station road owl Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 Going back 20 years back in the day, we always turned up at the training ground to watch the players train and hopefully get some pictures and signatures. Does this still happen or is it all security these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeroswfc Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 I've not seen anything for years about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OwlofOliveGrove Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 I'd like to think you could still go and watch but i'm not sure how strict they are with the indoor pitch etc. Would be a shame if not. I was happy to find out the other day that you can watch the development squad matches for pretty much no money. Definitely worth a viewing on current form. Especially with the likes of Hirst (and a couple of senior players usually) playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamnich Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 1 hour ago, station road owl said: Going back 20 years back in the day, we always turned up at the training ground to watch the players train and hopefully get some pictures and signatures. Does this still happen or is it all security these days. Used to do the same. A look around the shop then up to Middlewood. Used to look at the car registrations to see who was likely to be there in the carpark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whatahoot Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 I used to visit Middlewood Road training ground on a regular basis up to a year ago and even though there is a security guy on duty at the entrance, providing people do not go into private areas i.e. Press Rooms, Offices, gyms, changing rooms inside the training dome or inside the all weather areas, which are all clearly marked, supporters are made most welcome. Wednesday have an "Open House" policy so supporters and parents/family can watch matches and training sessions from the appropriate marked/ roped off places. There is I believe, a small snack wagon which sells tea, coffee etc. This is not the case at other teams grounds, where you cannot get anywhere near the training facilities due to heavy security, unless you have a pre arranged pass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dumboldowl Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 6 minutes ago, Whatahoot said: I used to visit Middlewood Road training ground on a regular basis up to a year ago and even though there is a security guy on duty at the entrance, providing people do not go into private areas i.e. Press Rooms, Offices, gyms, changing rooms inside the training dome or inside the all weather areas, which are all clearly marked, supporters are made most welcome. Wednesday have an "Open House" policy so supporters and parents/family can watch matches and training sessions from the appropriate marked/ roped off places. There is I believe, a small snack wagon which sells tea, coffee etc. This is not the case at other teams grounds, where you cannot get anywhere near the training facilities due to heavy security, unless you have a pre arranged pass. Well done Wednesday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
station road owl Posted January 17, 2017 Author Share Posted January 17, 2017 Might take the lad Down in a few week. He keeps asking to meet a few players. Cheers guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DNS Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 (edited) Dev squad matches are free. Usually a lot of parents, scouts and journalists hanging around. I went down a few months back to watch us play Palace and Urby was actually playing in the blue white silk! Edited January 17, 2017 by DNS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S36 OWL Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 4 hours ago, station road owl said: Going back 20 years back in the day, we always turned up at the training ground to watch the players train and hopefully get some pictures and signatures. Does this still happen or is it all security these days. When we were kids, back in the seventies, we used to walk along a path at the back of the training ground and sit in the trees to watch them training. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSlicer Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 Slightly off subject. But, I was thinking the other day about an S W F C Tv channel the other day. for£10 a month for example I think it would be a cracking idea. Behind the scenes in training, exclusive player interviews and extended match highlights. Some me of the players are good characters and would be interesting to see the jovial behaviour that goes on etc. fill the gaps with old highlights etc. does anyone know more about this than me? Would it be feasible, what sort of licensing would we need etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigrbuk Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 2 hours ago, Whatahoot said: I used to visit Middlewood Road training ground on a regular basis up to a year ago and even though there is a security guy on duty at the entrance, providing people do not go into private areas i.e. Press Rooms, Offices, gyms, changing rooms inside the training dome or inside the all weather areas, which are all clearly marked, supporters are made most welcome. Wednesday have an "Open House" policy so supporters and parents/family can watch matches and training sessions from the appropriate marked/ roped off places. There is I believe, a small snack wagon which sells tea, coffee etc. This is not the case at other teams grounds, where you cannot get anywhere near the training facilities due to heavy security, unless you have a pre arranged pass. Interesting. Now, if you could tell me what time they train and on what days, I might just have a plan for half term :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
station road owl Posted January 17, 2017 Author Share Posted January 17, 2017 10 minutes ago, OughtibridgeOwl said: Slightly off subject. But, I was thinking the other day about an S W F C Tv channel the other day. for£10 a month for example I think it would be a cracking idea. Behind the scenes in training, exclusive player interviews and extended match highlights. Some me of the players are good characters and would be interesting to see the jovial behaviour that goes on etc. fill the gaps with old highlights etc. does anyone know more about this than me? Would it be feasible, what sort of licensing would we need etc Give DC time I think this will happen. Would love it to have an option of love away games if we sold all our allocation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
station road owl Posted January 17, 2017 Author Share Posted January 17, 2017 7 minutes ago, bigrbuk said: Interesting. Now, if you could tell me what time they train and on what days, I might just have a plan for half term :) Reckon on it will be pot luck but we do have 3 games that week Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whatahoot Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 6 minutes ago, bigrbuk said: Interesting. Now, if you could tell me what time they train and on what days, I might just have a plan for half term :) Sorry I can't tell you that, as in the past year or so they have revamped the age groups and teams which use Middlewood Road, because of the wear and tear on the training pitches. They also use a couple of all weather pitches at a college near to the greyhound track and casino, but again I don't know which teams or age groups train there. I believe that the Academy also use other sites in the area. I think the first team, under 23,development group and the under 18 teams use Middlewood Rd mainly, but on what dates and times I'm not aware. Would be worth finding out though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robster_owl Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 48 minutes ago, OughtibridgeOwl said: Slightly off subject. But, I was thinking the other day about an S W F C Tv channel the other day. for£10 a month for example I think it would be a cracking idea. Behind the scenes in training, exclusive player interviews and extended match highlights. Some me of the players are good characters and would be interesting to see the jovial behaviour that goes on etc. fill the gaps with old highlights etc. does anyone know more about this than me? Would it be feasible, what sort of licensing would we need etc Not one to be a party pooper but on this occasion I feel it would be correct to be. I'm quite sure that there would be way too much risk to wittingly or unwittingly giving competitive information to all of your current season competitor's by covering anything in or based around the training element? So if just exclusive player interviews and extended match highlights, one could say we already have this with WednesdayPlayer - I know the providers infrastructure is always questioned and rightly so but it still remains that we have everything you mention barring training features. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mannyowl Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 4 hours ago, Whatahoot said: I used to visit Middlewood Road training ground on a regular basis up to a year ago and even though there is a security guy on duty at the entrance, providing people do not go into private areas i.e. Press Rooms, Offices, gyms, changing rooms inside the training dome or inside the all weather areas, which are all clearly marked, supporters are made most welcome. Wednesday have an "Open House" policy so supporters and parents/family can watch matches and training sessions from the appropriate marked/ roped off places. There is I believe, a small snack wagon which sells tea, coffee etc. This is not the case at other teams grounds, where you cannot get anywhere near the training facilities due to heavy security, unless you have a pre arranged pass. i dont want to be a party pooper - however i dont think that will be correct these days - you are free to watch the young lads train as parents do this. but the tg will be closed shop for fans watching the first team training, as you could be an away team scout casually watching our set pieces and what we do on the training pitch. Plus i believe there is currently development work being done so this would also pose a h&s risk for fans just aimlessly walking around a building site. Apologies if i am wrong and not a party pooper after all - i just dont want people going there expecting to watch training and get turned away - thus creating threads saying how heavy handed security was and how certain players ignored them etc and how reach couldn't even cross the car park correctly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bladeshater Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 You cannot watch for team training but development and academy games are free to watch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pulsar Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 (edited) 6 hours ago, S36 OWL said: When we were kids, back in the seventies, we used to walk along a path at the back of the training ground and sit in the trees to watch them training. Similar story. I used to ring my mate up on an avocado telephone which had a cable attached to the wall and a rotating disc with finger holes to dial the numbers. Next thing I was on the 215 from Dinnington and he'd get on at Swallownest. Half an hour later we'd get off at the old Pond St. bus station and walk past the Minerva restaurant and down to the bus stop outside the old ABC cinema and Alfredos barbers to catch the no.82 bus to Middlewood Rd. 20mins later we'd be perusing the wonderful old Owls shop behind the South stand after catching a glimpse of Maurice Setters and Tony Toms. I bought a nice little autograph book that particular day. Then we'd head down for egg and chips in the Four Lanes cafe hoping to bump into TC (Terry Curran) who was my first hero. After we'd finished we skipped to the training ground which was easily accessible to the public and sat down for at least an hour watching TC and a season or two later on Gary Bannister play keepy up. After they'd finished and went in to shower we would wait in the car park for them to sign my book. I remember one time I had a picture of Peter Shirtliff in the old Match magazine (could have been Shoot) which I had open for him to sign. As he did so I can still see Gordon Owen looking at the photo of Shirty and saying "you're getting stuck in there pal" A few years later when Wilkinson became manager he put a stop to the public being able to walk in as there was a wall/barrier built. Was gutted! Probably a bit of a boring story for you lot but the memories make me feel as nostalgic as hell. I still get the same fuzzy feeling at 48 years of age as we park in the petrol station and walk down the Lepp before taking our seats in the North. Edited January 17, 2017 by Pulsar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S36 OWL Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 6 minutes ago, Pulsar said: Similar story. I used to ring my mate up on an avocado telephone which had a cable attached to the wall and a rotating disc with finger holes to dial the numbers. Next thing I was on the 215 from Dinnington and he'd get on at Swallownest. Half an hour later we'd get off at the old Pond St. bus station and walk past the Minerva restaurant and down to the bus stop outside the old ABC cinema and Alfredos barbers to catch the no.82 bus to Middlewood Rd. 20mins later we'd be perusing the wonderful old Owls shop behind the South stand after catching a glimpse of Maurice Setters and Tony Toms. I bought a nice little autograph book that particular day. Then we'd head down for egg and chips in the Four Lanes cafe hoping to bump into TC (Terry Curran) who was my first hero. After we'd finished we skipped to the training ground which was easily accessible to the public and sat down for at least an hour watching TC and a season or two later on Gary Bannister play keepy up. After they'd finished and went in to shower we would wait in the car park for them to sign my book. I remember one time I had a picture of Peter Shirtliff in the old Match magazine (could have been Shoot) which I had open for him to sign. As he did so I can still see Gordon Owen looking at the photo of Shirty and saying "you're getting stuck in there pal" A few years later when Wilkinson became manager he put a stop to the public being able to walk in as there was a wall/barrier built. Was gutted! Probably a bit of a boring story for you lot but the memories make me feel as nostalgic as hell. I still get the same fuzzy feeling at 48 years of age as we park in the petrol station and walk down the Lepp before taking our seats in the North. Brilliant memories mate. Reading that really brought a smile to my face. Those were the days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whatahoot Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 3 hours ago, mannyowl said: i dont want to be a party pooper - however i dont think that will be correct these days - you are free to watch the young lads train as parents do this. but the tg will be closed shop for fans watching the first team training, as you could be an away team scout casually watching our set pieces and what we do on the training pitch. Plus i believe there is currently development work being done so this would also pose a h&s risk for fans just aimlessly walking around a building site. Apologies if i am wrong and not a party pooper after all - i just dont want people going there expecting to watch training and get turned away - thus creating threads saying how heavy handed security was and how certain players ignored them etc and how reach couldn't even cross the car park correctly Yep. Sorry I don't want to give wrong information too. You cannot watch First Team squad training, but you might just catch a under 23 or development match, which has first teamers playing. Pot luck I know. You must stay in the designated areas too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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