A Different World Altogether, Says Rodgers

First team
23 Dec 2020
3 Minutes
Leicester City's world-class new training ground in north Leicestershire enables the entire Football Club to look forward into the future with optimism, according to manager Brendan Rodgers.

- Leicester City will train at the Club's new state-of-the-art training facility for the first time on Christmas Eve
- Manager Brendan Rodgers has described the transition as being a 'different world altogether' for the Football Club
- The Foxes have spent nearly 60 years at Belvoir Drive, which has itself been substantially developed in recent years
- LCFC Women will shortly move into the Club's current headquarters at Belvoir Drive after turning professional in the summer

With seven buildings, including the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Building and the King Power Centre, as well as 21 playing surfaces, the new facility offers an exceptional working environment for players and staff alike.

The realisation of a vision designed to act as a legacy of the Club's remarkable recent success and an inspiration for generations to come, City's players will train in Seagrave for the first time on Christmas Eve.

For Rodgers, whose side currently sit second in the Premier League table, it also functions as a fitting embodiment of the Club's desire to develop people, players or otherwise, in the pursuit of their dreams.

"To be able to move into one of the most advanced training facilities in the whole world is something we’re all so excited about," the Northern Irishman told the national media on Tuesday afternoon.

"I’ve been dropping in there over the last number of months and now it’s finally arrived, the time that we can look to go in, we’re really looking forward to it.

"It’s amazing and, now we’re going to this new site, it just takes you into a different world altogether and it’s a world we’re looking forward to being in.

"It’s the most significant investment in the Club’s history, if you think of everything they’ve done, the owners, since they’ve been here. This facility is going to help improve players, but also people.

"The essence of Leicester City – and I’ve really found this since I’ve been here – is a genuine want to develop people and help people, whether you’re a player or a member of staff.

It really underlines their commitment to developing and improving players and improving people. We’re so looking forward to it.

Brendan Rodgers

"That’s something which comes from the very top. To have that at the top of your club, of course we’re all very lucky to be able to work here and experience that."

The 27th permanent manager to work at Belvoir Drive since 1964 will become the first to train a Leicester City squad in Seagrave on Thursday as a new era dawns for the Football Club.

Whether it be Alan 'The Birch' Birchenall, Gary Lineker, Steve Walsh, Muzzy Izzet, Kasper Schmeichel or Jamie Vardy, the Club's Belvoir Drive base has also been home to an array of playing icons.

It was also announced this week that Belvoir Drive will now become home to LCFC Women, who turned professional this past summer and currently lead the FA Women’s Championship.

Reflecting on a multi-faceted move forward for the Club, Rodgers also discussed the impending move for LCFC Women into a Premier League facility in the city centre.

"Belvoir Drive has been Leicester City’s since 1964, so 56 years, with so many great players and managers going through," Rodgers continued.

"That will always be remembered, and the great legacy is that our women’s team, they’ve got a fantastic facility to come and work in.

"This really underlines the commitment to developing and improving players and improving people. We’re so looking forward to it.

"I remember coming here when I was a young coach and this was always a renowned, really good training facility, which since the owners have come in, they’ve developed it 10-fold.

"We will then move into our new facility, which is arguably the biggest investment the owners have made since they have been here.

"It really underlines their commitment to developing and improving players and improving people. We’re so looking forward to it."