The option to train on Crewe Alexandra in the Community’s state-of-the-art synthetic pitch has meant work to improve the players has not been stalled by the cold weather.

That’s according to Lee Bell, who says the not-for-profit operation’s new FIFA-approved surface has enabled all planned sessions to go ahead despite freezing temperatures.

The centre, at Shavington, recently reopened after a £400,000 upgrade of facilities, has a 3G surface which is unrivalled in the local area, and the first team have been training there all this week.

The Manager said: “It has been brilliant at the centre, they have been excellent in accommodating us and moving things around so we can train there.

“It’s a top-of-the-range facility. Some players don’t like training on artificial surfaces but I said ‘make some phone calls and see where your mates at other clubs are training’ because they won’t be on a facility as good as that.

“We’ve not missed any days, we have not had to do anything different, so it has been a godsend.”

Crewe’s game against Leyton Orient was called off last weekend. Now they are preparing to travel to Walsall on Saturday (3pm).

Bell added: “It’s not ideal having games called off, but it has given me time to reiterate what I expect from the players in training and what I constantly demand.

“We have had some extra days of training and it has given us time to get up to speed with some work in the legs of the players, and enabled us to go over what we need from them in the games.” 

Pitch hire is available at Crewe Alexandra in the Community. For more information click HERE.