A NEW football training centre will help both Colchester United and the community, the club has promised.

The £750,000 indoor facility at Warriors’ Rest, Tiptree, will be used by the U’s first team and its youth teams, but also by numerous other teams and community groups.

It will also allow the club to claim Category 2 status, so its youth teams can take on better-quality opposition from clubs such as West Ham United, Arsenal and Tottenham.

Club chairman and owner Robbie Cowling said: “The indoor facility was the main thing we needed to have to get Category 2 status.

“The Premier League came and inspected it a couple of weeks ago and it’s been confirmed.

“It’s an absolutely fantastic facility and it’s already saved the club a couple of times recently with the rain we’ve had and the pitches at Florence Park not being fantastic because of that.

“It’s already paying dividends.”