Rockliffe Park
Encyclopedia
Rockliffe Park near Hurworth, County Durham
, is Middlesbrough Football Club's
training facility and sports complex.
) built Rockliffe Hall, then known as Pilmore Hall. The grounds and hall were then sold off to Lord Southampton and used as a command headquarters during World War II
. The estate was then split amongst the family and then sold to the Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God
in 1948. The brothers built St Cuthbert's Hospital, and remained there until the Order moved to nearby Scorton in 1991.
builders Taylor Woodrow
and cost £7 million. The complex was officially opened on 29 October 1998 by British Prime Minister
Tony Blair
.
Following heavy rain in early September 2008, part of the Rockcliffe training complex flooded after the River Tees
broke its banks, leaving an area the size of four football pitches under four feet of water.
Billingham Synthonia and their reserve team also use the training facilities at Rockliffe.
The complex is used for Academy and Reserve team games by the football club as well as for training purposes. Indeed, England
trained at the complex prior to their Euro 2004 qualifying
match at the Riverside Stadium
against Slovakia
in 2003.
The club subsequently announced plans to build a £50 million golf course, including a luxury hotel at Rockliffe Hall and residential accommodation, and planning permission was given by Darlington Borough Council
on 12 December 2006. When completed, this will create both the region's first five star hotel and Europe's longest golf course.
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, is Middlesbrough Football Club's
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
training facility and sports complex.
Early years (1863-1996)
In 1863, Arthur Backhouse (a member of the Quaker banking family of DarlingtonDarlington
Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, part of the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It lies on the small River Skerne, a tributary of the River Tees, not far from the main river. It is the main population centre in the borough, with a population of 97,838 as of 2001...
) built Rockliffe Hall, then known as Pilmore Hall. The grounds and hall were then sold off to Lord Southampton and used as a command headquarters during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The estate was then split amongst the family and then sold to the Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God
Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God
The Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God are a Roman Catholic order founded in 1572. They are also known commonly as the Fatebenefratelli, meaning "Do-Good Brothers" in Italian.-History:...
in 1948. The brothers built St Cuthbert's Hospital, and remained there until the Order moved to nearby Scorton in 1991.
Ownership by Middlesbrough F.C. (1997-date)
Following a period in which the area had been unused, Middlesbrough purchased Rockliffe Park in 1997. Following extensive research including visiting the academies of clubs like AFC Ajax, Middlesbrough finally developed Rockliffe Park training complex. It was constructed by Riverside StadiumRiverside Stadium
The Riverside Stadium is a football stadium in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England, which has been the home of Middlesbrough F.C. since it opened in 1995...
builders Taylor Woodrow
Taylor Woodrow
Taylor Woodrow was one of the largest British housebuilding and general construction companies. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but merged with rival George Wimpey to create Taylor Wimpey on 3 July 2007.-Early years:Frank Taylor was...
and cost £7 million. The complex was officially opened on 29 October 1998 by British Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
.
Following heavy rain in early September 2008, part of the Rockcliffe training complex flooded after the River Tees
River Tees
The River Tees is in Northern England. It rises on the eastern slope of Cross Fell in the North Pennines, and flows eastwards for 85 miles to reach the North Sea between Hartlepool and Redcar.-Geography:...
broke its banks, leaving an area the size of four football pitches under four feet of water.
Billingham Synthonia and their reserve team also use the training facilities at Rockliffe.
Facilities
Rockliffe Park training complex currently resides in a 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) site. Within this site lies 8 full size pitches.The complex is used for Academy and Reserve team games by the football club as well as for training purposes. Indeed, England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
trained at the complex prior to their Euro 2004 qualifying
2004 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying
Qualification for the 2004 UEFA European Football Championship took place between September 2002 and November 2003.Fifty teams were divided into ten groups, with each team playing the others in their group twice, once at home and once away...
match at the Riverside Stadium
Riverside Stadium
The Riverside Stadium is a football stadium in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England, which has been the home of Middlesbrough F.C. since it opened in 1995...
against Slovakia
Slovakia national football team
The Slovakia national football team represents Slovakia in association football and is controlled by the Slovak Football Association , the governing body for football in Slovakia. Slovakia's home stadium is Štadión Pasienky and their head coach is Vladimír Weiss...
in 2003.
Future
In October 2006, Middlesbrough Football Club (in association with Rockcliffe Hall Developments) acquired 4 square kilometres of farmland adjacent to Rockliffe Hall.The club subsequently announced plans to build a £50 million golf course, including a luxury hotel at Rockliffe Hall and residential accommodation, and planning permission was given by Darlington Borough Council
Darlington (borough)
Darlington is a local government district and borough in North East England. In 2008 it had a resident population of 100,500 It borders County Durham to the north and west, North Yorkshire to the south along the line of the River Tees, and Stockton-on-Tees to the east.-Council:Traditionally part of...
on 12 December 2006. When completed, this will create both the region's first five star hotel and Europe's longest golf course.