Saints plan for new training headquarters (From St Helens Star)

Saints plan for new training headquarters

8:46am Wednesday 21st July 2010 in News By Andrew Kilmurray, News editor

THE former site of a secondary school is to be transformed into a training centre of excellence for Saints rugby league club.

Plans to turn school buildings, off Hard Lane into training facilities, changing rooms and offices have been given the green light by planners.

Cowley Language College moved a short distance last year to a cutting edge £22m new school leaving classrooms on the former site unused.

Saints and the school, which has a proud rugby tradition, have been in negotiations over the past few years and planning permission has been secured.

The training base will be used by Saints players and juniors in the academy ranks.

Blueprints detail how the buildings will be altered to create areas such as a weight training gym, video classroom, players lounge and kitchen.

There will be offices for the Super League side’s coaching team, a physio room and even an ice bath area to help players’ aching bodies to heal.

Saints will depart their current training ground at Ruskin Drive at the end of the season and relocate at their new Cowley base.

Eamonn McManus, Saints chairman, believes the facility will ensure the club continue to compete at the sport’s top level for decades to follow.