Our Vision Dual (VSD) scores key role in the £5 million redevelopment of a vital Football Association of Wales training complex.
Founded in 1876, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) is the third oldest national organisation in the sport. Soccer in Wales is stronger than ever, thanks to building on the success of the men’s international side’s unprecedented run to the Euro 2016 semi-finals.
At its heart, the FAW is committed to increasing awareness, accessibility and participation in football across all ages, abilities, gender and race.
The Football Association of Wales continues to invest in high-quality facilities that will develop the game throughout the principality.
A key element of this strategy is the creation of a new National Development Centre in Wrexham, North Wales, to complement the well-established Dragon Park facility in Newport, South Wales.
The new £5 million Colliers Park complex is based on the site of Gresford Colliery. The project involved a huge overhaul of the existing facilities which date back to 1997 and local professional team Wrexham AFC.
At one point Colliers Park was regarded as one of the best training grounds outside the Premier League. Over the years it played host to superstar squads including FC Barcelona and the England international team.
Tackling The Challenge
The revamped training complex officially opened in September 2019 with the aim of developing football across all abilities and age groups, from grassroots and youth teams through to the senior international squads including elite players such as Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey.
It incorporates three pitches (two grass and one 3G), one of which has Wi-Fi coverage to enable state-of-the-art player and coaching analysis.
Inside, Colliers Park includes analysis and lecture rooms, changing rooms, warm-up facilities with gym equipment, plus meeting rooms with large touchscreens used for video conferencing.
The training complex is an essential hub in the FAW’s world-renowned football coaching education programme. Glyndŵr University students also use it as part of their sports science degrees.
That makes a reliable IT network and solid internet connectivity vital for the site’s success. Extensive Wi-Fi, LAN networks, and secure high-speed connectivity to the internet and cloud services were all a must.
The Winning Team
The Football Association of Wales identified managed IT services company Advatek, which also happens to be an authorised Riello UPS reseller, as the ideal project partner.
Advatek designed and installed an innovative secure networking and connectivity solution spanning the entire complex.
Wi-Fi coverage extends to the pitches where cameras can capture and even stream matches for live broadcasts where necessary.
Star Selection: The Vision Dual (VSD)
Keeping Colliers Park’s IT and electrical equipment online was another non-negotiable project goal. Advatek recommended a Riello UPS Vision Dual VSD 2200 uninterruptible power supply as the ideal choice to deliver standby power in case of an emergency.
The versatile Vision Dual is rackmounted in one of the IT network’s server cabinets and can provide five minutes autonomy at full load. This offers ample time for safe and secure equipment shutdown if the site suffers a mains failure.
The VSD series of line-interactive UPS is also has advanced automatic voltage stabilisation technology that smooths out any sags or surges on the mains.
This means the football facility’s full range of services and systems can keep operating no matter the quality of the mains supply.
