Aside from the pre-season training facilities at Marjons the facility at Seale-Hayne are as good as any within a 30 mile radius of the City. Since taking a long lease on the facility three or four years ago the Gulls have invested over £100,000 on improving the existing facility. It has four level well drained pitches, a pavilion with changing rooms and medical and gym facilities and is fairly private being tree lined.
Torquay United, given their continuing parlous financial state simply cannot afford to keep it going,, particularly when they axed their Academy which was also based there.Sharing the facility will reduce their cost base.
Harpers Park has never been fit for purpose in adverse weather conditions and the adjoining former cricket club, owned by previous Directors off the club, remains unavailable to expand into for improved facilities. Once the students are back at Marjons then the availability of that facility is reduced or even eliminated. That means occasional usage of the Home Park pitch or 3G pitches as at Saltash.
For too many years the provisional of adequate training facilities for the club and its Youth set up has not reached the top of the 'must have'agenda for the club despite the occasional promise by Directors to find better facilities in the City area. It is ironic given that the football club is located within the largest park in the City. However, we are where we are and if the use of vastly improved facilities, albeit 30 miles away, results in improved training and team performances then the training facility share with the Gulls will not only have been a pragmatic decision but a beneficial one too.