Wycombe Wanderers have lodged formal plans to build a major new training ground at the South Buckinghamshire Golf Course. The proposals would see the 18-hole course reduced to 12 holes to make way for a football performance centre designed to bring the club's first team and academy under one roof for the first time.
The facility, which aims to meet elite Category 1 academy standards, would include nine outdoor pitches, an indoor pitch, a dedicated goalkeeper training area, a gym, changing rooms, offices, an education space, and a 116-space car park. A separate six-hole academy course and practice range would also be created. The club, which took over the course and nearby Farnham Park Playing Fields in a partnership with Buckinghamshire Council in August, stated that previous operating arrangements were financially unsustainable and that significant investment was now required.
Wider community proposals
As part of the wider development, the club has proposed creating a community sports hub at Farnham Park. This would feature a floodlit 3G pitch, five covered padel courts, and a new walking route. However, the plans for building on green-belt land, which would affect two public footpaths, have drawn criticism. The Stoke Poges Task Force has objected, stating that "the site would become less attractive." The club has responded by saying the proposals would secure the long-term future of the golf course and deliver significant community benefits, including the new sports hub and improved public access.
On-pitch context and next steps
The planning push comes as Wycombe enjoy a strong run of form on the pitch, sitting 12th in League One with 10 points from eight games. They are unbeaten in their last five matches, a sequence that includes a 4-1 victory over Bristol Rovers last weekend. The club's current unbeaten run has seen them score 9 goals and concede just 4 over those five games, averaging 1.8 goals per match. The club's focus now shifts between maintaining that momentum on the field and securing its future off it, with a home game against Luton Town next on the fixtures list.
Buckinghamshire Council is due to make a decision on the ambitious training ground application by 21 January. A positive outcome would allow the project, central to the club's long-term infrastructure vision, to move forward. The club has emphasised that the new centre is critical for developing youth talent and attracting players, with the Category 1 status being a key strategic goal.
