Several themes quickly took shape. The space is filled with natural light, a stark contrast to the dim, basement-like feel of the old building’s ground floor, as Sir Jim noted in his speech. A new layout promotes smoother movement between areas, fostering increased collaboration among staff.
Data plays a crucial role in the operation, permeating every aspect.
In the gym, staff work at a central hub that measures and displays real-time metrics on large screens, providing players with insights into their physical condition and performance. ‘High altitude’ rooms equipped with bikes and rowing machines allow oxygen levels to be adjusted with the push of a button. “Even I could get fit in there,” quipped one attendee.
The facility includes four specialized pools: for swimming, cold plunges, hot plunges, and one featuring an underwater treadmill for rehabilitation, all equipped with media stations. The sauna and steam rooms have been significantly expanded, while the newly positioned treatment room boasts panoramic windows overlooking the training pitches, a welcome change from the previous dark and confined space. The goal is to promote a more positive and health-focused atmosphere—”light at the end of the tunnel,” as it were. Nearby are advanced MRI, CT, and whole-body scanners, alongside cryotherapy and hyperbaric chambers, with plans for innovative deep sleep meditation pods in the near future.
Data is integral to operations and notably featured in the ‘cinema’ room, where analysis meetings take place. Here, footage and presentations are played back for players while coaching staff oversee from the back of the amphitheater. The plush leather seats were so inviting that our group was reluctant to leave.
Inside the dressing room, lockers are equipped with LED touchscreens displaying each player’s schedule, nutrition information, and messages from staff. In a nod to 2025, ‘smart urinals’ provide instant hydration analysis. However, one thing remains unchanged: the unmistakable scent of the boot room, a testament to hard work that even the latest technology cannot mask. Amusingly, Albert seemed right at home, memories flooding back from years gone by.
