Reds to be based at Sikh Gurdwara and Community Sport Centre
The club are delighted to confirm a partnership with Crawley’s Sikh community which will see the Sikh Gurdwara and Community Sport Centre in Ifield Green become the club’s new training ground.
Previously the home of Edwards Sports and Social Club, it has been the place to meet and worship for Crawley’s 500-strong Sikh community since 2012 and earlier this week the partnership with Crawley Town was blessed at a ceremony in the Gurdwara (temple) attended by Head Coach Dermot Drummy, his assistant Matt Gray and the club’s Operations Director Kelly Derham.
Dermot was presented with an orange saropa scarf which is given to anyone who attends the Gurdwara and it is said it will bring the club good luck!
The club’s pitch consultants SJK are now working at the site in preparation for the start of pre-season training on June 30. There are two pitches, one of which will be fully operational by September, that will be used on a rotational basis.
Jarnail Singh, spokesman for the Siri Guru Singh Sabha association, said: “We are delighted to welcome Dermot, his staff and the players and look forward to a successful partnership.
“There has been a Sikh community in Crawley for more than 50 years now and our Gurdwara and meeting area in Ifield is funded entirely by donations from the Sikh community.
“Dermot and his team were blessed by our guru and we hope this partnership is the start of a long and successful period for Crawley Town.”
Kelly Derham said: “We are delighted to have teamed up with the Sikh community to use their facilities at Ifield. They have been extremely welcoming and in a few weeks we will have an excellent base for the players when they report back for pre-season training.
“Dermot is rebuilding the squad for next season but it’s important that we get a proper infrastructure in place as well.
"We are looking forward to a long and successful relationship with everyone at the the Sikh Gurdwara and Community Sport Centre and we look forward to welcoming members of Crawley’s Sikh community to our matches next season.”