Seagrave Training Centre

[damolcfc]

On 27/04/2026 at 16:55, Kilworthfox said:

Meetings are happening this week re budgets and spending for next season.  I'm told there won't be any academy cuts, we will see.

 

Back end of the week there will be a clearer picture.

That probably rules out the foxy ladies cheerleaders coming back 😭

[FoxesTalker]

The academy seems to have become a bigger talking point since relegation to League One. The move to Seagrave was clearly meant to strengthen our academy culture, and some clubs especially in Europe base their model around this. The first year at Seagrave was successful with the FA Cup win, but there’s been a gradual decline ever since then.

 

Edited 19 August by FoxesTalker

[brookfox]

1 hour ago, FoxesTalker said:

The academy seems to have become a bigger talking point since relegation to League One. The move to Seagrave was clearly meant to strengthen our academy culture, and some clubs especially in Europe base their model around this. The first year at Seagrave was successful with the FA Cup win, but there’s been a gradual decline ever since then.

If you look at it another way, over the last 10yrs the academy has cost us something like £40-50m. Over the same timeframe we’ve sold £140m of academy players and it contributed 7 players to our weekend squad of 18 with several other players out on loan.

Is it perfect? No. Should we expect more? Definitely yes. But you could argue the academy is the only thing the club has got moderately correct, is the only reason we’re still in business and the real problem that needs fixing first is senior player trading and contracts.

[StanSP]

2 hours ago, FoxesTalker said:

The first year at Seagrave was successful with the FA Cup win, but there’s been a gradual decline ever since then.

Interesting take on a few points. 

 

The FA Cup win was not because of Seagrave, so I don't think we can claim that it's a success for the complex. 

 

May it have played a small part? Perhaps, but not a significant one. 

 

As for the decline, I'd lay that at the door of many other factors - senior personnel and some playing squad members. Off the pitch the finances fvcked us over. The culture from certain players then becoming contagious and feeding into what is a rotten identity. 

Perhaps players and staff got above their station and felt like they didn't need to 'earn' their keep by having such a complex to be at day in day out. Maybe they thought they'd 'made it'. 

 

To me it's not a decline. There's still plenty of value in it, and there will continue to be. We've not made the most out of it because of our on-pitch failures and off-pitch financial mismanagement. Monga should have gone for several million more. Investment should have been put in in terms of giving youth minutes over the past few seasons. Managers promised one thing and then didn't deliver, and instead continued to give appearances to those thay didn't deserve it. That to me isn't so much Seagrave declining, it's severe neglect and bad management from some people in particular. 

[AKCJ]

2 hours ago, FoxesTalker said:

The academy seems to have become a bigger talking point since relegation to League One. The move to Seagrave was clearly meant to strengthen our academy culture, and some clubs especially in Europe base their model around this. The first year at Seagrave was successful with the FA Cup win, but there’s been a gradual decline ever since then.

 

I was listening to a podcast last week, I think it was Stick To Football and they had Paul Scholes talking about how the only thing players want to know about is the training facilities.

 

Back in the 1900s I think it was more important to have the biggest and best stadium but in modern football players are much more worried about the facilities we have. Blaming Seagrave is wrong. I do think that there was a culture change that took some getting used to but there is absolutely no way that Seagrave is anything other than a positive. You only have to look at the players coming out of the academy to see that.

 

The bigger issue is what is (or isn't) happening in Seagrave's offices rather than the training pitches. We've been run awfully by an absent owner and an incompetent DoF. Once those two are replaced we'll see the full effects of having one of the best training facilities in the world.

[FoxesTalker]

There’s been some good points made in the replies and I can’t really disagree with them. In fairness, the original post could’ve been worded better, as it wasn’t meant to suggest that Seagrave itself was one of the reasons for the downfall. It was also an error to put “gradual decline” when it’s been the opposite of that. As has been pointed out, the culture problem at Seagrave has been born out of a club-wide culture problem.

[AKCJ]

7 minutes ago, FoxesTalker said:

There’s been some good points made in the replies and I can’t really disagree with them. In fairness, the original post could’ve been worded better, as it wasn’t meant to suggest that Seagrave itself was one of the reasons for the downfall. It was also an error to put “gradual decline” when it’s been the opposite of that. As has been pointed out, the culture problem at Seagrave has been born out of a club-wide culture problem.

It's also in keeping of this culture problem that there are people at the club quietly blaming Seagrave for their own underperformances.

[Jon the Hat]

1 minute ago, AKCJ said:

It's also in keeping of this culture problem that there are people at the club quietly blaming Seagrave for their own underperformances.

Which is complete bullshit lets be honest.  

[dmayne7]

2 hours ago, AKCJ said:

I was listening to a podcast last week, I think it was Stick To Football and they had Paul Scholes talking about how the only thing players want to know about is the training facilities.

 

Back in the 1900s I think it was more important to have the biggest and best stadium but in modern football players are much more worried about the facilities we have. Blaming Seagrave is wrong. I do think that there was a culture change that took some getting used to but there is absolutely no way that Seagrave is anything other than a positive. You only have to look at the players coming out of the academy to see that.

 

The bigger issue is what is (or isn't) happening in Seagrave's offices rather than the training pitches. We've been run awfully by an absent owner and an incompetent DoF. Once those two are replaced we'll see the full effects of having one of the best training facilities in the world.

This would be true but for how we've been run. As I think you mentioned below, it's become a cop out for the players and has fed this entitled/pampered culture that is rife in the club. Unfortunately, it's a bit of chain around our neck currently but it was obviously as a positive move longer-term.

 

My biggest gripe was that the stadium should have also come first as that was a way to massively overhaul the commercial side of the club which guaranteed increase in revenue (gigs/events, the hotel etc), where even if we were crap, we'd still be bringing in far more money than now. Seagrave won't do anything in that regard if we don't have a PL reputation/finances because players will just be picked off by big clubs with more regularity, and if even if we have them under contract, they'll be going for a fraction of what they'd be worth higher up the pyramid.

 

I do think that the stadium redevelopment pushes the needle in terms of reputation which has a knock on effect to everything. Take your point about players being more bothered about the training facilities, but you need to reputation in the first place to attract them, when Seagrave becomes a deal clincher.

[los dedos]

15 minutes ago, dmayne7 said:

This would be true but for how we've been run. As I think you mentioned below, it's become a cop out for the players and has fed this entitled/pampered culture that is rife in the club. Unfortunately, it's a bit of chain around our neck currently but it was obviously as a positive move longer-term.

 

My biggest gripe was that the stadium should have also come first as that was a way to massively overhaul the commercial side of the club which guaranteed increase in revenue (gigs/events, the hotel etc), where even if we were crap, we'd still be bringing in far more money than now. Seagrave won't do anything in that regard if we don't have a PL reputation/finances because players will just be picked off by big clubs with more regularity, and if even if we have them under contract, they'll be going for a fraction of what they'd be worth higher up the pyramid.

 

I do think that the stadium redevelopment pushes the needle in terms of reputation which has a knock on effect to everything. Take your point about players being more bothered about the training facilities, but you need to reputation in the first place to attract them, when Seagrave becomes a deal clincher.

I've always thought we could’ve chucked 20m at Belvoir drive and done I mini Seagrave were the main building was, Pool, gym, rooms for 1st team etc 

[Samilktray]

20 minutes ago, los dedos said:

I've always thought we could’ve chucked 20m at Belvoir drive and done I mini Seagrave were the main building was, Pool, gym, rooms for 1st team etc 

Have you seen Seagrave with your own eyes? 

[AKCJ]

39 minutes ago, dmayne7 said:

This would be true but for how we've been run. As I think you mentioned below, it's become a cop out for the players and has fed this entitled/pampered culture that is rife in the club. Unfortunately, it's a bit of chain around our neck currently but it was obviously as a positive move longer-term.

 

My biggest gripe was that the stadium should have also come first as that was a way to massively overhaul the commercial side of the club which guaranteed increase in revenue (gigs/events, the hotel etc), where even if we were crap, we'd still be bringing in far more money than now. Seagrave won't do anything in that regard if we don't have a PL reputation/finances because players will just be picked off by big clubs with more regularity, and if even if we have them under contract, they'll be going for a fraction of what they'd be worth higher up the pyramid.

 

I do think that the stadium redevelopment pushes the needle in terms of reputation which has a knock on effect to everything. Take your point about players being more bothered about the training facilities, but you need to reputation in the first place to attract them, when Seagrave becomes a deal clincher.

Ultimately if we didn't get relegated in 2023 we would have both the stadium and Seagrave. That relegation killed us. 

 

I disagree with your last point. I think we're a bigger club with Seagrave than we would have been with an extra 8k seats IMO. 

 

Anyone from inside that club that blames Seagrave for their own inadequacies should be sacked. 

[dmayne7]

14 minutes ago, AKCJ said:

Ultimately if we didn't get relegated in 2023 we would have both the stadium and Seagrave. That relegation killed us. 

 

I disagree with your last point. I think we're a bigger club with Seagrave than we would have been with an extra 8k seats IMO. 

 

Anyone from inside that club that blames Seagrave for their own inadequacies should be sacked. 

It's a chicken and egg scenario but I think the stadium starts getting your ROI.

 

But it wasn't just an extra 8k seats, which was my point; it's all the extra stuff that we had proposed that brings in extra money and prestige. Especially frustrating when you see the likes of Forest and Birmingham either planning similar or building new stadiums. We should have been able to take them out of the equation, but that's all down to our on the field performance.

[AKCJ]

6 minutes ago, dmayne7 said:

It's a chicken and egg scenario but I think the stadium starts getting your ROI.

 

But it wasn't just an extra 8k seats, which was my point; it's all the extra stuff that we had proposed that brings in extra money and prestige. Especially frustrating when you see the likes of Forest and Birmingham either planning similar or building new stadiums. We should have been able to take them out of the equation, but that's all down to our on the field performance.

Ultimately you want both and we were unfortunate we had a squad of players that were mentally weak with a piss poor DoF and an uninterested Chairman.

 

I think it's most important that the playing squad is as good as it can be and the move to Seagrave should have assured that. As I said, if we'd just stayed up in 2023 I'm sure we would have the stadium redevelopment well underway by now.

[los dedos]

55 minutes ago, Samilktray said:

Have you seen Seagrave with your own eyes? 

Yes lovely place pal, what is your point ?

[desertfox2]

Seagrave being blamed by players is such a cop out. Seagrave was never the problem. Signing players with bad attitudes that are extremely unprofessional and are searching for any excuse that avoids them looking in the mirror at how they are stealing a living from a club giving them every tool to succeed is. Yes there is no need for things like a golf course and it is a financial burden now that we are where we are but poor signings and having bad apples around the place got us here, not Seagrave. I was watching the Mourinho documentary the other day. Having someone like him around that believes one bad orange spreads and needs to be banished immediately before they impact others was what we needed. If someone starts acting like it's a holiday camp then they should have been immediately removed. There just seems to have been a real lack of discipline and leadership. 

 

 

Edited 19 August by desertfox2
Past

[Clever Fox]

1 hour ago, desertfox2 said:

Seagrave being blamed by players is such a cop out. Seagrave was never the problem. Signing players with bad attitudes that are extremely unprofessional and are searching for any excuse that avoids them looking in the mirror at how they are stealing a living from a club giving them every tool to succeed is. Yes there is no need for things like a golf course and it is a financial burden now that we are where we are but poor signings and having bad apples around the place got us here, not Seagrave. I was watching the Mourinho documentary the other day. Having someone like him around that believes one bad orange spreads and needs to be banished immediately before they impact others was what we needed. If someone starts acting like it's a holiday camp then they should have been immediately removed. There just seems to have been a real lack of discipline and leadership. 

 

 

The real problem stems from a lack of leadership at the top but also from weak management after Enzo. I'm hoping Russell can change that quickly, But it also needs to change at the top of the Club and the sooner Top realizes that the better.

 

Out of interest what have the players been saying about Seagrave. ?

[TeamRocket]

New stadium finished 2002 relegated and back in league 1, 6 years later 2008

 

New training groud finished 2020 relegated and back in league 1, 6 years later 2026

 

Feels like when ever we build something new we get relegated to league one, so please no more new builds whoever comes in!

 

 

Edited 20 August by TeamRocket

[CosbehFox]

17 hours ago, dmayne7 said:

It's a chicken and egg scenario but I think the stadium starts getting your ROI.

 

But it wasn't just an extra 8k seats, which was my point; it's all the extra stuff that we had proposed that brings in extra money and prestige. Especially frustrating when you see the likes of Forest and Birmingham either planning similar or building new stadiums. We should have been able to take them out of the equation, but that's all down to our on the field performance.

A lot of this is overstated - with the way the economy has gone - the proposed extra stuff would have become an absolute white elephant. We've probably dodged a bullet. 

 

Any proposed extension in the future in the current climate will be reliant on housing as an anchor. Arenas in provincial cities and hotels in small cities are an absolute risk. Anything retail would be a disaster. Corporate events are a no no too. 

[BKLFox]

12 hours ago, desertfox2 said:

Seagrave being blamed by players is such a cop out. Seagrave was never the problem. Signing players with bad attitudes that are extremely unprofessional and are searching for any excuse that avoids them looking in the mirror at how they are stealing a living from a club giving them every tool to succeed is. Yes there is no need for things like a golf course and it is a financial burden now that we are where we are but poor signings and having bad apples around the place got us here, not Seagrave. I was watching the Mourinho documentary the other day. Having someone like him around that believes one bad orange spreads and needs to be banished immediately before they impact others was what we needed. If someone starts acting like it's a holiday camp then they should have been immediately removed. There just seems to have been a real lack of discipline and leadership. 

 

 

What's wrong with having a golf course & what financial burden does it bring? 

[AKCJ]

5 minutes ago, BKLFox said:

What's wrong with having a golf course & what financial burden does it bring? 

I think he meant that there's no need for a golf course (It's a professional football training facility, that should be obvious).

 

AND

 

Seagrave itself is a financial burden.

 

Both true statements. We need to get out of League 1 ASAP to ensure that Seagrave doesn't become completely unsustainable.

[Pita]

4 minutes ago, AKCJ said:

I think he meant that there's no need for a golf course (It's a professional football training facility, that should be obvious).

 

AND

 

Seagrave itself is a financial burden.

 

Both true statements. We need to get out of League 1 ASAP to ensure that Seagrave doesn't become completely unsustainable.

Getting out of div 1 going to be a lot harder than many supporters think we are running a team of young players against teams full of hardened players 

[BKLFox]

1 minute ago, AKCJ said:

I think he meant that there's no need for a golf course (It's a professional football training facility, that should be obvious).

 

AND

 

Seagrave itself is a financial burden.

 

Both true statements. We need to get out of League 1 ASAP to ensure that Seagrave doesn't become completely unsustainable.

I'm not sure any player is having a round of golf when training is on, its there for down time just like a dartboard or pool table.

Seagrave also houses the Sports Turf Academy so there's the cost of up keep sorted - also it will use bedrooms & other facilities at the site.

[davieG]

2 hours ago, Pita said:

Getting out of div 1 going to be a lot harder than many supporters think we are running a team of young players against teams full of hardened players 

 

Myth.

Alex McCarthy 36
 

Jayden Joseph 20
 

Caleb Okoli 25
 

Harry Souttar 27
 

Luke Thomas 25
 

Wes Burns 31
 

Liam Cullen 27
 

Oliver Skipp 25
 

Sammy Braybrooke 22
 

Will Alves 21
 

Bobby De Cordova-Reid 33

 

Avg age  25.6
 

[inckley fox]

2 minutes ago, davieG said:

 

Myth.

Alex McCarthy 36
 

Jayden Joseph 20
 

Caleb Okoli 25
 

Harry Souttar 27
 

Luke Thomas 25
 

Wes Burns 31
 

Liam Cullen 27
 

Oliver Skipp 25
 

Sammy Braybrooke 22
 

Will Alves 21
 

Bobby De Cordova-Reid 33

 

Avg age  25.6
 

It is a myth, and possibly even more so than you indicate. The Foxestalk History section listed the average age of that line-up as 27.04 (factoring in birthdates etc.). Even accounting for McCarthy skewing the average, it is by no stretch a young side.

 

Tellingly, as so many have pointed out, the younger players have so far been the better performers. Our recruitment in the 23+ bracket has, with one or two exceptions (like Castagne and Hermansen, who were 23-24 years old), been very poor since 2019. So the continuation of the Rodgers era 'oven-ready' transfer policy, while loaning out various youngsters, may well turn out to be questionable.