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| Members of the Sikh community with Crawley Town Head Coach Dermot Drummy, assistant Matt Gray and Operations Director Kelly Derham at the launch of the partnership at the Sikh Gurdwara and Community Sports Centre in Ifield Green. Picture: James Boardman TPI-0293 |
Tuesday 07 June 2016: Crawley Town’s new training ground will be based in Ifield Green at the Sikh Gurdwara and Community Sport Centre.
The site is previously the home of Edwards Sports and Social Club and just ten minutes away from the Checkatrade Stadium.
The club’s pitch consultants SJK are now working at the site in preparation for the start of pre-season training on June 30.
There are two pitches, one of which will be fully operational by September, that will be used on a rotational basis.
Head coach Dermot Drummy has pushed for a location close to the ground so they can utilise the facilities there, opting to move closer to home than their base in Ardingly College last year.
Reds have previously had spells training at Oakwood Football Club and at Bewbush.
The centre has been the place to meet and worship for Crawley’s 500-strong Sikh community since 2012.
Earlier this week the partnership with Crawley Town was blessed at a ceremony in the Gurdwara (temple) attended by Drummy, his assistant Matt Gray and the club’s operations director Kelly Derham.
Dermot was presented with an orange saropa scarf which is given to anyone who attends the Gurdwara and it is said it will bring the club good luck.
Jarnail Singh, spokesman for the Siri Guru Singh Sabha association, said: “We are delighted to welcome Dermot, his staff and the players and look forward to a successful partnership.
“There has been a Sikh community in Crawley for more than 50 years now and our Gurdwara and meeting area in Ifield is funded entirely by donations from the Sikh community.
“Dermot and his team were blessed by our guru and we hope this partnership is the start of a long and successful period for Crawley Town.”