Crystal Palace FC has agreed to acquire the 27-acre HSBC Sports Ground in Beckenham, South London. This move is set to allow the club to significantly expand its training facilities.
The HSBC grounds, which include cricket and football pitches along with a pavilion, are adjacent to Palace’s academy complex. This complex is itself located across the road from the first team’s training facility.
The land, owned by HSBC and its predecessor Midland for a century, was recently put on the market. The exact purchase price is not known, though its estimated value is between £20m and £40m.
Palace has previously invested in its training ground and academy complex, aiming to make its facilities among the best nationally. The state-of-the-art academy site, completed in 2021, helped the club achieve Category 1 classification.
Options for Palace following the acquisition include extending the academy or relocating the first team training centre to the new site. CEO Sharon Lacey commented on ongoing investments, stating they "continued to invest in our facilities and support the future growth of the football club".