Bale & other football superstars to come back to Wrexham as Colliers Park development details revealed

The details of a £4m investment into the Colliers Park facility by the Football Association of Wales have been outlined, with national squad training returning to Wrexham.

There are details of the usage of the facility included in the application, with time split between the FA Wales, Wrexham Glyndwr University and local football.

The FA Wales use would be around ‘national team training at all levels’ and ‘high level coach education’, indicating Ryan Giggs will be bringing the national men’s side back up here to train.

The coaching element is given a sprinkling of star dust with a name drop of those who have secured their Pro License ‘the Welsh Way’, including Thierry Henry, David Ginola and Mikel Arteta.

The University would be using the centre for some of their School of Social and Life Sciences BSc degrees, and some sports teams.

Local football use is explained as ‘supporting Wrexham AFC Academies and Development squads’, developing a ‘much needed Wrexham area women and girls football hub ‘feeding into a future Wrexham AFC Ladies team playing in the Welsh women’s domestic infrastructure – ultimately the Welsh Women’s Premier League’.

Other local support will involve development and training of referees and ‘supporting Wrexham area football clubs’.

The physical changes to the site have been listed including two new ‘premium grass pitches with irrigation’, an upgraded full size 3G pitch and various other enhancements to the site.

The existing building will be upgraded and used for the community and university work, and will be linked to the new ‘FAW exclusive area’ off the new foyer. The FAW section will have two new changing rooms, a players lounge, a meeting room and associated offices.

Concerns for the local community over the increase in use are combatted with it stated the total footfall to the site ‘will be no greater than Colliers Park usage in any of the former busiest years’.

The full application will be possibly considered by Wrexham Council’s planning committee at a later date, unless it is a delegated decision.