Heavy snow and freezing conditions did not stop QPR making full use of the facilities at St. George’s Park on Friday.
Harry Redknapp's side took full advantage of The FA’s national football centre facilities ahead of their trip to the Britannia Stadium to take on Stoke City on Saturday.
And despite snow blanketing much of the centre’s grounds, the R’s enjoyed a full training session thanks to a combination of state-of-the-art undersoil heating and round-the-clock work by grounds staff.
“The pitch we have played on, considering we have had a layer of snow, is absolutely first class,” said Rangers' assistant manager Kevin Bond.
“The lads have really enjoyed it. The staff have done a great job here to make it playable because everywhere else is covered in snow.
QPR train at St. George's Park
“The lads enjoy getting on a nice surface and we had a decent session this afternoon and so we are pleased – it has gone well.”
It is the first time the London side have visited St. George’s Park since it was opened in 2012, and although speaking only a few hours after arriving at the centre Bond could already see potential for regular visits in the future.
“It is our first time here," he added. "But if we play in or around this area I think it would make us do it again.
“Normally we would train at home and then leave by aeroplane, if you are lucky enough, or by coach or sometimes the train.
“But you end up tending to leave in the middle of the afternoon and then you get the rush hour traffic and that is hard work.
Kevin Bond described the St.George's Park facilities as 'first class'
“Because you have this centrally and it is a facility where you can leave in the morning on the coach, it isn’t so much of a problem because you don’t get the traffic.
"It will make clubs like us have a little bit of a rethink.”
It wasn’t only St. George’s Park’s location that left a lasting impression on Bond. The centre’s focus on catering for all football participants is something the R’s coach believes English football fans can draw a lot of pride from.
“It is something that English football can be proud of,” he said.
“I know we used to use Lilleshall quite a bit, but this is ours now and it is something we are hopefully going to really put to good use and develop players and develop coaches.
“It is a wonderful facility and something we should be really proud of.”
