[Kashima Antlers] A 'Pitch of Tradition' Passed Down to Future Players. The 'Junior Training Ground' Reusing the Top Team's Natural Grass is Completed and Operational
Kashima Antlers has completed a junior training ground using funds from a hometown tax crowdfunding campaign, reusing natural grass from the top team's pitch.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 3, 2026 at 02:30
- 🔍 Collected: April 2, 2026 at 19:35
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 06:14 (442h 39m after Collected)
We are pleased to announce the completion of a junior (elementary school age) training ground, utilizing support from the hometown tax crowdfunding project "Antlers no Mirai wo Minna de 2025" (Building the Future of Antlers Together 2025) conducted in 2025.
This ground began operations starting with a match played by junior academy players on Saturday, March 28, which was held as a return event for crowdfunding donors.
[Image]
[Image: ©KASHIMA ANTLERS]
This project was implemented with the aim of building an environment where junior players, the only group in the club's development organization who lacked a dedicated practice environment, can focus on their daily training in an area where the top team and each academy category operate. This allows them to grow while routinely feeling close to the older generations.
Overview of the Junior Training Ground
This ground was designed with an emphasis on creating an environment that not only improves players' skills but also accelerates player growth across categories by closing the physical distance between practice facilities.
■ Strengthening collaboration across categories through proximity of the development environment
The new ground is adjacent to the junior youth (middle school age) ground and is located very close to the practice bases of the youth and top teams. By having each category operate in close proximity, we have realized an environment where junior players can routinely experience the standards of higher categories and smoothly step up.
■ Inheriting the environment by reusing the natural grass from the top team's practice pitch
For the turf of the ground, the natural grass from the top team's practice pitch, which was renovated in a 2024 project, has been transplanted and reused. By passing down the environment where professional players have honed their skills to the junior generation, we have prepared a ground where they can train while being conscious of the club's traditions.
Crowdfunding Results
The construction of this facility was made possible through the tremendous support of many people via crowdfunding utilizing Itako City's hometown tax system.
■ Project Name:
Antlers no Mirai wo Minna de 2025
■ Final Total Support Amount:
66,780,000 yen
■ Number of Supporters:
1,268 people
■ Implementation Period:
2025
This ground began operations starting with a match played by junior academy players on Saturday, March 28, which was held as a return event for crowdfunding donors.
[Image]
[Image: ©KASHIMA ANTLERS]
This project was implemented with the aim of building an environment where junior players, the only group in the club's development organization who lacked a dedicated practice environment, can focus on their daily training in an area where the top team and each academy category operate. This allows them to grow while routinely feeling close to the older generations.
Overview of the Junior Training Ground
This ground was designed with an emphasis on creating an environment that not only improves players' skills but also accelerates player growth across categories by closing the physical distance between practice facilities.
■ Strengthening collaboration across categories through proximity of the development environment
The new ground is adjacent to the junior youth (middle school age) ground and is located very close to the practice bases of the youth and top teams. By having each category operate in close proximity, we have realized an environment where junior players can routinely experience the standards of higher categories and smoothly step up.
■ Inheriting the environment by reusing the natural grass from the top team's practice pitch
For the turf of the ground, the natural grass from the top team's practice pitch, which was renovated in a 2024 project, has been transplanted and reused. By passing down the environment where professional players have honed their skills to the junior generation, we have prepared a ground where they can train while being conscious of the club's traditions.
Crowdfunding Results
The construction of this facility was made possible through the tremendous support of many people via crowdfunding utilizing Itako City's hometown tax system.
■ Project Name:
Antlers no Mirai wo Minna de 2025
■ Final Total Support Amount:
66,780,000 yen
■ Number of Supporters:
1,268 people
■ Implementation Period:
2025