Work starts on new St Mirren training complex

Mar 13 2009 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

ST MIRREN’S ambitious new training complex at Allanton playing fields in Ralston is taking shape.

The project’s main contractors, Malcolm Construction Services, have hit the ground running and have already erected the main building where Gus MacPherson’s squad will be based.

The 3.7-hectare site will boast a state-of-the-art astroturf pitch, a grass playing area to SPL standard for the first team to train on and the first team headquarters, including a dressing room, physio room and boot room.

The development will also feature meeting rooms, a media suite and an analysis room, as well as offices for the manager and other staff, a gym, the players’ lounge and restaurant and the youth team headquarters.

Last night, St Mirren’s general manager Brian Caldwell said: “We’re delighted to announce that work has started on our new training facilities.

“For quite some time, we have been talking about this development but it’s great to say that it’s finally happening and that the work is under way.”

Express Sports understands the next phase of work for the contractors will be to prepare the surrounding grass area for the installation of the astro-grass pitches.

The project is expected to take between 12 to 16 weeks to complete but everything is on schedule and the training complex should be ready for when MacPherson’s squad return to pre-season training in July.

At the moment, Saints players have to travel daily to Stepps in North Lanarkshire to train at the facilities owned by the University of Strathclyde.

However, once the Allanton base is up and running, the Buddies will have an excellent training facility right on their doorstep.

Caldwell added: “We’re looking forward to seeing the work at Ralston develop, just as much as we were when the new stadium in Greenhill Road was nearing completion.

“The new training complex is a very important part of the club’s long-term strategy.”