Travelling north from Devon, the promising young Pilgrims spent an intensive and productive week on campus that combined high-level training, match preparation, and valuable team bonding – all set against the backdrop of Edge Hill’s elite sport and student facilities.
As part of their camp, Argyle took full advantage of the University’s outstanding sports provision, including the Green Flag-awarded grass pitches, FIFA-approved 3G pitch, Technogym-equipped fitness suite, 25-metre swimming pool, and top-class double sports halls.
The players also utilised specialist spaces for tactical match analysis in our on-site classrooms, preparing them for the competitive season ahead.
During their stay on campus, Plymouth played a friendly against Wrexham Academy, the football club famously owned by Hollywood movie star Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney
Jamie Lowry, Plymouth Argyle U18s Head Coach – who guided his side to the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals last season, was full of praise for the University and its facilities.
He said: “We chose to train at Edge Hill University because of the facilities and what they had to offer was fantastic. It’s in an ideal location so we were able to arrange fixtures easily against local clubs.
“The staff at the University were extremely friendly and helpful and couldn’t do enough for us.
“We used the grass pitches, which were in excellent condition, the gym and swimming pool to allow us to do all sorts of physical work with our players. The food was great – we had breakfast, lunch and evening meals on site.
“We would highly recommend the facilities at Edge Hill to others. It is an elite facility that has friendly and welcoming staff.”
Throughout their stay, the squad were accommodated in the University’s high-quality student residential halls—giving the team a complete campus experience in a professional and supportive environment.
From early morning sessions in the gym to afternoon drills on the pitches, Edge Hill delivered an environment that allowed the young professionals to focus fully on their development and performance.
Andrew Hampson, Sports Services Manager at Edge Hill University, commented: “It has been a privilege to welcome the Plymouth Argyle Academy Under-18s team to our facilities. Hosting such a well-known professional club for their pre-season training camp has been a fantastic experience.
“The professionalism and energy shown by both the players and staff created a vibrant and positive atmosphere across campus. The team stayed in our high-quality student accommodation for the week and made full use of our state-of-the-art facilities.
“This highlights that our facilities are not only versatile but also meet the standards required by professional sports teams.
“From the quality of our playing surfaces and training areas to the support infrastructure, such as changing rooms, recovery zones, and performance analysis spaces, it’s clear that we can accommodate elite-level preparation and competition.
“The smooth coordination of logistics, staff expertise, and attention to detail further demonstrates our capability to host professional teams effectively and confidently.”
Whether for grassroots training camps or professional clubs preparing for the season ahead, Edge Hill’s comprehensive sport ecosystem is delivering excellence across football, rugby, athletics, and beyond.
Facilities Available at Edge Hill University
Swimming Pool
A 25-metre pool with six lanes, each with starting blocks and optional turning boards. Includes health suite with sauna and steam room.
Sports Halls
Three four-court sports halls, each with spectator galleries, ideal for a wide variety of indoor sports.
Gymnasium
Indoor gymnasium located in the Wilson Building with a wooden sprung floor and elevated spectator gallery.
Dance Studio
Purpose-built space with sprung floor designed for reduced impact and used for various dance and fitness classes.
Athletics Track
Eight-lane, floodlit, competition-standard track with two 10-lane straights and full provision for field events.
Grass Pitches
Five high-quality grass pitches – including one used for football and rugby within the athletics track infield.
3G Football/Rugby Pitch
FIFA 1* full-sized floodlit pitch with 3G surface, team dugouts and union markings.
World Rugby accredited.
3G Football Courts
Three small-sided, floodlit, 40x20m courts with recessed goals and 3G long pile synthetic grass, suitable for football or rugby training.
Hockey Pitch
Full-sized, floodlit pitch with short pile carpet to national match play standard. Marked across with three small-sided football pitches.
Fitness Suite
An 80-station modern gym equipped with the latest Technogym technology.
Edge Hill University: Where elite-level sport meets expert support.
For full details on the University’s facilities and how to book, please click here.
To watch Edge Hill Sport’s YouTube channel, please click here.
August 7, 2025
