Liverpool FC submits plans to Knowsley Council for a major upgrade of its youth academy facilities in Kirkby including a domed ‘show pitch’. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool FC has unveiled plans for a major overhaul of its youth academy facilities in Kirkby.

Located adjacent to the first team’s training facility at the huge LFC complex, the youth academy houses the club’s brightest young footballing talents and the club is looking to ensure they are nurtured in world class facilities.

These latest proposals, designed by architects at KSS, will see the “show pitch”, required by European footballing body UEFA for under-18 and under-21 matches,  put under a dome and the grass replaced with an artificial surface.

There is already a 499-capacity spectator stand overlooking the pitch. A new stand will be built with changing rooms and a TV gantry. An existing artificial surface pitch will be replaced with grass.

There are also plans to extend the existing academy building. This will include better accommodation, a gym, sports science suite, changing facilities and visitor accommodation.

This is the latest in a number of major investments, worth hundreds of millions of pounds, made by LFC owner FSG to upgrade the club’s facilities. These include moving the first team training centre to Kirkby from Melwood in 2020.

After initially selling the iconic Melwood site to a housing association, LFC re-acquired the site and converted it into a training facility for Liverpool FC Women.

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FSG also funded a completely new main stand at Anfield as well as extending the Anfield Road stand, taking the stadium’s total capacity above 60,000.

Project team for this latest youth academy upgrade includes landscape architect Planit, Mott MacDonald, Turley, Hilson Moran, Curtins, TEP, Urban Green and OBI Sports.