Beard bags a brace for Bristol Sport with new training facility

Bristol construction firm Beard has completed a state-of the-art training facility for Bristol City Football Club – its second high profile development for Bristol Sport in less than a year.

The family-run building company has delivered on the Robins High Performance Centre at Failand, which follows the completion of rugby club Bristol Bears’ facility last year, also for Bristol Sport.

The development represents an important project for Bristol City FC as it will bring together the club’s academy and senior team on a single site for the first time, as well as being a central hub for the players and coaching staff outside of match days.

The facility includes three full-size pitches, including a floodlit show-pitch capable of hosting the club’s under-18 and under-23 matches. There is also a stand, tactical pitch and goalkeeping pitches, medical and rehabilitation facilities, gym, sports science facility and space for physiotherapists and coaches. Away from the pitch there is a kitchen and restaurant area, office space, and education and welfare facilities for City’s young players.

The development took almost 18 months to build, but despite working within coronavirus restrictions was not subject to any major setbacks or compromise in terms of the vision for the project. The impressive design and quality finish in the construction further cements Beard’s status as a leader in the sport and leisure sector.

Mike Hedges, Beard Bristol director, said they had developed a great working relationship with Bristol City and Bristol Sport over recent years due to the work with Bristol Bears.

He said: “We’re really proud to have delivered this state-of-the-art training facility, just a couple of miles from Ashton Gate.

“As a construction firm Beard has always believed in the importance of inspiring spaces, whether that’s for learning, working or performance. That is very much at the centre of this new training facility which will bring together the club’s academy and senior team on a single site for the first time.

“To enable the next generation of Bristol City players to share the same space as the senior team is really important for their development and therefore the future prospects of the club.

“This site is much more than just a training ground as the facility will provide a central hub for players and coaching staff outside of match day.

“There is a clear vision for how this facility will help with the development of players at all levels, and we have been able to draw on years of experience of working in the sport and leisure sectors to bring that to life.”