With the CTS La Gaillette, Racing is a pioneer in France. The club is thus equipped with modern infrastructures, equipped with fifteen pitches, one of which, synthetic, is covered by a dome unique in Europe due to its height (16 meters). The center also achieves the feat of bringing together, for the first time, the professional team, the training center and the club's administrative services on the same site. In just a few years, the “Made in Gaillette” training has established itself as a French reference thanks to its recognized talents (Serge Aurier, Benjamin Bourigeaud, Thorgan Hazard, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Raphaël Varane, etc.) and its performances.
Twenty-two years after its inauguration, La Gaillette remains inseparable from RC Lens. Thus, in the wake of the 70th birthday of its emblematic president, and on the occasion of this day based on transmission, the Racing Club de Lens renames the “CTS La Gaillette” to “CTS La Gaillette Gervais Martel”.
Joseph Oughourlian, President of the Racing Club de Lens : “La Gaillette is obviously the fruit of the work and commitment of all the club’s employees. But above all it is the visionary project of a visionary president, Gervais Martel. 25 years ago, few clubs in France had such modern infrastructure. One step ahead, Gervais Martel had the intelligence and foresight to bring together all the components of RC Lens in a single location. La Gaillette is much more than a breeding ground for talent. It is a real place of life, a symbol of unity, transmission and authenticity. Today and more than ever, La Gaillette is the flagship of Racing. Renaming the center in honor of Gervais is a natural decision so that his name resonates every day at the club. What could be more symbolic than the date of Sainte-Barbe, so dear to the people of Lens, to honor this emblematic personality of the mining basin? Make way for La Gaillette Gervais Martel! »
Gervais Martel, emblematic president of the Racing Club de Lens : “It’s an announcement that gives me great pleasure, in addition to the tribute that the club and the public paid me for my 70th birthday two weeks ago in Bollaert-Delelis. I obviously thank my coach – Daniel Leclercq – and my players at the time who won the 98 French championship. This title and qualification for the Champions League made it possible to realize this project of building La Gaillette. It was a good thing for us, since the club has since trained many great players and I believe that it is essential for a club to have this showcase. A club is the employees, the players, the young people of the training center. But it also means preparing for the future, envisioning tomorrow, playing a social role in this exceptional region. We were among the pioneers at the time and I am delighted about that. Today is St. Barbara's Day and I think it is important to pay tribute to all those who have left, as is already the case with some of the central pitches. I haven't left yet (laughing) but I'm honored, you can't imagine it. I am proud, because I am proud to be from Lens. »
