Everton are pressing ahead with plans to build a small stadium at their Finch Farm training ground to house the club’s academy teams.
Roberto Martinez today revealed that the upgrading of its state-of-the-art complex in Halewood will see a permanent residence for the Blues’ under-21 side’s fixtures.
The under-21s, coached by former Everton defender David Unsworth, currently host games at Southport’s Merseyrail Community Stadium but have been forced to switch matches back to Finch Farm owing to problems with the playing surface of the non-league outfit’s home.
“Work is going into the rest rooms for the first-team and the new rejuvenation area and also adapting the show piece pitch,” Martinez told the Liverpool Echo.
“The seating area is not going too big, but big enough for us to get the games on there.
“You need to have stands, dug-outs, accessibility and parking.”
Also among Everton’s refurbishment plans are rest and recuperation facilities which will see bedrooms built on the site, currently leased to the club by Liverpool City Council.