Celtic have completed a series of upgrades to the Lennoxtown training centre, with the club revealing a modernised facility designed to meet the demands of the modern game.
The training ground first opened in 2007 and has served as the daily base for the first team ever since. Over the last year, work has been carried out to update several areas, including analysis spaces, office areas and player facilities.
The upgrades are meant to bring the training ground closer to the level you now see at top clubs across Europe. The way teams prepare for matches has changed a lot in recent years. Sports science, recovery sessions and detailed video analysis are now part of the weekly routine rather than something done occasionally.
Callum McGregor has watched Lennoxtown change over the course of his career. Having spent so long around the first team, he has seen the training ground gradually develop as the club keeps improving the facilities behind the scenes.
He said: (Celtic FC YouTube), “Yeah, obviously I think there was a period of redevelopment in terms of what we could do with the space and trying to modernise it, and the guys behind the scenes have done a really, really good job and now the next part of it’s done with the office space and the amphitheatre for the analysis stuff.
“We need to continue to push and try to have the best facilities that we can.
“What you see on match day is the preparation and everything that goes on during the week.
“If we can be as good as we can be in every field that we have at the football club, then it gives you the best chance of seeing the best product on the pitch.”
One of the new features is an analysis amphitheatre, where the squad and coaching staff can sit together to go through footage and talk through tactics. With Celtic often playing two games most weeks across league and European fixtures, much of the time between matches is spent either preparing for the next opponent or recovering from the last one.
Assistant coach Shaun Maloney believes the updated facility now gives the players everything they need to work at that level.
He said: “When I came back here I think this place had been open about six months and to where it is now it’s some transformation really.
“The training ground has everything you need now.
“I think you see our schedule now, every two or three games we’re either preparing or recovering, so it has everything you need.
“We have everything now to actually make that happen.”
The facility is also used by Celtic’s B team, meaning younger players train in the same environment as the first team.
Former defender Stephen McManus, who now works with the academy and first-team coaching set-up, believes that link between the two groups has been an important part of the setup.
He said: “It was important that the reserves and the first team were pretty much aligned and that’s then continued.
“With the new offices there for the B team staff as well, for the sports science guys, you’re utilising the space that was there.
“When you see it, it’s a tremendous facility.”
For supporters, the focus will always be on what happens on the pitch. Many fans have voiced frustration in recent months about the lack of spending on new signings, especially during key transfer windows.
Celtic point to projects like the Lennoxtown redevelopment as part of their long-term investment in the club. The belief inside the club is that giving players and staff better facilities will help create the environment needed to compete and win trophies.
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yes looks good cause trying to sell the SPL to new players its a hard sell so we have to sell Celtic to them and europe is big but we beed to buy for europe not Spl that will take care of its self but we cant be cannon fodder for europe teams so we need to spend for europe no more £2million then spend most if the transfer window hoping the come back your opening bid should £5million if no encouragement in a week move on to next one on list stop the panicking let teams know your top and only bid is on table for a week im sure they wouldnt run there companies like Celtic and I dont know why its a big business plus they should get help from gov and Glasgow council Cektic bring in so much business to the city at weekends hotels shops resturants public houses they should be helping cause they do more for Glasgow than most sure Celtic are more than happy to accomdate visitors you invite to city must be one of the top attraction tour round stadium wined and dined then watch the game what a great day