The moment our Chinese shareholders took control of the football club, Mr Dai stated that one of his priorities was to invest in the development of our new training facility.
That major investment has been extraordinary and is now beginning to blossom at Bearwood Park.
Since 2004, Reading Football Club’s training provision has been located at our current Hogwood Park facility. And for 15 years it has served as a perfect second home for the Royals.
However, the natural evolution of the club has seen it outgrow its Hogwood Park surroundings and with the club’s ongoing investment in the Premier League’s Elite Player Performance Plan structure for elite Academies, new training facilities became necessary to sustain Category One Academy status and meet the growing everyday demands of a progressive football club.
Bearwood is bigger and better… and beginning to look extremely impressive.
Guided by Chief Executive Nigel Howe, Phase One of the Bearwood project is reaching its conclusion…meaning the playing pitches will all be in place and ready to use very soon.
Bearwood Park will ultimately be home to a purpose-built first team building and a separate Academy facility as well as a number of various other ancillary buildings.
The development of the site has also involved extensive landscaping of the area and the refurbishment of a number of existing buildings.
Foundations are being laid and the infrastructure of the main buildings will start to become very visible in the coming weeks and months. But with Phase One nearing a natural end and groundstaff now on site every day to oversee the maintenance of the playing surfaces, it means football will soon be being played on green grass down at Bearwood!
The size and scale of the project should not be underestimated. Our owners have ensured that this new modern, forward-thinking training facility has been designed to be one of the very best in the country and the envy of clubs up and down the divisions.
We want to give our fans an early glimpse into the work being done down at Bearwood.
So over the next few weeks, we plan to post images of the facility across our official social media channels to update you on #ProjectBearwood and allow us all to look forward to a brand new state-of-the art facility that is being designed to beautifully serve our staff and players’ needs.
A 3G pitch is already in position...
Lines have been drawn at our new training facility; the artificial 3G pitch in all its glory and very much ready for action!
The Academy pitches are being prepared and the expanse of the development is evident for all to see...
Still some work to be done on the final three Academy pitches at the site, but the remaining preparation work is well underway and moving at pace...
The sand base layer on the remaining Academy pitches is laid and seeding about to begin...
Conservation is consistently being considered as the development continues to takes shape...
While the pitches reach perfection, the surrounding pathways and landscaping continue to be developed...
Phase Two of the project is very much underway with this area flattened and being fully prepared for the foundations and the framework of the first team building...
Football at Bearwood is soon to become a reality. Our Academy players will step out from the changing rooms and step straight onto the green stuff...
The first team 'show pitch' basking in late spring sunshine...
While building work continues apace, the pitches have to be maintained so they are in perfect condition for football.
Away from the hustle and bustle of the site, Bearwood will be a tranquil setting for players and staff.
The character of the site remains - this apple store will remain in situ at Bearwood...
And the stable buildings are staying in position as they are renovated to become a part of our Academy facilities.
