Awford looking forward to moving into new training base
Pompey finished as high as eighth and won the FA Cup during their Premier League years.
But they never had a training base to call home.
That is all set to change with work well underway on a new facility at Roko Health Club on Copnor Road.
It will house two full-sized pitches – and a smaller one – as well as a fitness suite, changing rooms and offices for football department staff.
And Andy Awford is delighted that Pompey will finally have a training ground of their own.
The Blues boss said: “All the places we’ve been over the years have been fantastic, but we need somewhere that we can call our own.
“I remember doing one pre-season down on Southsea Common when I was a player and hopefully that’s something we won’t have to do again.
“We won the FA Cup when we were based out of Eastleigh, but it was never really ours and this will be.
“Having our own place will give us a renewed focus and help us continue to rebuild this club.
“It won’t be a case of us pitching up at Roko – this will be Portsmouth Football Club’s training ground.
“We tried to move the academy base here a few years ago, but then we went into administration and those plans got shared.
“But we were able to pick those up again and adjust them for where we are now and what we want to achieve.’
“I want to say thank you to everyone who’s been involved in getting us here because it’s a landmark occasion.”
Pompey plan to move into the new base during next season, but Awford has refused to set a date.
He said: “It’s important that we don’t move until everything’s ready – the pitches, the changing rooms and the gym.
“The whole environment has to be right and if we have to wait an extra month then that’s what we’ll do.
“When we finally do walk through the door then it will be a fantastic venue for us.”
To download plans for the new training base, click here, here, here and here.