Cardiff City Football Club (CCFC) has officially opened the first phase of its new coaching academy behind the Cardiff City Stadium.

The House of Sport is one of the first venues of its kind and is being created in two stages - the second of which is due to open in March 2012. Facilities include a 40m x 60m indoor 3G synthetic training pitch; a viewing gallery; a 'classroom of the future'; and changing rooms.

The second phase will incorporate a multi-purpose sports hall, which will offer a range of sporting opportunities to the public. CMB Engineering has funded the House of Sport, which is based upon the Premier League Academy facility cirteria and will help develop fresh talent.

CCFC manager Dave Jones said: "Having the House of Sport was essential to us retaining our Academy status - without it, we would have lost that status. "The benefits to our Academy our obvious, but there's also the option of us now bringing the first-team here for certain training sessions if weather dictates as such."