And Sir Bobby Robson chipped in: "Our training complex and academy are among the best in the country and the chairman has done a fantastic job to provide us with them."

United have never had their own training complex and in recent times they have worked out at windswept Benwell and on hired pitches in Durham City and Chester-le-Street.

Shepherd said today: "It has taken us 110 years to get all of this."

The £9 million spent on the academy at Little Benton and the training complex at Benton means that United have come up with £110 million on their ground at St James' Park and now their training centres.

We now have one of the best stadiums and training complexes in the country and all that is left is for things to be stepped up another gear on the field to make them one of the best clubs in Europe.

Shepherd added: "We have made a significant investment into both the first-team training centre and the academy.

"It is extremely beneficial to us to have all our facilities together in this fantastic suite - certainly that is what every manager would want.

"I am delighted also that the interaction between the football club and the community has been first-class.

"In addition to all, this we have recently completed an Internet Cyber Cafe in Wallsend, and we are currently constructing two full-sized community pitches planned for both men's and women's football on land adjacent to the academy. These pitches should be ready for use from August 2004."