Liverpool FC Reacquires Cherished Melwood Training Ground
The revered football institution, Liverpool FC, have confirmed the reacquisition of their historic Melwood training ground, a move set to provide a new home for their women’s team. This monumental step demonstrates the club’s commitment to the advancement of their female contingent, bridging the gap between the men’s and women’s operations.
A Warm Return to Melwood
The men’s first team bid farewell to the iconic Melwood site located in West Derby, back in November 2020. Their relocation to the state-of-the-art facilities at their existing academy base in Kirkby left a void. Meanwhile, local protests were brewing as plans surfaced to convert this cherished space into a modern, multi-generational housing complex by affordable housing group, Torus.
However, the wind started changing its course once the Robbie Fowler-Jamie Carragher academy moved in. As the sands of time settled, the club has triumphantly announced its decision to repurchase the ground they once called home.
New Crest, Unified Teams
With this significant move, the Liverpool FC Women’s team will transition from training at Tranmere’s base on the Wirral to Melwood. A further sign of this consolidation sees the crest of the LFC Women’s team aligning to the official club crest, further binding the two entities together.
As reported by James Pearce in The Athletic, Liverpool’s managing director, Andy Hughes said: “This is a truly historic moment for Liverpool Football Club and the continued desire of the LFC Women’s board to elevate and develop our women’s first team and category one professional game academy.”
Community Engagement and Future Development
Not only does this step signify a powerful move in women’s football, but it also opens opportunities to utilise the site to support the local community. Hughes expresses, “We also have an opportunity to further develop the use of the site to support the local community by using it as an additional base for LFC Foundation.”
The club remains committed to the local community, with Hughes adding, “We have always taken the views of the local community seriously and we look forward to re-engaging with them in the near future.”
In addition, the Fowler Education and Football Academy (FEFA) will continue its operations at the site, providing sport and educational opportunities for young people.
Reinvesting in Merseyside and Anfield Expansion
Torus will reinvest the proceeds from the sale into building much-needed homes across Merseyside, in line with their mission to provide affordable housing.
Elsewhere, changes continue at Anfield. With the removal of the old Anfield Road stand’s 282-tonne roof, plans for a new stand are advancing. The new construction is slated to open at the commencement of next season, pushing the ground’s capacity to a significant 61,000.
