Argyle CEO spells out importance of new Foulston Park

PLYMOUTH Argyle being able to produce their own players at the Foulston Park academy, which is set to open next year, is going to be 'really important' for the long-term future of the club, chief executive Paul Berne has declared.

- By CHRIS ERRINGTON

Plymouth Argyle director Paul Berne

(Dave Rowntree/PPAUK)

Foulston Park has been a contentious issue among some Argyle supporters, especially given the first team’s recent tough times, and they have stated the money spent on the academy should have been put in the Pilgrims’ senior squad instead.

However, club owner and chairman Simon Hallett has always made it clear he would not have made available the £12 million he has committed towards the redevelopment of the Brickfields site in Devonport to funding new signings.

Foulston Park will be a permanent home for Argyle’s academy, as well as their women’s team. A community hub has already opened in what was formerly a sports centre, and there will also be improved facilities for Plymouth Albion RFC and the City of Plymouth Athletics Club.

In an interview with Herald Sport, which was carried out last week, Berne said about the multi-million investment in Foulston Park: "We have got to make it money well spent, definitely.

"I think there is probably three things here. One is it’s a great facility for the city. It has got community usage and it’s going to house other things than just the academy.

"That site is going to get developed into something that is really great for the city as a whole. I think that one part of it is really good for whoever is going to use it.

"I think it’s a good place for the academy as it is now. The academy has had a lot of improvements over the last three, five years which have been really good but you don’t go back too far that people were getting changed in cars.

"So actually to have a proper academy is good for the club. I think commercially, though, the third thing is we have got to make this work for us.