Town celebrate £5m Canalside plan go-ahead

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN have been given the go-ahead for a £5m project that will provide them with state-of-the-art training facilities.

The club are to become new owners of the Syngenta Sports and Fitness Club, situated off Leeds Road, which will be used by their first team and academy squads.

Huddersfield's takeover of the complex, known as The Rec Club, received almost 100 per cent backing from Syngenta members, who will themselves benefit from the football club's pledge to invest heavily in new leisure facilities.

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The complex – not far from Huddersfield's Galpharm Stadium – will be renamed Canalside and represents a major boost for the League One promotion-chasers.

Town's chief executive Nigel Clibbens believes the project will have significant benefits for club and community.

"The acceptance of the Canalside proposal is the biggest news for the long-term success of the football club since the move to our new ground in 1994," he commented.

"It is also fantastic news for the existing members of the sports and fitness club as well as the community.

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"Everyone cannot wait to get the project under way and we will be working closely with the members to deliver a top-class facility for all parties."

Rec Club chairman Carl Sykes said: "Our members have backed the proposals and in doing so are backing new landlord, Dean Hoyle (the Huddersfield Town chairman), to do the right thing by members, the club and the community it serves.

"The managing committee have worked hard to secure a future for Rec Club members from a position of limited bargaining power.

"Success of Canalside will now be down to Huddersfield Town and members working together."

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The Rec club had 12 years remaining on the current lease but only possessed a six-month notice clause.

Changes to facilities such as the gymnasium, snooker section, bowling greens and croquet lawns can only be made with Rec Club members' approval.

Some 98.3 per cent of the club's 686 members who voted were in favour of a Town takeover during a meeting at the Galpharm.

Huddersfield Town and the Rec Club board will manage day-to-day commercial operations at the facility, with Town's directors providing overall leadership.

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Town were last night left kicking their heels when their Johnstone's Paint Trophy Northern Area semi-final at Tranmere Rovers was postponed due to a frozen pitch.

The game will be played at Prenton Park next Tuesday (7.45pm).