Sheffield United Training Academy

Last Update: 01 September 2002

Sean Bean cuts Academy ribbon
www.sufc.co.uk

30 August 2002

Sean Bean was the man who cut the ribbon to mark a major step towards the completion of United's £5 million Hallam FM Academy @ Sheffield United on Friday afternoon.

The star of film and television, director of Sheffield United FC and 100 per cent Blade, officially opened the indoor area - the largest indoor synthetic football pitch in South Yorkshire, whilst the U12 Academy players put on a skills demonstration in the new facility.

The whole complex will be completed and fully opened by the end of the year when it will provide some of the best facilities in the country for the football stars of the future.

When complete the three-storey building will house changing rooms, educational and conference facilities, parents lounge, cafeteria and viewing galleries, medical facilities, performance gymnasium, physio facilities, office accommodation for academy staff and space to provide on-site living accommodation for up to 35 young players. Outdoors, there will eventually be five pitches, a full-sized floodlit pitch and a goalkeeping practice area.

Blade Bean seeks talent a cut above
Yorkshire Post
Ian Waugh

ACTOR Sean Bean was back in Sheffield yesterday - ahead of the big steel city derby between Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United - to unveil a multi-million pound academy that it is hoped will generate some of the city's future football stars.

The star of film blockbusters such as Lord of the Rings and Goldeneye launched the first phase of Sheffield United's training complex for promising youngsters with the opening of the largest indoor synthetic pitch in South Yorkshire.

Bean, a die-hard fan who sports a '100 per cent Blade' tattoo, is a director of the club and is keen to promote the board's policy of developing their own players rather than buying players in the transfer market.

When the academy is completed it will include a three-storey complex with an indoor soccer arena, conference facilities, a medical suite, offices and accommodation for up to 35 young players.

The Blades are also developing a former social club at Shirecliffe into a training centre that will be available at times for public use.

 

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