Huddersfield Town plan for Syngenta development

Nov 8 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HUDDERSFIELD Town are keen to push the button on a new multi-million pound training complex at Syngenta.

The Premier League-standard football club base would be called Canalside and be open for community use. Town’s plan includes massive investment and improvements to the current Rec Club at the Leeds Road site, which has around 2,000 members. The managing committee of the Rec Club – a ‘not for profit’ organisation trading as Syngenta Sports and Fitness Ltd – are unanimously recommending Town’s proposal to take control of the business.

Town chairman Dean Hoyle and chief executive Nigel Clibbens will hold a private question and answer session with Rec Club regulars at the Galpharm next Monday, while a final vote of all members is scheduled for November 29.

In a separate deal, Mr Hoyle would become landowner at the complex., and it would mean a complete scrapping of Town’s previous blueprint for a club base at Storthes Hall.

DEAN HOYLE believes the proposed Canalside development at Syngenta is Huddersfield Town’s biggest step forward since moving to the new stadium 16 years ago.

The football club chairman wants to create a multi-million pound training base at the site on Leeds Road, while improving facilities at the current Rec Club for members and the wider community.

The management committee of the Rec Club are recommending Town take over their business and members – there are 2,000 who have today received letters detailing the proposal – will get to vote on the issue at the Galpharm at the end of this month.

Before then, Mr Hoyle and Town chief executive Nigel Clibbens will hold a private question and answer session next Monday with members of the Rec Club, a ‘not for profit’ organisation which trades as Syngenta Sports and Fitness Ltd.

Mr Hoyle said: “It is a great prospect for Huddersfield Town – probably the biggest step forward since the new stadium was built in 1994 – but Canalside will also provide a superb amenity for existing members and for the community in general.

“We are a community football club. We need to play our part fully in the community and it is a personal crusade of mine to ensure this club does the right thing by Huddersfield as a whole.

“In the club’s ‘new era’ we have worked exceptionally hard to build our reputation in the community and football world.

“I am proud of what we have achieved already and I am excited about the potential to build on this at Canalside.”