Harrogate Town reveal plans to build £2.75 million training facility

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Harrogate Town has revealed plans to build a £2.75 million training facility at Wetherby Racecourse.

The facility would comprise of a single storey clubhouse, artificial and grass pitches, fencing and floodlighting as well as parking and landscaping.

The club is to hold a public consultation over its plans with Wetherby Steeplechase Committee Ltd, the company that owns the freehold for the racecourse.

A letter was sent to supporters today inviting them to the consultation on Thursday next week (July 17) at Wetherby Town Hall.

Harrogate Town, which is owned by Irving Weaver, would find the investment for the facility; the land would continue to be owned by the racecourse.

The club has been searching for a suitable site for a training facility since its promotion to the English Football League in 2020.

The first team has been sharing facilities with Rothwell Juniors FC in Leeds.

The club’s development centre has been using other pitches around the region too, such as artificial grass pitches at Rossett School.

Town said it envisaged the new facility would also be used by the community, including schools and sports clubs.

The Stray Ferret reported in March that Harrogate Town already owed £5.3 million to Mr Weaver, whose son Simon manages the men's team.

A consultation website will also go live next week, allowing those who cannot attend in person to submit feedback.

Following a review of the feedback, a planning application will be submitted to Leeds City Council.

The link to access the online consultation can be found here, although it will not be accessible until July 17.