Any Topic Going formerly Transfer Rumour s

What year was that?? Not in the Lawn era?

 

Did not know that, always assumed it was the same place. That is literally just a pitch, were there any other facilities? Where did players get changed? Literally not even non-league standard!
I'm assuming we only trained there following the 2 admins, surely we had somewhere proper back in the Prem days.

Thankfully, Woodhouse has decent facilities for this level, pool, gym, several pitches, all weather pitch for winter etc

 

I thought it was in GR era as he wanted to build new training facilities I believe, @Mickey bantam might have more info as he said was trained there maybe one of our ex players/juniors?.

 

Wasn't going to be near the Stansfield Arms Pub Apperly Bridge??

 

My understanding at the time was as you say the Stanfield Arms side of the road.

 

Players got changed at the ground before and after training. Had to travel between in their own cars... Yup, in the Premier League days too

 

I'm going back 30-35 years ago but I dont know how long the club used the site. My brother-inlaw was playing in the Man City reserves at the time and was good mates with Mark Ellis and we picked him up from the training ground a couple of times .

 

Means nothing, it's just a school I tells yer, a SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!

 

That is actually embarrassing

 

We don't own it and we have no assets.

If you can't understand the importance of owning assets then I can't help you.

Some of you need to learn that Rupp loaning the club money isn't great. The man should be looking to improve the club and his investment.

It's not even the best school in Bradford. What next the players train at Mr Rhodes house in his back garden. Come on! Time for this club to stop acting SUNDAY LEAGUE! The club is is a sorry mess!

 

You want to contact the club to see if you can set up a hand car wash in the playground and wash the players Merc's etc pretending its your car.

 

I think Lee Sharpe referred to it in his autobiography. Personally I always thought he was an arrogant c*nt, but he was correct about the set up of the training ground at the time.

I once remember Lee Power being interviewed on the radio when he was playing at Peterborough before a game versus us and also mentioned that the training facilities were very poor and he’d been shocked having joined us from Norwich who at the time were a solid and well performing top flight club.

Can’t blame them. I remember playing junior football at Apperley Bridge in the late 80’s, the pitches were terrible.

 

Can't believe I'm actually going to bite on this.

1) Yes, obviously owning assets is better than renting them - but at what cost.
For Bradford City to own their own training ground it would cost in the millions to have the same facilities as what we currently have. Whilst it might be an 'asset' on paper there are problems with that. Suppose we are to get promoted to champ / prem again - the training facilities will probably be inadequate and we would need to find a new location again. Conversely if we are relegated we could be stuck with facilities with high running costs that hold the club back from reinvesting in the team. You are also ignoring the opportunity cost of investing in training facilities - £2m could instead be invested in the players with a resale value which could actually generate a profit. There is no chance of us ever building a dedicated training facility and selling it at a profit. So sometimes renting does make sense, particularly when we are probably getting it relatively cheap (Woodhouse Grove get some free advertising etc.). It's currently a win-win.

2) Rupp loaning the money isn't great? If he hadn't we would be in admin #3 and with covid-19 this year that could be the end of the club. That was the mess Rahic left - don't understand the anti-Rupp brigade when he is actually putting money into the club.

3) Presumably you are referring to Bradford Grammar? From a sporting side Woodhouse Grove has better facilities than Bradford Grammar. Bradford G has a good pool but unless I'm mistaken its gym is poor, I think its also easier for the club to do its own thing without interfering with the school at Woodhouse.

 

I would say that £2 million is on the low side especially with having to buy land etc. IIRC I had read elsewhere on here that it's likely to be upwards towards £10 million. Either way we don't have that money unless SR wants to spend it on a training facility before selling the club.

 

A good cup run buys you a decent training centre

 

Exactly. Especially with the salary cap now, there's no reason that monies from player sales/cup runs etc can't go towards something like this for ourselves. I've posted multiple times that Lincoln and Mansfield built their own sites for around £1m-£3m give or take, and they aren't the only examples at our level. Its something to work towards long term, not right now obviously but when we're back and stable in league one this is one part of the necessary infrastructure developments that the club should make.

 

The only thing i'll pull you on is number 2. There was never any chance of admin 3, Rupp would have lost considerably. Its in his own interest to keep his asset going into the foreseeable future and its the McBurnie money thats kept the club going. And now with the Salary Cap his ongoing potential losses have been curtailed somewhat.

 

Leeds owned neither Elland Road stadium or Thorpe Arch training facilitates for several years, yet still got Massimo Cellino,then Andrea Radrizzani to buy the club, Andrea Radrizzani purchasing the ground back once he took over, and I believe they still don't own Thorpe Arch, so that sort of blows your take on matters right out of the water

 

Yes you might have played on the pitches at Apperley Bridge opposite the George & Dragon but I don't think you play on the pitches Bradford City now train on.

 

Leeds still don’t own their ground, their owner does. If anyone is wondering what’s the difference, about £1.7 million in rent per year that he’s charging the club. It would be like Rupp buying Valley Parade and upping the rent.