A 3,500-capacity stadium, spa, restaurants and a beauty salon - inside Town’s Pinatar Arena training base in Spain
Ipswich Town are spending the week in Spain as part of their pre-season schedule. Picture: PINATARARENA - Credit: Archant
Paul Hurst has taken his players to Pinatar Arena near Alicante, Spain for a week-long training camp ahead of the new season.
The Blues squad arrived on Monday and are booked in for the week at the venue on the outskirts of San Javier in south-eastern Spain, east of Murcia and an hour south from Alicante.
Recently-departed Colchester full-back is with the squad in Spain, having turned down a new deal at the Essex club, while Teddy Bishop, Andre Dozzell and Tom Adeyemi have all been pictured with the group as they continue their recovery from injury.
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The venue, which has been used by professional clubs from around the world in recent years since its opening in 2013, boasts five grass pitches at FIFA standard with dedicated areas for the club’s goalkeepers to work.
Premier League side Bournemouth are due to play two matches at the Arena later this summer, with games scheduled against Spanish teams Levante and Sevilla, while MK Dons area booked in from July 15-21. Newcastle, Reading, Leeds, Lyon, FC Twente and various international youth teams have all used the facilities in recent months.
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The main arena has space for 3,500 spectators and is equipped with floodlights, TV production facilities, high standard changing rooms with ice baths and space for referees.
Fitness is a key part of the Blues’ trip to Spain and their base includes 900-square-metre gym as well as a spa centre including a heated pool, sauna, jacuzzi, steam room and a pyhsio department. There is also an on-site beauty salon, a restaurant and a press area for media work.
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The week-long stay in Spain has replaced the Ireland trip which had become tradition under former manager Mick McCarthy, with Hurst pushing for the change as he begins his tenure.
There are no plans for an official friendly during the trip, although it is understood a behind-closed-doors game is likely.
Ipswich’s first pre-season game of the summer is at Braintree on July 14.