Training in Newton Abbot?

Graiser wrote:

Looks like all your wishes have been granted, Harper's Park being renovated and the academy (or whatever it's called these days) moved out of Seale Hayne back to Plymouth I assume

Material (Piping and back fill)for the Harper's Park drainage system is now in side Devonport end for safe keeping.

Graiser wrote:

Looks like all your wishes have been granted, Harper's Park being renovated and the academy (or whatever it's called these days) moved out of Seale Hayne back to Plymouth I assume

BACK 'HOME to Seale Hayne

SIX MONTHS after they appeared to turn their back on a site where they had spent upwards of £150,000 in recent years, Torquay United are about to move back into the Seale Hayne training ground on Monday.

With former co-tenants Plymouth Argyle moving their Academy to a new centre, and their South West Peninsula League reserves side playing their games at Coach Road this season, the Gulls have reached a new agreement with the landlord at Seale Hayne.

And, not only will they have full use of the whole acreage there – there is room for four pitches, plus other training areas – but the Gulls will take back the changing, medical, gym and office facilities.

One of the biggest frustrations about United's decision to share and then leave last season was that Seale Hayne was just starting to reach its potential as a training centre of which any League Two or League One club would be proud.

There is still more work to do, but £40,000 worth of levelling and half as much again of drainage has finally paid dividends.

And now, when one area is out of action after heavy rain, another should still be available.

And, when a real midwinter monsoon hits, United will still be able to use the 3G all-weather pitch at Cricketfield Road, where they have an increasingly close relationship with Torquay Academy.

The opening of the South Devon Link Road also means that United's squad and staff will be able to drive to Seale Hayne much quicker than they used to do.

No-one, apart from groundsman Chris Ralph and his former assistant Julian Gouldthorpe, spent more time and effort on Seale Hayne than ex-director Brian Palk, for whom the site was a personal cause.

Palk has already offered to do whatever he can to develop the site still further now. And who could be seen cutting the grass out there this week than current director Harry Kerswell?

Kerswell had driven tractor-and-mower from his farm near Kingsbridge to Seale Hayne to do the job.

United are understandably keen to find a sponsor to help with the running-costs of Seale Hayne.

It is right next to the Newton Abbot-Ashburton road, and the club hopes to hold a range of events there in future, which would make it an attractive proposition.