Newcastle United’s training ground has been the Newcastle United Training Centre since July 2003. It is more commonly known by its location in Darsley Park, however. While works are also now underway to upgrade the facilities at their complex. But plans to move away from the centre also remain ongoing.
Newcastle United training ground name
Newcastle named their training ground the Newcastle United Training Centre ahead of moving into the complex before the 2003/04 season. But the site is more often referred to as Darsley Park owing to its location in Benton. While their Newcastle United Academy complex is also often dubbed Little Benton.
How many pitches are there
The Newcastle United Training Centre sits on a 35-acre site and comprises four buildings. It also has a selection of pitches with the Magpies further installing two Fibreplastic fields in 2008 and 2011. These fields mirror the one at Newcastle’s home stadium, St James’ Park, and reduced the risk of injuries.
What other facilities do Newcastle have at their training ground?
As well as the outdoor pitches at the Newcastle United Training Centre, the Magpies also built a 67m span by 90m long indoor facility. The building homes a full-size artificial football pitch for all-year use and also uses the same FieldTurf surface which a selection of the Toon’s outdoor pitches also boast.
Further, Newcastle’s training ground’s other buildings host the changing rooms, office space, a gym, meeting rooms, a restaurant, physiotherapy and a recreational area. There are also facilities for their kit crew and a greenkeeper’s building for the grounds crew to maintain all of the pitches and at St James’.
Newcastle are upgrading their training ground but could move
Before moving into the Newcastle United Training Centre, the Magpies trained at four different sites throughout the club’s history. The Toon had previously used the pitch at Newcastle’s home stadium, St James’ Park. They had also used facilities at Fenham, Maiden Castle and the Riverside Ground, as well.
The Magpies are also now working to upgrade the facilities at the Newcastle United Training Centre. Amanda Staveley described the complex as ‘really awful’ and noted ‘there’s no point having fantastic players if there’s nowhere suitable for them to train,’ via Sky Sports, after co-buying the club in 2021.
Thus Newcastle began redeveloping the site in 2022 after receiving planning permission in that June. The works saw the club update and improve their changing rooms, physiotherapy areas, the players’ lounge, dining areas and invest in hydrotherapy and plunge pools for their complex based in Benton.
Newcastle also redesigned the front façade of their building as part of the work that started in 2022. But The Northern Echo noted in October 2022 that the Toon remained committed to building a new site. The club’s Saudi-backed owners have also checked possible sites like Gosforth Park’s Parklands.
What is the address?
Address: Newcastle United Training Centre, Darsley Park, Benton, NE12 9SF