Military precision reigns at Man U headquarters

But this venue was not built “in the middle of nowhere” by accident. It’s a highly restricted area where no one but United players and officials are permitted to step. Difficult access helps prevent undesirable elements, and paparazzi wanting to snap star players like Wayne Rooney or Robin van Persie must hide in the bushes beyond the fence area and hope for luck.

But last week a rare chance to explore the site came when Singha Corporation led 30 media and fans on a behind-the-scenes tour that included a team training session. Singha clinched the privileged access after extending their sponsorship deal with the EPL club until 2015. 

“After showing our commitment as a global partner from the first contract, we have been given this opportunity to visit the Carrington site,” said Singha executive director Prurit Bhirombhakdi.

When we arrived, the entire squad was undergoing a relaxed workout in the gym. Hot-shot Robin van Persie was practising dribbling with a ball, Japan’s Shinji Kagawa was on a stationary bike, while Andersen and Ryan Giggs were playing basketball. They later joined us for a photo session before signing autographs. For the die-hard fans in our entourage, it was a dream come true just to visit the famed Carrington, let alone see its superstars up close and personal.

“I knew it would be an exclusive but I never thought it would be this exclusive,” said 21-year-old Red Devils’ fan Teerapong Sitthichailapa, who won a free round-trip for two plus accommodation via a contest with Singha.

“I was standing an inch away from all these players. Visiting Old Trafford is one thing, but who gets inside Carrington like this? Now I can brag about this to other United fans,’’ said the Chulalongkorn University arts student.

Only Rooney was missing from the photo session as fans scrambled to snap shots of elite players for their photo albums. The talismanic striker eventually arrived and joined his team-mates in the gym before moving to the pitch. Several connecting training pitches are used by the first and second teams as well as some 50 United junior players. 

Come rain or snow, training goes on – only extreme weather conditions bring things to a halt. Pitch training usually takes place daily from 9am to 3pm, except on the eve of a game, when the team stays overnight in a hotel. 

It was raining and chilly when we departed Carrington, but the entire United team seemed unfazed by the conditions. Under the close watch of Alex Ferguson and his assistant coaches, they stuck to their routine with military precision. Perhaps that’s one of the secrets behind their record 19 Premier League titles. Other secrets, though, will remain locked firmly behind closed doors at Carrington, as the league-leading Red Devils seek to stretch their title count to 20.