Carlisle United are delighted to confirm that work has started on the refurbishment and upgrade of the Neil Centre.
This is the latest project to upgrade the facilities at Brunton Park and will be a major step forward for the Academy but also refresh public areas which are in need of some TLC. This will benefit the users of the Neil and those participating in the Carlisle United Community Sports Trust engagement programmes.
McKnight Builders will complete the work, which includes a complete rebuild of the upstairs areas covering a total electrical rewire, new floors and ceiling as well as opening up the entire floor into an open plan area.
Downstairs, the changing rooms and toilet areas will also be redecorated and refreshed. Roof works will be undertaken in the playing area as well as redecoration and construction of a new entrance. The offices on the ground floor will be improved and repurposed to create a new dedicated social area created for the Professional Development Phase youth team scholars.
Once complete, this will allow all the Academy staff, coaching and support team to be housed together in offices for the first time. They are currently operating from a number of areas dispersed around Brunton Park. It will also bring much improved working facilities for staff, enable them to be together in one place and provide space for match and player analysis.
It will take around eight weeks. During the working period the Neil Centre will remain open and we expect limited disruption. We will keep users updated.
Chief executive Nigel Clibbens said: “Bringing the Academy staff and operations together for their day-to-day operations is by far more the most important aspect of this project. It’s an absolutely essential change.
“We believe it will play a crucial part in improving the Academy, in a simple and quick way, to yield immediate benefits, which is a priority.
“The change of ownership has allowed us to do this in a way we could not before. Of course, this is just an interim measure and once the Training Ground project moves ahead, the Academy will move out to that new site which will allow us to make a real leap forward.
“We are really grateful to the Carlisle United Community Sports Trust for supporting this move as it previously used the space.”
Wayne McKnight, owner of McKnight Builders and Vice President at Brunton Park, said: "This is a really exciting time for the club and we are delighted to be involved.
"We're looking forward to seeing all of the improvements around the stadium and are happy to play our part."
Watch a short video to show the first stages of the work HERE.
In the coming days we will have an update on the Warwick Road End which is poised to move ahead.
