Melwood, located in the West Derby area of Liverpool was the Reds training ground, from the 1950s to 2020. It is now home to the LFC Women’s team..
After more than 70 years as Liverpool’s training base, the Reds left Melwood in 2020, but it has since been taken over by Liverpool Women and the Robbie Fowler Academy.
Having moved to the AXA Training Centre, Kirkby in 2020, the club initially sold Melwood to a housing developer for a reported £10 million. No houses were built, however, as Fowler and Jamie Carragher partnered with site owners Torus to continue the centre’s use for sport.
Liverpool then decided to buy back the land in 2023 for a reported £13m in order to house Liverpool Women, who had previously been training at the Solar Campus on the Wirral.
Melwood is now shared by the women’s team and the Fowler Academy, continuing the club’s legacy in West Derby.
Melwood Facilities and History
Facilities include three full-size synthetic pitches, an indoor astro turf, rehabilitation rooms, press and meeting rooms, a gymnasium, swimming pool, restaurant and recreational facilities.
Named after two priests who taught at St Francis Xavier’s College, Father Melling and Father Woodlock, they used the Melwood playing fields to help children play football in the city.
In 1950, the land was sold to Liverpool FC, but it wasn’t until Bill Shankly arrived that the site really turned into a proper training base.
Before the Scot came in, the pitches were overgrown and an air raid shelter still stood alongside the wooden pavilion. Shankly ensured the pitches were improved and the old cricket pavilion was transformed into a base worthy of a soon-to-be first division side.
Over the years, the centre developed into an elite facility from which footballing dynasties were born, but by 2020, it became apparent the site wasn’t big enough to house the first team’s ambitions.
With a desire to bring the first team closer to the academy in Kirkby, the decision to move was supported by Jurgen Klopp with a heavy heart.
Despite the club’s initial sale to a housing developer, we have thankfully now reached a place where Melwood’s legacy is secure and the club still has a home in L12.
Address:
Liverpool FC Training Ground, Melwood Drive, West Derby, Liverpool L12 8SY
