Work has commenced on the construction of St George's Park near Burton-upon-Trent - the Football Association's (FA) new £100m home for coach education.

The new complex is also designed to provide an accessible grassroots football facility with community-use pitches and multi-sport provision. All 24 representative England squads will make use of St George's Park, while the League Managers Association is to be headquartered at the national football centre.

Meanwhile, the complex will also provide a base for training referees, administrators and to provide career pathways into the game. St George's Park chair David Sheepshanks said: "It has been over 30 years since the concept was first mooted and so today is a momentous day for everyone in England who has football in their heart.

"St. George's Park will be the home of FA Learning, an educational hub where aspiring coaches and practitioners can learn their professions in a bespoke and stimulating training environment." Other facilities will include a 142-room Hilton hotel; a 86-room Hampton by Hilton hotel; a 90-seat lecture theatre; a conference facility; and training and seminar rooms.

Circle, the FA's medical partners, will also provide an integrated sports medicine and sports science screening and treatment facility and a hydrotherapy suite. Redbox Design Group is behind the plans for St George's Park, which will be delivered by Bowmer and Kirkland and is due to open next summer.

Image: The FA via Getty Images