{{Short description|Everton FC's former training ground}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}} {{More citations needed|date=June 2008}} {{Infobox venue | name = Bellefield | image = | image_caption = | nickname = | address = | location = West Derby, Liverpool | coordinates = {{coord|53.427503|-2.907274|display=inline,title}} | type = | event = | built = 1945 | opened = | renovated = | expanded = | closed = | demolished = March 2011 | owner = | construction_cost = | former_names = | seating_type = | seating_capacity = | website = }}
'''Bellefield''', in West Derby, Liverpool, is Everton FC's former training ground.
Bellefield had been Everton FC's training ground since 1946.<ref>{{cite web|last=Prentice|first=David|title=The Ghosts of Bellefield part one: Football history in the making for Everton FC|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/everton-fc/everton-fc-news/2011/03/22/the-ghosts-of-bellefield-part-one-football-history-in-the-making-for-everton-fc-100252-28379197/|publisher=Liverpool Echo|accessdate=23 March 2011|date=22 March 2011}}</ref> It was purchased in 1965 and officially opened on 12 July 1966.
The Brazil national football team used it as a training base in the 1966 World Cup.
On Tuesday, 9 October 2007, Bellefield training ground held its last senior first team training session and moved to Finch Farm in Halewood a day later.<ref>{{cite web|last=Prentice|first=David|title=The Ghosts of Bellefield: Part two of a journey into Everton FC history|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/everton-fc/everton-fc-news/2011/03/23/the-ghosts-of-bellefield-part-two-of-a-journey-into-everton-fc-history-100252-28385553/|publisher=Liverpool Echo|accessdate=23 March 2011|date=23 March 2011}}</ref>
==Bellefield's future== Having vacated Bellefield to the new training ground, Everton's plans were to have the Bellefield estate redeveloped for housing, which would in turn contribute financially to a proposed new club stadium. As reported in the ''Liverpool Daily Post''<ref>Ben Schofield, [http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2008/06/11/blow-for-everton-fc-as-bellefield-housing-plans-rejected-64375-21054750/ "Blow for Everton FC as Bellefield housing plans rejected"], ''Liverpool Daily Post'', 11 June 2008</ref> on 11 June 2008 Liverpool councillors rejected Everton's plans.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.evertonfc.com Official Everton FC Website]
{{Everton F.C.}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Everton F.C. Category:Football training grounds in England Category:2007 disestablishments in England Category:1946 establishments in England Category:Sports venues completed in 1946 Category:Defunct sports venues in Liverpool