pitches". cobhamrfc.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
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