Murray Park
Thu, Oct 20, 2011
RANGERS' £14 million, state-of-the-art training centre at Murray Park includes six full size pitches, two half size pitches, a practice area, a synthetic indoor pitch and the training centre housed within a 38 acre site at Auchenhowie, Milngavie.
Opened in July, 2001, the centre is divided into three distinct sections - an administration wing, a professional wing and a youth wing.
The youth and professional wings have their own reception area, dining room, changing rooms, kit store and lecture room, whilst facilities such as the gym, medical suite and indoor pitch are shared between the professional and youth set ups.
Every piece of equipment in the £150,000 state-of-the-art gym is linked to the medical centre's computer system to allow Doctor Paul Jackson and new Head of Sports Science, Adam Owen, to monitor every player. Each one has an individual code which activates a personalised fitness programme designed to meet their unique requirements.
The gym includes an isokinetic machine, which allows players to work within the constraints of an injury by testing muscle strength and reaction during a workout.
Murray Park also includes a 6 x 3 metre hydrotherapy pool with an angled, moveable floor and a series of massage jets and currents that allows a range of rehabilitation exercises to take place.
The 60 x 40 metre indoor synthetic pitch allows players to train whatever the weather and is laid on a bed of sand and tiny rubber crumbs designed to cushion the surface and prevent injuries. This revolutionary new surface closely mimics real grass and is used by other top clubs such as Ajax.
In addition to developing elite athletes, Murray Park is also used to benefit the wider community in association with Sportscotland.
