Charley Hurley's grandson backs plans to reopen namesake Sunderland training ground

Charlie Hurley's grandson Matt Titchen at the gates to Sunderland Football Club's former training ground The Charlie Hurley Centre, Whitburn, with campaigner Peter Curtis.

The Charlie Hurley Centre in Cleadon Lane has been disused since the club moved to the nearby Academy of Light more than a decade ago.

Peter Curtis, of Sunderland-based NE Sport, which delivers after-school sports clubs across the city, wants to see the site reopened and used to provide coaching for local youngsters.

Date: 02/11/2006 Photographer: SE
BLACK AND WHITE IMAGE OF CHARLIE HURLEY LEADING TEAM FOR CUPTIE AGAINST EVERTON - FEBRUARY 1964 OLD REF SPORT 2 174 picture caption: Charlie Hurley dedicated to the task of leading Sunderland back to the First Divsion, takes out his team for their day of Cup glory at ROKER Park on Saturday, when they proved how well they are equipped for a promotion by handing out a hiding to First Divsion champions, Everton Sunderland Echo Monday February 17 1964 — Date: 02/11/2006 Photographer: SE BLACK AND WHITE IMAGE OF CHARLIE HURLEY LEADING TEAM FOR CUPTIE AGAINST EVERTON - FEBRUARY 1964 OLD REF SPORT 2 174 picture caption: Charlie Hurley dedicated to the task of leading Sunderland back to the First Divsion, takes out his team for their day of Cup glory at ROKER Park on Saturday, when they proved how well they are equipped for a promotion by handing out a hiding to First Divsion champions, Everton Sunderland Echo Monday February 17 1964

Peter voiced his frustration with the siltation on social media, where it was spotted by Charlie’s grandson Matt Tichen.

“I was scrolling through Facebook as I do on a regular basis and I came across a picture of the Charlie Hurley Centre,” said Matt, 21.

“It was a picture of Peter at the gates and a story about how he had approached the club five years ago to see if he could use the facilities for the benefit of the local community.

“I thought it would be good to get involved and with the campaign and hopefully get it reopened.”

Matt, a sports science student at Huddersfield University, believes breathing new life into the centre would make his grandfather - voted by Sunderland fans as their ‘Player of the Century’ - very happy.

“I think it would mean a lot to him,” he said.

“He’s of an age now where he can’t really get up to see everyone as much as he would like but he still loves Sunderland. He still watches them every weekend.”

Matt was saddened to see the state of the centre’s pitches and its gates, which still bear his grandfather’s name.

“It would be nice to see them properly maintained they are a little bit sad at the moment,” he said.

“I think that is the least he deserves.

“It seems as though they are so bothered about the future at the football club that they are forgetting about how it became what it is now.

“I think my grandfather was quite a big part of that. They need to remember the people who make the club what it is today.

“Peter Curtis believes the site will be the perfect venue for training the next generation of players.

“There is a real lack of facilities in the area, especially for the new nine versus nine format,” he said.

The Echo offered SAFC an opportunity to comment but has received no reply. A spokeswoman has previously indicated the club is not willing to comment.