City Football Academy - 6 Years Is A Long Time In Football

Sheikh Mansour: "We are building a structure for the future, not just a team of all stars".

As a City fan of a certain age the opening today of the City Football Academy is truly a milestone to place alongside 14th May 2011 and 93'20" 13th May 2012. I am sure a certain section of the media will concentrate on the significant investment to make this happen, and indeed the numbers are impressive; from the 7000 seater stadium for the EDS and MCWFC teams, to the 8.1m litre water tanks to keep the 16 and a half (the keepers have their own half pitch!) pitches green.

For me though it is both the obvious longevity of such an investment and the way the community is being helped that stands out. One side of my family hails from near to what has become "Eastlands", and to see the transformation is something for which Sheikh Mansour can truly be proud. The use of "brown field", the employment of 10% of staff from local unemployed, and the investment of £3m in local amenities especially.

It is a world away from Platt Lane, but retains the community links first seen there (I used to play 5-a-side at Platt Lane hopeful the training pitch would be in use at the same time). If ever a football club initiative will bring the community closer, this is it, with a new college and park space, as well as local employment.

The CFA also marks the continuation of the "holistic" approach so openly mocked in the media. All the MCFC teams from under 8s to the senior team will use the complex; 75% of the youth academy is targeted to come from the Greater Manchester area. Its poignant that Jose Pozo (from the EDS squad) was trusted to replaced Kun Aguero on Saturday, and this is something likely to become more prevalent as the years progress. 

So I look forward to hunting down my City Circle in a week or so's time, within a footballing complex which can truly be heralded as one of the worlds best, to go with the worlds best fans ;).