Burnley’s Gawthorpe Hall training ground has been shortlisted as a potential team base for UEFA Euro 2028. The facility appears in UEFA's official team facilities catalogue for the tournament, which will be hosted across the UK and Ireland in two years' time.
UEFA unveiled the catalogue this week, listing 36 possible practice venues close to the tournament's host cities to minimise travel. Gawthorpe features in the Manchester section of the list, alongside the training grounds of Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, and Manchester City. UEFA stated the process focused on "hotels with strong team experience and elite sports facilities, resulting in a carefully curated selection of high-quality team base camps."
The recognition highlights Burnley's off-pitch infrastructure at a time when the first team is struggling on it. The Clarets currently sit 24th in the Championship with just four points from eight games, having drawn 1-1 with Derby County last time out. Their recent form shows they have scored only 6 goals while conceding many, leaving them with a negative goal difference. They have accumulated 4 points from a possible 24, averaging 0.5 points per game. In their last five matches, they have lost four times and drawn once, failing to secure a win.
A historic site with modern facilities
First acquired by the club in 1955 under chairman Bob Lord, Gawthorpe is one of England's earliest purpose-built training centres. It underwent a £10.6 million rebuild during the Sean Dyche era, with the modern complex opening in 2017. The 18-acre site now houses the men's and women's first teams and the academy all under one roof. This modernisation is what has put it in contention to host international squads for a major tournament.
Euro 2028 will run from June 9 to July 9, 2028, across eight host cities including Manchester. While selection as a final host base is not guaranteed, inclusion in the catalogue is a significant endorsement of the facility's quality. The club will hope this positive news provides a boost as they look to climb the standings from their current position at the foot of the table.
Background and full detail: Burnley Express
