For the census-designated place near Washington, D.C., see Melwood, Maryland.
Melwood, in West Derby, Liverpool, was Liverpool Football Club's training ground from the 1950s until November 2020. It was not attached to The Liverpool F.C. Academy, which is at Kirkby. Melwood was bought by affordable housing development company Torus in 2019, as Liverpool invested in the Kirkby training ground so the First Team and Academy could train together, with increased space and better facilities.[1] Liverpool's First Team and Academy have trained at the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby since November 2020.[2] Liverpool's plans to move in the summer of 2020 had been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]
The Melwood ground previously belonged to St Francis Xavier, a local school.[4] Melwood was named after two priests, Father Melling and Father Woodlock, who taught football at the school's playing fields.[5][6]
Liverpool moved into the facility in the 1950s, after previously training on the Anfield grass. This was having a detrimental effect on the pitch and a decision was eventually made to take over a few football pitches in the West Derby area of the city. However, by the end of the decade, the training base had significantly deteriorated.[2] When manager Bill Shankly arrived in 1959, the three playing fields and adjoining pavilion had not been maintained and the pitches were overgrown. In his autobiography, Shankly described it as a “sorry wilderness”. On seeing what looked like two huge bomb craters in one of the playing surfaces, he asked “have the Germans been here?”[2]
Shankly and his staff subsequently sought to transform Melwood into a top-class training facility. He introduced the five-a-side games that defined his "pass and move, keep it simple", philosophy. Players would meet and change for training at Anfield and then board the team bus for the short trip to Melwood. After training, they would get the bus back to Anfield to shower and change and get a bite to eat. Shankly thus ensured all his players had warmed down correctly and he would keep his players free from injury. Indeed, in the 1965–66 season, Liverpool finished as champions using just 14 players, and two of those only played a handful of games.[7]
In January 2001 Liverpool started work on the Millennium Pavilion, a modern facility for players and coaches, designed in part and heavily influenced by then manager Gérard Houllier. There is a small covered area for invited spectators. Training starts early in the morning with players arriving around 9 a.m. The players go through a morning session and are also required to turn in an evening session.
Redevelopment
In 1998, youth and development teams had been moved to a new 56-acre integrated training facility at The Academy in Kirkby.
Due to size constraints of the site and obvious secrecy issues associated with Melwood, in 2017 LFC revealed a plan of a proposed redevelopment of the Kirkby centre at a cost of £50 million, allowing the first team to move training to the expanded facility. The approved plan incorporated the first team and the academy at Kirkby, allowing the redevelopment of Melwood into housing. The Kirkby plan was expected to be completed before the 2019–20 season,[8] allowing subsequent redevelopment of Melwood from summer 2020 onwards into 160 homes, mixed between detached and semi-detached properties, with an enclosed community amenity space.[9]
References
^"Affordable housing provider Torus set for Melwood redevelopment".
^ abc"Leaving Melwood: The end of an era for Liverpool FC". 2 August 2019.
^Doyle, Ian (6 November 2020). "Melwood training ground move set as Jurgen Klopp admits mixed emotions". Liverpool Echo.
^. Archived from the original on 18 July 2006. Retrieved 17 July 2006.
^. www.liverpoolpictorial.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 January 2006.
^. www.theica.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2006.
^"Stunning pictures of Liverpool's new training ground | Sport Galleries | Pics". Express.co.uk.
^Media, Insider. "Liverpool FC's Melwood plans approved". Insider Media Ltd.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Melwood.
Official website
May 05, 2023
melwood, census, designated, place, near, washington, maryland, west, derby, liverpool, liverpool, football, club, training, ground, from, 1950s, until, november, 2020, attached, liverpool, academy, which, kirkby, bought, affordable, housing, development, comp. For the census designated place near Washington D C see Melwood Maryland Melwood in West Derby Liverpool was Liverpool Football Club s training ground from the 1950s until November 2020 It was not attached to The Liverpool F C Academy which is at Kirkby Melwood was bought by affordable housing development company Torus in 2019 as Liverpool invested in the Kirkby training ground so the First Team and Academy could train together with increased space and better facilities 1 Liverpool s First Team and Academy have trained at the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby since November 2020 2 Liverpool s plans to move in the summer of 2020 had been delayed by the COVID 19 pandemic 3 MelwoodThe reception area at Melwood prior to closing LocationWest DerbyMetropolitan Borough of KnowsleyCoordinates53 25 55 N 02 53 52 W 53 43194 N 2 89778 W 53 43194 2 89778 Coordinates 53 25 55 N 02 53 52 W 53 43194 N 2 89778 W 53 43194 2 89778OwnerLiverpool F C TypeSports training facilitySurfaceGrass pitches 3 ConstructionBuilt1920Renovated19522001Closed2020TenantsSt Francis Xavier s College 1920 1950 Liverpool F C 1950 2020 The Melwood ground previously belonged to St Francis Xavier a local school 4 Melwood was named after two priests Father Melling and Father Woodlock who taught football at the school s playing fields 5 6 Contents 1 History 2 Redevelopment 3 References 4 External linksHistory EditLiverpool moved into the facility in the 1950s after previously training on the Anfield grass This was having a detrimental effect on the pitch and a decision was eventually made to take over a few football pitches in the West Derby area of the city However by the end of the decade the training base had significantly deteriorated 2 When manager Bill Shankly arrived in 1959 the three playing fields and adjoining pavilion had not been maintained and the pitches were overgrown In his autobiography Shankly described it as a sorry wilderness On seeing what looked like two huge bomb craters in one of the playing surfaces he asked have the Germans been here 2 Shankly and his staff subsequently sought to transform Melwood into a top class training facility He introduced the five a side games that defined his pass and move keep it simple philosophy Players would meet and change for training at Anfield and then board the team bus for the short trip to Melwood After training they would get the bus back to Anfield to shower and change and get a bite to eat Shankly thus ensured all his players had warmed down correctly and he would keep his players free from injury Indeed in the 1965 66 season Liverpool finished as champions using just 14 players and two of those only played a handful of games 7 In January 2001 Liverpool started work on the Millennium Pavilion a modern facility for players and coaches designed in part and heavily influenced by then manager Gerard Houllier There is a small covered area for invited spectators Training starts early in the morning with players arriving around 9 a m The players go through a morning session and are also required to turn in an evening session Redevelopment EditIn 1998 youth and development teams had been moved to a new 56 acre integrated training facility at The Academy in Kirkby Due to size constraints of the site and obvious secrecy issues associated with Melwood in 2017 LFC revealed a plan of a proposed redevelopment of the Kirkby centre at a cost of 50 million allowing the first team to move training to the expanded facility The approved plan incorporated the first team and the academy at Kirkby allowing the redevelopment of Melwood into housing The Kirkby plan was expected to be completed before the 2019 20 season 8 allowing subsequent redevelopment of Melwood from summer 2020 onwards into 160 homes mixed between detached and semi detached properties with an enclosed community amenity space 9 References Edit Affordable housing provider Torus set for Melwood redevelopment a b c Leaving Melwood The end of an era for Liverpool FC 2 August 2019 Doyle Ian 6 November 2020 Melwood training ground move set as Jurgen Klopp admits mixed emotions Liverpool Echo LIVERWEB Melwood Training Ground Archived from the original on 18 July 2006 Retrieved 17 July 2006 Liverpool Street Names Archived 2009 05 24 at the Wayback Machine Untitled Document www liverpoolpictorial co uk Archived from the original on 10 January 2006 ICA Coaching Sessions www theica com Archived from the original on 12 June 2006 Stunning pictures of Liverpool s new training ground Sport Galleries Pics Express co uk Media Insider Liverpool FC s Melwood plans approved Insider Media Ltd External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Melwood Official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Melwood amp oldid 1114773557, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
