Duke and Duchess of Cambridge open new £100m FA centre... and Wills even gives the England players training there a little team talk
- Duke and Duchess toured FA's spectacular 330 acre site with 12 full-size pitches, sports science facility, two hotels and conference centre
- Duchess smart in grey £325 winter coat by her favourite High Street store Reiss
- Duke and Duchess met members of the England squad before players embarked upon historical training session
By Rebecca English, Royal Correspondent
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If she had been mugging up on the offside rule in preparation, the palace were being characteristically discreet.
Fortunately the Duchess of Cambridge's husband is President of the Football Association and was on hand to steer her through any choppy sporting waters.
In fact Aston Villa fan Prince William was in his element today as he and Kate, wearing a grey wool coat by her favourite High Street designer Reiss, arrived in Burton-Upon-Trent, Staffordshire, for the official opening of St George's Park, the FA's new National Football Centre.
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Team photo: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge pose along with members of the England football team during the opening of St George's Park, the FA's new £100m training academy in Burton-Upon-Trent, Staffordshire
Time out: William and Kate enjoy a laugh with players from the England squad who had come to attend the grand opening of the 330 acre park, which boasts 12 full-size pitches, sports medicine and sports science facilities, two hotels and a conference centre
The 330-acre, £100m site is one of
the most advanced sporting facilities in the world and is set to become
the base for all coaching and development work undertaken by the game's
governing body.
It will also be the training and preparation ground for all of the England teams.
It boasts 12 world-classes pitches, state-of-the-art hydrotherapy suites, biomechanic gyms and video analysis amenities.
Today the royal couple were given a tour of the main facilities before meeting England manager Roy Hodgson and his squad as they train at St George's for the first time ahead of their World Cup qualifier on Friday.
In a speech after being shown round the centre, William said: 'Coming here this morning, seeing these wonderful facilities and beautiful surroundings – just experiencing this extraordinary place - gave me the same feelings I had when I first went to the Olympic Park.
'A mixture of pride that we are capable in this country of creating something so beyond compare anywhere else, and excitement at what this means, not just for our national game, but for sport and opportunity in this country as a whole.
Pitching in: As President of the FA, William would be able to educate his wife about the complex offside rule should she need it - though her time playing hockey will likely mean she is already well informed
Stylish: Kate wore the £325 Angel coat in military grey from her favourite High Street brand Reiss (a previous season's style) which she cinched at the waist with Reiss's Betony belt (£69) for a more flattering silhouette and accessorised with black suede knee-high boots
The Duchess immerses herself in conversation with Roy Hodgson and his coaching staff
'St George’s Park, and the concept that underpins it, is something totally new. It will be far more than just a world class facility for training our future world-beating national team.
'It
is more than just the university from which thousands of highly
qualified coaches will graduate. It is also a magnificent example of
the sort of social initiative that brings opportunity and purpose to
wider British life. It will provide employment and a social hub for
local people and, through the thousands of volunteers on which coaching
relies, it will foster community spirit, purpose and hope throughout
England.
'The superb medical and rehabilitation facilities that St George’s Park possesses, offer us the clearest example of how this incredible place will help those way beyond the frontiers of football.'
Ex-Servicemen
and women, some of whom will have been wounded in the service of our
country, will find respite and care here – and for that we must all be
grateful to the innovative minds that created St. George’s Park.'
He added: '2013 will be a great year for the Football Association. It will be 150 years-old and England will be hosting the Champions League Final and the UEFA Congress. There could be no more fitting way of marking these important events and a century and a half of England’s unique contribution to the world game than the existence of St. George’s Park.'
One for the future: The 330-acre site is one of the most advanced sporting facilities in the world and is set to become the base for all coaching and development work undertaken by the FA
Play time: Kate meets player Frank Lampard at the site, and right, talks tactics with England manager Roy Hodgson
Explaining the offside rule? Adam Johnson and Frank Lampard chat to Kate at the park. Kate commented at the event that this had been 'a great year for sport, and this was a fitting end to it', while, right, William greets a sheepish looking Ashley Cole, who had taken to Twitter to criticise the FA, of which William is president
Shake on it: After looking down at his feet, Ashley cole did manage to meet the Prince's eye and laugh off the Twitter row
Stars of the future: The Duke and Duchess spent part of the tour meeting youngsters
And the
prince couldn't resist a joke at his brother's expense, saying: 'I feel
tempted to cry "God for Harry, England and St. George", but I really
don’t want to lower the tone by bringing my brother into it.'
After
their tour of the facilities, William and Kate stepped onto one of the
centre's grass pitches - with are the exact size of that at Wembley.
There they met with members of the England squad who had been training with manager Roy Hodgson.
The royal couple posed for a 'team' photograph then set about chatting to the players.
William made a beeline for Wayne Rooney and Ashley Cole.
As he shook Cole's hand he appeared to rib the player about his current 'difficulties' with the FA, of which he is president.
Cole visibly blushed, laughed and stared at his feet as the pair jested.
Sources said later that the prince had told Cole, who has been charged with bringing the FA into disrepute after calling them ' a bunch of t***s' on Twitter: 'If you continue to be a naughty boy then they will take your Twitter account off you!'
The exchange was said to be 'incredibly light-hearted' despite William's position.
Kate, meanwhile, chatted at length to Frank Lampard, Adam Johnson and captain Steven Gerrard.
Unveiling: The royal couple officially open the National Football Centre at St George's Park
Inspiration: Prince William spoke of the aspirations for the site and the role it can play in the future development of sport in England
Crowd-pleaser: Prince William addresses the assembled audience as he officially opened the 330-acre site
The Duchess of Cambridge with Trevor Brooking (left) and David Bernstein during today's aofficial opening
At the ready: William and Kate test their reflexes at the new gym
Asked whether Kate, a formidable sportswoman herself but one more interested in tennis and hockey, had been reading up on the offside rule in advance, a spokesman laughed and said tactfully:
'The Duchess knows enough about football already and a lot of today's event is about coaching and schools activities.
'I'm sure if the offside rule comes up, the Duke will gallantly explain.'
As she had a tour of the National Football Centre with Prince William, the Duchess of Cambridge joked about putting on trainers for a kickabout.
Burton MP Andrew Griffiths said: 'I asked if she was going to come for a kickabout later. She said 'Have you got a pair of trainers I can borrow?'
'I said 'It can be arranged.' She just laughed.'
Mr Griffiths said Kate also talked of
her love of sport - and how she picked up on helicopter jargon on the
flight from London. 'She said it has been a great year for sport, and
this was a fitting end to it.
'She has been picking up on the helicopter chat. William was talking to the pilot and she is now into the helicopter chat.'
For Prince William there was some 'ribbing' about his support for Aston Villa, said Mr Griffiths - and optimistic talk about England's World Cup prospects.
'There was a lot of ribbing about Aston Villa and whether they are going to have any players in the England team.
'He said that was not his decision.
'He asked me if I thought the centre would deliver an England World Cup win. I said 'of course, guaranteed.' There was a wry smile. That about sums it up.'
William's Villa obsession also emerged at a Q and A session for coaches.
William said: 'I've got a quick question - I was just wondering if Aston Villa were ever going to win the Premiership.'
Chris Sulley, who is shortly to take up a job training coaches at Villa and other clubs, said: 'I've obviously got some work to do. They have produced good young players. Hopefully we can enhance that.'
William's Villa obsession also emerged at a Q and A session for coaches.
William said: 'I've got a quick question - I was just wondering if Aston Villa were ever going to win the Premiership.'
Chris Sulley, who is shortly to take up a job training coaches at Villa and other clubs, said: 'I've obviously got some work to do. They have produced good young players. Hopefully we can enhance that.'
During their visit, William and Kate toured the centre's state-of-the-art fitness and rehabilitation facilities, which include an exercise chamber replicating high altitude conditions.
The Duke and Duchess try their hand at a reaction-testing device at the centre's gym
Swim when you're winning: Prince William talks to the England players in the water at the hydrotherapy suite, as Kate keeps a slight distance
As well as chatting with staff and those working out on exercise bikes and running machines, the Duke and Duchess were invited to test out a push-button 'board' to gauge their reactions - with William beating his wife in the 30-second match-up by 31 points to 28.
Tim Wright, the National Performance Lead at the fitness centre, showed the royal couple how to use the machine, which can be used to sharpen up goalkeepers' reactions.
'It tests speed, agility, reaction, dexterity and coordination,' Mr Wright told reporters after the royal visitors' impromptu contest. 'It would have been good is they had had a practice run - but for a first time it was good.'
After inspecting an anti-gravity treadmill and hi-tech exercise bikes designed by British Cycling, the royal couple were shown around a hydrotherapy pool.
Both Kate and her husband were all smiles as they watched four members of the England women's team exercising in one pool.
As he passed seven members of the England men's team - including Ashley Cole and Andy Carroll - relaxing in a smaller pool, William joked: 'It's quite cosy in there isn't it? How cold is it?'
Wet behind the ears: The new facility has a number of swimming pools to aid in training
Saddle up: WIlliam and Kate are shown the new state-of-the-art training bikes used by British Cycling
Scream if you want to go faster: William threatens to adjust a runner's controls as Kate laughs
Spectacular: An aerial view of the sprawling National Football Centre reveals the extent of the facilities
Well equipped: The indoor training pitch, left, and right, the Tony Adams accommodation suite at St George's in Burton-Upon-Trent that is set to be the premium training camp for players tipped for premiership success
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100 Million for football? Sheer waste of money. The 'Football Association' can't even put up a "Great Britain Team" for the Rio Olympics. I say, don't give 'football' a penny. Let all those that want this silly game for, 'little boys in short trousers that have never grown up'; let them pay for a change.
- Gordonj , West Dulwich, London, 11/10/2012 17:02
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