First look at Imps’ £1.3m training facility

Lincoln City offered a first glimpse inside their new £1.3 million Soper of Lincoln Elite Performance Centre, which is set to be fully operational before the end of month.

As previously reported, the League Two club were granted formal planning permission over the summer by West Lindsey District Council to begin work on their new training ground on a 12.3-acre site on Heath Lane near RAF Scampton.

In the 2016-17 season Lincoln City produced a heroic and magical run in the FA Cup to become the first non-league side in over 100 years to reach the quarter-final after beating Premier League side Burnley.

Inside Lincoln City’s new Elite Performance Centre. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Nick Cowley inside the new facility. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The run was eventually ended by Premier League side Arsenal, but the prize-money legacy of the cup campaign was revealed at the site of the new training facility, which is set to offer huge opportunities for current and future generations.

The brand new facility, which will become the training home to Lincoln City’s senior and development teams, was directly funded by the Emirates FA Cup prize money.

The new training facility on Heath Lane near RAF Scampton. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The site tour from managerial duo Danny and Nicky Cowley, along with the club’s CEO Liam Scully, comes just weeks after the FA announced that clubs competing in the 2018-19 Emirates FA Cup will benefit from a prize fund that has doubled to £30.2million.

The development, set to be fully operational before the end of month, includes three elite grass football pitches, a fully equipped gymnasium, changing rooms and new staff offices.

Inside the changing room. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Danny Cowley pictured with the FA Cup at the facility. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

As well as the 400m² main building, the training ground features two specialist TV towers that will enable the club’s technical staff to film and analyse training and matches in real-time.

Also included is an innovative sprinkler system, boasting 55 water sprinklers that can be activated remotely from anywhere in the world, and an additional new groundcare building to protect the groundstaff’s equipment.

Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Lincoln will host fellow League Two side Northampton at Sincil Bank in the Emirates FA Cup First Round Proper this weekend on Saturday, November 10.