Local Football Facility Plan Arun

Arun is located in Sussex in the South East region. The current population of the Authority (ONS 2017 Mid-Year Estimate) is 158,657. This is expected to rise to 188,795 by 2039.

Arun’s ethnic composition is primarily white (97.06%). This is significantly higher than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of Arun’s population represented by the BAME community is 2.94%. This is significantly below the national average (14.6%).

Arun, taking its name from the River Arun, which runs through the District, contains the three towns of Arundel, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton. In addition, part of the District falls within the South Downs National Park.

Local authority

Arun Council’s Leisure and Culture Strategy (2013-2028) commits it to improving facilities for leisure and culture across the District, focusing on the three out-of-home categories; active leisure, culture and entertainment. The Strategy includes the following aims:

• Encourage Arun residents to have regular physical activity, to benefit their health and well-being and for their enjoyment.
• Encourage, in particular, young adults to take up sport that they might enjoy for the rest of their lives, in line with government policy.
• Improve the quality and accessibility of leisure and cultural facilities so that residents have the potential for greater pleasure and benefit from their leisure time.
• Enable lower income residents to access high quality leisure and cultural facilities.

The Arun Local Plan (2011-2031) has the strategic objective for health, recreation and leisure to “promote strong, well integrated and cohesive communities, through the promotion of healthy lifestyles, provision of good quality accessible community facilities and a safe environment, which delivers an enhanced quality of life to all. This includes meeting the needs of a growing elderly population."

The District PPS was adopted in 2016 and updated in 2019. The key findings of the update include an identified current shortfall of youth 11v11 and youth 9v9 pitches and a future shortfall of all grass pitch types. For 3G FTPs, a current shortfall of two and a future shortfall of four is evidenced.

County football association

Arun is covered by the Sussex County FA which provides governance and development support to all aspects of local football including coaches, referees, volunteers, clubs and leagues; supporting football for all. The County FA has a designated facilities investment lead officer who works to ensure the right facilities are located in the right locations.

Football Foundation

The Regional Engagement Manager and Regional Technical Project Manager at the Football Foundation work collaboratively with the County FA to provide pre-application support to priority projects for potential investment.

Sport England

Has a network of planning managers who have a statutory role in the planning system to protect playing fields and provide consultation responses to planning applications relating to sporting facilities. They also play a key role in strategic planning for sports facilities, providing advice and support to local authorities to assess need for facilities in their local area.

Sport England and Public Health England are committed to helping everybody be active every day. The ten principles of the Sport England Active Design Guidance include recommendations on the co-location of community facilities to create varied and active centres. It states that ‘multi-sport and recreation facilities should be co-located together, where possible, to allow choice of activity in one location and promote the efficient shared management of facilities’. The Sport England Strategic Facilities Fund will support multi-sport facilities, where families can be active in the same place, ensure year round use and offer best return on investment.

Professional club community organisations (CCOs)

These offer a variety of programmes and services to support local communities (sporting and non-sporting). Pompey in the Community runs some education, engagement, football and sporting activities within the local area, although it is not considered a priority area at present.

Local leisure operator

Freedom Leisure is the key leisure operator in Arun. It currently operates several key sites which include sports centres and 3G FTPs. Grass pitches are managed and maintained by Tivoli on behalf on Arun District Council.

Local consultation

This has taken place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in Arun. In total, 22 individuals (representing 15 local organisations) were spoken to. Agencies consulted include:

• Arun District Council
• Arun Chichester & Youth League
• Freedom Leisure
• Pompey in the Community
• University of Chichester

(See Appendix B for full list of consultees)

Clubs

There are over 91,000 community football teams in England, spread over an expansive network of clubs and leagues. Arun has a total of 222 teams, which is comparable to local areas of a similar size.

The FA is investing to support clubs both on and off the pitch. This includes an aim to have a qualified FA coach with every youth team by 2020/21. In addition, it will support 1,000 clubs to create full player pathways from youth to adult teams and develop 150 community football hubs with male and female pathways, disability and recreational playing opportunities.

Over the last 10-years there has been a significant national increase in the number of large multi-team football clubs. In Arun, eight clubs have more than 10 registered teams. These (based upon 2018-19 affiliation data) are:

• Barnham Trojans FC -19 teams
• Bognor Regis Town Youth FC - 19 teams
• Littlehampton Town Youth FC - 18 teams
• Felpham Colts FC - 16 teams
• East Preston Youth FC - 12 teams
• Wick Dynamos Juniors FC - 16 teams
• Rustington Otters Youth FC - 11 team
• Worthing Brazilian Masters Youth FC - 10 teams

Five leagues operate in Arun. They offer competitive opportunities for many different players, including women and girls, youth and adults. While there is no specific league opportunity for disability football within Arun, suitable provision is available in Adur further west along the coast.

Arun's largest local leagues (2018-19) include:

• Arun & Chichester Youth Football League – 331 teams– home and away
• West Sussex Football League – 114 teams– home and away

The County FA reports some cross boundary migration to/from Arun due to leagues that operate across more than one area.

Disability football

There are 9.4million people in England with a long-standing limiting disability, illness or condition which equates to 18% of the population – almost one in five. Football playing opportunities should be flexible, inclusive and accessible for everyone, whatever their level of ability. This could entail inclusion in mainstream activity or teams / sessions specifically for people with a disability.

In Arun there are four football teams / sessions specifically for people with a disability. It is a priority of the County FA to grow this provision. For talented players the FA runs regional centres and England national squads.

Women and girls

The FA has big ambitions for the female game and aims to double levels of participation by 2020. To achieve this requires a combined effort across four pathways: education, recreation, competition and talent.

Education environments have a huge impact on the first experience of football for young girls. This pathway can offer many opportunities for females of all ages to develop and grow a lifelong interest in football.

FA Wildcats girls football centres provide the first step on the recreational pathway, the programme provides girls aged 5-11 with regular opportunities to play football in a fun and engaging environment. Arun has three FA Wildcats girls football centres and the priority is to grow this activity.

At 11, Arun’s number of female teams is comparable to local areas of a similar size. The County FA’s priority is to support existing clubs to grow and encourage more clubs to develop playing opportunities for females. The local girls league is the Sussex County Women & Girls Football League in which matches are played on a home and away basis. It is expected to grow its provision in future years. The local adult female league is also the Sussex County Women & Girls Football League.

For talented players, the most local FA Regional Talent Club (RTC) is Brighton & Hove Albion Women FC located in Adur. Higher level talent pathway opportunities are also provided regionally and nationally by the FA, culminating in the England Women’s national squads. The most local Women’s Super League team is also Brighton & Hove Albion Women FC which provides player pathway opportunities for gifted and talented female players and a spectator interest for fans.

Small-sided football

Many different types of small-sided football are played in England, from teams and leagues to recreational and informal. It is an established and important part of the modern game.

Small-sided teams and leagues are organised and competitive activities; typically with players registered to clubs and affiliated to leagues and their County FAs. Examples include Futsal and local small-sided leagues running at venues such as sports halls, 3G FTPs or small-sided 3G centres.

Key local providers include:

• Power Play – The Academy (Littlehampton)
• Soccer Sixes – Arun Leisure Centre (Bognor Regis)

Futsal is an exciting, fast-paced, small sided team game that is widely played across the world. Typically it is played on an indoor surface with hockey-sized goals and a size 4 football with reduced ball bounce. It is the FA’s aim to ensure Futsal is available across the country.

There are currently no futsal teams in Arun. It is a priority for the County FA to grow futsal provision for youth players .

Recreational football

Recreational football is played where facilities are typically booked and there might be someone to help organise. Examples include FA Just Play sessions, walking football and casual pitch hire for small-sided match play.

There are currently no FA Just Play centres in Arun. Walking football and Just Play are formats that the County FA has prioritised for further growth and development. Other local recreational football programmes include man vs fat, pro-club community scheme activity and casual bookings.

Informal football

Informal football is played in local parks and green spaces – it is free, open access and often played spontaneously (normal clothing is worn). Common examples include a kick-about at a local park or on a multi-use games area (MUGA).

The key strengths of local football in Arun include youth and female provision; it is recommend that this is sustained and also encouraged to grow further. However, there are aspects of football provision where the level of local activity is considerably lower than it is in local authorities of a similar size; these include disability football and futsal.

It is therefore recommended that the future football development priorities for Arun are:

1. Introduce Flexi Football
2. Grow Walking Football
3. Introduce Youth Futsal
4. Introduce FA Mars Just Play
5. Grow Disability Football

The facilities required to assist this are now set out in the Assets and opportunities section.

In addition, each priority project that progresses to a funding application via the Football Foundation will produce a detailed ‘site development plan’ specifying all football development activity, usage and key partner engagement.

This section reviews existing football facility assets in Arun. It identifies current issues and presents opportunities for improvements, including a list of priority projects for potential investment.

Local assets and opportunities have been reviewed inline with four investment priorities:

1. 3G FTPs
2. Improved grass pitches
3. Changing room pavilions / clubhouses
4. Small-sided facilities

To ensure a consistent and high quality approach, each local area has been reviewed applying a standard approach, supplemented by input from consultation with local partners and stakeholder organisations.

While each investment priority is reviewed individually, it is understood that they can be inter-reliant; account is, thus, taken of these potential connections.

3G FTPs are a high quality and indispensable part of modern football facilities; their impact cannot be underestimated. In recent years the industry has seen major innovations and improvements to artificial surfaces (and sports lighting). This has created playing surfaces that replicate a good standard natural turf pitch whilst significantly increasing levels of use (x20). All FTPs must have sports lighting to achieve this.

The high quality, consistent playing surface is the ideal environment to play the game and for young people to learn. With regular maintenance programmes, FTPs can be heavily used all year round with no decline in quality. They almost completely negate annoying fixture cancellations during winter months, helping football to be a key part of a regular physical activity habit.

High capacity levels offer a great opportunity to embrace all formats and engage all participants. A full-sized 3G caters for an average of 1,200 participants per week and is suitable for various location types. That means being fully inclusive to all sections of the community, with a particular focus on under-represented groups such as women and girls, people with a disability, BAME communities and people from lower socio-economic groups.

The way 3G FTPs are used is rapidly changing; current line-marking systems allow for match play across all formats of football (5v5, 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11). This enables significant levels of match-play to be transferred from grass to 3G.

The national ‘Mini Pitch’ programme delivers small 3G FTPs at primary school sites to provide a high quality introduction to football and get children more physically active. While mini pitches are reviewed in this section, they are not included in the demand and supply analysis for 3G FTPs.

There is a wider opportunity when developing 3G FTPs for sites to be developed into community sports hubs that reflect national guidance and that are supported by Sport England and The FA. In addition, such projects may be able to lever in additional external funding.

FA data and the PPS state that there are currently three full-sized (11v11) 3G FTPs in Arun. This is a current shortfall of two and a future shortfall of four relative to assessed demand.

The existing full-sized 3G FTPs in Arun are:

• Arena Sports Centre (the Regis School)
• Arun Leisure Centre
• Littlehampton Academy

In addition, there are currently two small-sided 3G FTP centres in Arun; at Arun Sports Arena and Arena Sports Centre (the Regis School). The former accommodates four 3G pitches measuring 30 x 20 metres, whilst the latter accommodates three pitches measuring 40 x 17 metres. There is a further small-sided 3G FTP at Waterworld (Butlins) measuring 37 x 21 metres.

Of the full sized 3G FTPs, all three are at at all school sites (and used by the respective schools), but are available for community use. One (Arena Sports Centre) is on the FA Register for 3G FTPs (meaning it is quality checked and can be used for football match play). It is strongly recommend that the two remaining pitches (at Littlehampton Academy and Arun Leisure Centre) are assessed and placed on the Register to enable more match play on 3G.

The geographic spread of existing facilities is even, with existing shortfalls spread equally across the East and the West of the District. It is recommended that these are addressed.

Local consultation reveals common issues with limited availability,considerable travel distances and insufficient match play on 3G. It is recommended that these are addressed.

Six priority projects for potential investment have been identified (four full size FTPs and two small-sided FTPs). As noted above, under-supply was calculated using the FA supply and demand model and the updated PPS. Proposed sites were selected based on the possibility of the sites becoming larger community sports hubs and on a rationale of good access, their capacity to serve a substantial local population, geographic spread, the quality of existing facilities and the management system/operation model that would be in place.

Of the full-sized 3G FTP projects, two are required to address current shortfalls while the additional two will be required, within the lifespan of the LFFP, to address predicted future shortfalls. The current shortfall equates to one FTP in the East and one FTP in the West, whilst the future shortfall equates to one full-sized 3G FTP in the East and one in the West.

In the East, it is recommended that both full-sized 3G FTPs are located at Palmer Road Recreation Ground, where there is an existing proposal in place to develop the site into a community sport hub. In the West, it is recommended that the two full-sized 3G FTPs are provided to support large/strategic housing developments/extensions at Barnham Eastergate Westergate and West of Bersted. Of these, Barnham Eastergate Westergate is due to come on line first and should, therefore, take priority.

These sites have been identified in part due to their suitability for a 3G FTP to be provided as part of the development of larger community sports hubs that reflect national guidance and that are supported by Sport England and The FA. The provision of a community sports hub at Palmer Road Recreation Ground, West of Bersted and Barnham Eastergate Westergate will ensure a geographic spread of facilities in key areas of the District and will cater for the shortfall identified in the PPS.

Should FTP development not be possible as part of either of the aforementioned housing development/extensions, alternative sites to consider are King George V Playing Fields and Woodland Park Sports Field.

The locations for the two small-sided FTPs are the St Phillip Howard Catholic High School and the University of Chichester (Longbrook Pavilion). The former is selected due to an existing sand based AGP (unused for hockey) that is suitable for conversion, whilst the latter is selected to enable more football activity from students of the University as well as community use.

Playing fields are one of the most important resources for sport in England. All football players should have the opportunity to play on good quality grass pitches. However, FA data shows that 63% of pitches in England are poor / low standard and one in six games is cancelled. As such, poor pitch quality is consistently cited as the number one issue for players.

The priority is, therefore, to sustainably improve grass pitch quality across all main pitch owners (local authorities, education establishments and clubs). However, the level of maintenance required to obtain good quality standards is regularly affected by restricted budgets and limited knowledge/ training. Compaction and grass coverage are two key causes of poor quality pitches. Both are commonly treated via a maintenance driven solution (and do not necessarily require costly drainage schemes).

Playing fields are also a valuable resource for informal play and open-access sites are encouraged but, for many, problems such as dog fouling and vandalism mean that they need to be protected with mitigation measures such as fencing.

Often the key challenge is to create a sustainable approach to provide good quality football pitches for the long-term. Most local authorities (78%) intend to increase pitch hire fees in the future. However, many players (63%) believe facilities are already expensive and some (16%) believe prices are prohibitive. A sustainable solution should, therefore, carefully balance pitch quality and affordability.

While the education sector (37%) and local authorities (32%) are still the principal asset owners of grass pitches, clubs / leagues own or maintain an increasing share (currently 25%). Assets and opportunities have been considered across each sector.

Although large (3+ pitch) strategic sites are important and make up much of the project list within the LFFPs, this does not mean that other club, league and community/voluntary sites are not important or eligible for funding. These sites are key to the Football Foundation's Grass Pitch Programme to deliver 20,000 good quality pitches.

For more information click here.

PitchPower

The PitchPower app is the gateway to any grass pitch improvement funding. It is the tool that will allow clubs and organisations to complete pitch inspections and access funds.

If you haven't signed up and completed a PitchPower pitch inspection, you will need to do this before you can apply for the Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund.

Learn more by clicking here.

PPS Data indicates that there are currently 11 grass pitch sites in Arun with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or that are of a smaller size but are considered to be strategically important) containing 35 grass pitches.

Of these, none are considered to have good quality pitches, five are of standard quality and five poor quality; the remaining site (Southfields Recreation Ground) contains a combination of standard quality pitches and a poor quality pitch.

Local PPS and LFFP consultation confirms the common issues with poor grass pitch quality and it is recommended that this is addressed.

The following sites / areas are already being developed or are being considered for development without funding via the Football Foundation:

• Courtwick Lane
• Fontwell
• Felpham
• North Littlehampton

Seven priority projects for potential investment have been identified. Six of these have three or more full-size pitch equivalents and are of poor or standard quality, whilst the remaining site (Bognor Regis Sports Club) is included due to the amount of usage it receives from Bognor Regis Town FC. Pitch quality rating was evidenced by the PPS and ratified by local partners.

The majority of pitches at all sites require improvement. The only exception to this is at Southfields Recreation Ground. Here, two of the three pitches have undergone recent renovation, meaning just one requires improvement as part of this project.

These can provide a number of different benefits. While the primary function is normally the provision of changing rooms to accommodate match-play and training (for players and officials), there can be equal value in facilities such as community and education rooms, catering facilities and spectator toilets.

Each project will take a progressive approach to pavilions and clubhouses (beyond the provision of changing rooms) and be open to new opportunities to engage the whole community. That means, creating environments that are welcoming to players, spectators, volunteers, officials and all sections of the community.

Such assets should support other investment priorities (e.g. 3G FTPs and grass pitches) and be located at sites that will have the greatest impact on local communities. To ensure this, focus is given to sites with three or more full-size pitch equivalents. However, as pitch quality is the number one priority for players this is prioritised before investment in changing room pavilions /clubhouses.

Clearly, facilities need to be well managed and maintained to keep them in a good state of repair. Consideration will be given to reviewing the best operator solution for key sites and the installation of revenue generating features such as catering facilities and community rooms. To achieve this, business plan support will be given to each priority project as it progresses to an application to the Football Foundation.

Of the 11 key sites with three or more full-size pitch equivalents in Arun, three have suitable changing room pavilions/clubhouses, whilst seven have facilities that need improvement, replacement, extension or re-location.

In addition, the proposed 3G pitches at Barnham Eastergate Westergate and North Bersted will require accompanying changing provision should the developments go ahead. As such, these sites have been incorporated into the infographic below.

A planning application has been submitted for a clubhouse to accompany the creation of football pitches at Courtwick Lane. This is without funding via the Football Foundation.

Nine priority projects for potential investment are, thus, identified. Each has three or more full-size pitch equivalents and was deemed to have an unsuitable pavilion.

At Avisford Park Recreation Ground, King George V Recreation Ground and Palmer Road Recreation Ground it is considered that new build changing rooms are required due to the condition of existing facilities, whilst at Shrubbs Field it is considered that a refurbishment will be sufficient

At Bersted Park, the existing pavilion facilities are considered to be situated too far away from the pitches, meaning that new provision is needed in a better location.

The quality of facilities at Southfields Recreation Ground is considered to be adequate; however, there is only one set of changing rooms servicing three pitches, meaning that additional changing rooms are needed.

At Aldingbourne Community Sports Centre, Barnham Trojans FC wishes to see new dedicated changing facilities provided to service football pitch users. At present, changing rooms are located within the main building on site and service the indoor facilities as well as the outdoor sport space. It is considered that the option to develop new outdoor changing pavilion should be supported.

Good facilities are important to all small-sided football players, but it is important to understand the different formats of the small-sided game and the various facility types they relate to.

Research suggests that small-sided players in teams and leagues, and in recreational sessions, prefer a 3G surface type because it replicates a good standard natural turf pitch. These facilities have already been covered in the 3G FTP section of this LFFP.

Indoor environments currently accommodate 20% of football participation and are also popular with players in teams and leagues and recreational sessions . Indoor sports halls are most popular, along with some community halls and indoor 3G centres. Environments need to be engaging, have clear line-marking and the correct size goalposts.

Informal players require facilities that are open and free to access as this enables play opportunities that are often spontaneous. In these circumstances multi-use games areas (MUGAs) can be effective in areas of high urban population and limited green space. Such facilities can be modern, bright, creative and engaging. While this plan will identify suitable locations for such facilities, the design and specifics of the facility type can be agreed at a later stage with Football Foundation staff when projects are ready to progress to pre-application stage.

Parks and open green spaces are also important to informal play and require goalposts and zones that are free from litter and dog fouling.

Local consultation reveals there are no indoor facilities that require immediate improvement to develop small-sided football. That being said, it must be noted that some indoor space may be included as part of the wider development of Palmer Road Recreation Ground. When the size and designation of this is concluded, scope may exist for some level of football investment.

Six potential opportunities for MUGAs have been identified. In each case the rationale is based on the site being able to serve an area of relatively high population density, with limited green space, high levels of deprivation and a high proportion of people from lower social economic groups plus corresponding high local demand for informal football.

Following local consultation, five locations have been identified to support small-sided informal football. Here, the rationale is based on highly popular local parks and open green spaces with suitable space/ areas to increase informal football:

Group Head of Neighbourhood Services - Arun District Council

Strategic Projects & Development Manager - Arun District Council

Head of Wellbeing - Arun District Council

Principal Planning Officer - Arun District Council

Property, Estates & Facilities Manager - Arun District Council

Environmental Services & Strategy Manager - Arun District Council

ISS Lifestyle Manager - Tivoli Services

Health Lead - Freedom Leisure

Events Assistant - Littlehampton Town Council

Director of Community Projects - Pompey in the Community

Secretary - Arun & Chichester Youth League

Chairman - Arun & Chichester Youth League

Secretary - ASC Strikers FC

Secretary - Barnham Trojans FC

Secretary - Bognor Regis Town Youth FC

Secretary - Felpham Colts FC

Secretary - Rustington FC

Secretary - Southwick Rangers FC

First Team Manager - Bognor Regis Town FC

Business Development Manager - University of Chichester

Director of Sport - University of Chichester

Business Manager - The St Phillip Howard Catholic School