St George's Park means players have no excuses - Steven Gerrard
Last updated on .From the section Football
Steven Gerrard says England's players can have no excuses if they fail to fulfil their potential following the opening of St George's Park.
The Football Association's £105m centre of excellence will house England's 24 teams from junior to senior level.
"We've got the best stadium in the world and now we have got the best training facilities," said Gerrard.
"We are taking away all of the excuses the players may try to use in the future because this place is awesome."
St George's Park, which was officially opened by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on Tuesday, includes 11 outdoor pitches, five of which are floodlit and have under-soil heating, a full-size indoor 3G artificial pitch and an altitude chamber to mimic a variety of playing conditions.
England are training at the Staffordshire base as they prepare for World Cup qualifiers against San Marino at Wembley on 12 October before a trip to play in Poland on 16 October.
"The place has blown me away," said England captain Gerrard. "It's my first time here and all the lads are buzzing to be here.
"We are really lucky to have facilities like this. It's obviously a long-term plan and can hopefully bring success to the national teams."
England striker Wayne Rooney echoed Gerrard's enthusiasm for the facilities at St George's Park and the impact they can gave.
"It's a great platform for the younger generation and for young coaches as well," said the Manchester United star.
"I think it's going benefit the whole of England, especially the younger players."
Manager Roy Hodgson also lauded St George's Park, although he issued a note of caution that "facilities in themselves don't make you a better football team".
He added: "What makes you a better football team is the work that you do within that facility, so here we have the chance. Players will be really happy to come here and work here.
"I think we have to forget the past, we can't win a World Cup yesterday.
"I'm rather hoping that the work that will go on here and the amount of effort we'll put in here to help produce better players and coaches will lead us one day to that World Cup victory."
FA director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking highlighted the importance of coaching and believes St George's Park will inspire England's players.
"The under-16 group came here and they are desperate to come back because it's an aspirational place," said Brooking.
"The senior lads thought it was magnificent. I think they were pleasantly surprised at the quality of it, but the key thing is the coaching.
"The aim is to give the coaches the knowledge to help younger players - right from five years of age up - to get a little bit better, to encourage them, to enthuse them and get comfortable with the ball."
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He said it tongue in cheek, the headline completely obscures that.
When the NoW shut down did all the journos come and work for the bbc?
are these the fields the youngsters will be taught how to hoof the ball up the field? where are the smaller fields to teach the young players about control, tehcnique, finesse and skill?
We need smaller pitches were kids can perfect passing under pressure.
It's all about ball control. So many poorer nations with no facilities keep the ball better than England. We'll see what talent is around in 10 years!
Name a better current English goalscorer than Rooney then?
Considering the fact he didnt have a 'great' season last year but was still second top scorer in the EPL (top english goal scorer) I cant really see where u get the opinion that there is better out there?
Agreed on Carrol mind!
Well done *round of applause*
Not that your point has anything to do with what I said, still no one is holding your life in their hands and making you talk about/watch the game are they!
As i said if u feel as strongly as ur first comment suggests why bother reading the articles?!
Imagine Middlesex v Surrey being bigger than the Ashes?!! Or a Saracens v Bath being bigger than a Lions tour of NZ or Aust.
However it's only one part of a broader vision but what we really need is a more visionary Coach.
Bernstein had the opportunity after Capello resigned to find a young, inspirational Coach but we eneded up with a shortlist of one.
Hodgson is a decent man but he's not the charasmatic leader we need.