Manchester United training ground: Major Carrington redevelopment completed after manager’s criticism

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Manchester United have unveiled a new £7m women's training facility at the club's Carrington training ground.

The development work comes despite major uncertainty around the United ownership, with the Glazer family launching a ‘strategic review' in November 2022, widely believed to be an offer to others to buy the club. As things stand, it looks like the Glazers will stay, but accept an offer of 25% investment from the British businessman Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS brand.

Carrington training ground criticisms

It also comes after major criticism of the women's training facilities at Carrington. When former manager Casey Stoney left the club in 2021, it was suggested that the poor facilities for her players were one of the reasons for her departure.

That would have been fair. United Women – who were re-founded in 2018, promoted to the Women's Super League in 2019 and finished second in 2023 – were having to train in temporary buildings and a marquee.

Women's team have new £7m building at Manchester United training ground

Thankfully, that set-up is no more. The £7m training facility looks fantastic. It includes a gym, rehabilitation areas, changing rooms, kit and boot rooms, a restaurant, analysis and meeting rooms and a players' lounge. The experience for United's female players has immediately improved.

Construction on the Carrington redevelopment began in February 2023 and United Women moved into the building at the start of the 2023/24 season, with only a few minor things left to complete.

“A high-performance environment”

Polly Bancroft, who joined United as Head of Women's Football in 2022, said of the development: “We now have a high-performance environment to operate in which will help take the team to the next level following the impressive performances we have seen on the pitch.”

“It is also important,” she continued, “for the girls academy sides to see the players they admire having access to high-quality facilities to help them reach the highest level.”

Pictures of Carrington redevelopment

Manchester United released several pictures of the new women's first-team training facility on Wednesday 18 October 2023. A couple are displayed below.

Pictures via Manchester United FC official gallery, available to view on ManUtd.com and the United app.