Teams vie for new training facilities
HARROW Borough and Wealdstone could boast some of the best training facilities in the Ryman Premier League if they forge links with the area's new state-of-the-art sports centre.
Both rival clubs have expressed an interest in using the pitches at the impressive facility at Prince Edward Playing Fields (PEPF), which will also be used by League Two side Barnet.
And with the first phase of the £4million development due for completion at the end of the month, the managers of Harrow and Stones are keen to rubber-stamp deals that could see them begin pre-season training at the site.
The 44-acre facility will include 10 pitches, 14 changing rooms, meeting rooms, a swimming pool and a football stadium with capacity for 3,000 spectators.
"We're hoping to run training for our first team, U18s and reserve side from there next season," confirmed Harrow Borough manager David Howell. "We've put a tender in to train between 7pm and 9pm on Mondays and Thursdays, and that would make a big difference to us.
"A lot of clubs we play in this division have fantastic playing facilities and sadly we've been missing that.
"The club and I have many links with Barnet and we hope that having gone to them with our requirements early, they will come back to us with something that is feasible and workable for us."
Barnet Sports Development is running the site and its chief executive, former Bees boss Paul Fairclough, confirmed Howell's interest and that of Wealdstone, who were once close to making PEPF their permanent home.
"We know that Wealdstone have been growing roots at Ruislip Manor and maybe to uproot that might be too much of a disturbance," said Fairclough.
"Gordon Bartlett has been in touch with me about using the astro-turf facilities for their training and I am sure the club's junior sides will be involved too."
Stones manager Bartlett said: "There has always been an interest by the club but again it comes down to how much it will cost us. It is a wonderful facility and one which we would love to use."
Harrow Borough FC
Wealdstone FC