Local Football Facility Plan Barnsley

Barnsley is in the Yorkshire and The Humber Region

The current population of the Authority (ONS 2017 Mid-Year Estimate) is 243,341. This is expected to rise to 273,402 by 2039.

41.6% of the Barnsley population is within NS SEC classification 6-8 (lower socio-economic groups). This figure is significantly above the national average (30.6%)

Barnsley’s ethnic composition is primarily classed as White (97.9%) which is much higher than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of Barnsley’s population represented by the BAME community is 4.0%. This is under one third of the national average (14.6%)

Local Authority

The stated aim of the Barnsley Sport and Active Lifestyle Strategy 2015-2018 is to to see everyone within the Borough taking responsibility for their own health and wellbeing and leading active and healthy lives irrespective of age, gender, health and ethnicity or social status. The improvements set out designed to achieve this follow four broad aims: To increase the number of people being physically active year on year. To target under-active and under-represented groups to increase sports and physical activity participation. To provide pathways to personal success. To improve access to the opportunities to being active.

The Authority’s Playing Pitch Strategy was adopted in 2016 and has the following aims – to:

• Ensure the sustainability of junior clubs
• Investigate and invest in multi pitch hub sites and 3G rubber crumb pitches
• .Maximise the use of existing resources and to address future deficiencies in senior and junior football.
• Provide changing accommodation at local authority sites
• Address identified drainage issues for local authority sites.
• Address quality issues related to on-going maintenance at local authority owned sites.

County Football Association

Barnsley is covered by the Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA. It provides governance for, 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.

Professional Club Community Organisations (CCOs)

These continue to expand and enhance their range of community delivery, offering a variety of programmes and services to support local communities (sporting and non-sporting). Barnsley FC ‘Reds in the Community’ runs a variety of health, education, engagement, football and sporting activities within the local area.

Local leisure operator

Barnsley Premier Leisure is the operator of Barnsley Council’s leisure facilities. It currently runs four key indoor leisure centre sites and the Dorothy Hyman Stadium which includes a floodlit 11 v 11 FTP.

Local consultation

This has taken place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in Barnsley. A total of 15 individuals (representing 11 local organisations) were consulted. These include:

• Barnsley Premier Leisure
• Barnsley College
• Priory Campus

(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. Barnsley has a total of 367 teams, this is higher than local areas of a similar size.

The FA is investing to support clubs both on and off the pitch which 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 Barnsley, nine clubs have more than 10 registered teams. The largest of these (based upon 2017-18 affiliation data) are:

• Dearne & District JFC – 20 teams
• Hoyland Town Juniors – 20 teams
• Penistone Church – 22 teams
• Pinfold Pumas – 21 teams
• Hoyland Common Falcons – 12 teams
• AFC Pogmoor - 12 teams
• Barnsley Ladies & Girls – 11 teams
• Dodworth Miners Welfare – 11
• Dearne Dragons – 10 teams

Two leagues operate in Barnsley providing competitive opportunities for youth male and adult male players. While there are no specific league opportunities for women and girls, and disability within Barnsley, suitable provision is made across the broader County.

Barnsley‘s local leagues (2017-18) are:

• Barnsley & District Junior League 89 teams playing home and away
• . Barnsley and District Sunday League 27 teams playing home and away.

The County FA reports cross boundary migration to and from Barnsley. This is primarily due to teams migrating out of the borough to play in the Sheffield & District Junior Sunday league and the Sheffield & Hallamshire Girls and Womens League.

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 Barnsley there is one football club with 4 teams specifically for people with a disability. It is a priority of the County FA to grow this provision . For talented players the FA run 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. Barnsley has one FA Wildcats girls football centre and the local priority is to grow this activity.

At 29, Barnsley’s number of female teams is higher than local areas of a similar size. The County FA priority is to support existing clubs to grow and encourage more clubs to develop playing opportunities for females. The local girls league is the Sheffield & Hallamshire Girls & Women’s County League which plays matches on a home and away basis. It is expected to grow provision in future years. The local adult female league is the Sheffield & Hallamshire Girls & Women’s County League and which also runs on the basis of home and away matches. It too is expected to grow provision in future years.

For talented players, the most local FA Regional Talent Club (RTC) is Sheffield United - located in Sheffield. 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 Sheffield United Women 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 & 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:

• 5ives Community Sports Club (non affiliated)
• Champion/PP Netherwood– 12 teams
• Champion/PP Penistone – 12 teams

Futsal is an exciting, fast-paced, small sided team game that is widely played across the world. Typically it’s 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 Barnsley. It is a priority for the County FA to grow Futsal for male 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 is currently one FA Just Play centre in Barnsley. Walking football sessions are delivered by a range of community organisations including community groups. Walking football and Just Play are programmes that the County FA has prioritised for further growth and development.

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).

Currently, informal football in Barnsley is reportedly played particularly in the north and central parts of the Borough. Ardsley, Carlton, Elsecar, Locke and Royston Parks are key heavily used site locations.

The key strengths of local football in Barnsley include male youth football provision and it is recommend that this is sustained and encouraged to grow further. However, gaps in provision do exist, these include mini-soccer, female and Wildcats Centres

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

1. Mini-soccer female
2. Wildcats
3. Adult male
4. Recreational football – male
5. Recreational football – female

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

Additionally, 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 Barnsley. 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.

FA data states that there are currently 11 full size 3G FTP’s in Barnsley. The Councils 2016 PPS states a requirement for 15 FTP's when factoring future levels of demand, and the current restricted nature of supply on academy sites. Existing 3G FTPs in Barnsley include:

• Dorothy Hyman Stadium
• Horizon Academy
• Barnsley FC – Oakwell

There are also currently two small-sided 3G FTP centres in Barnsley:

• 5ives - Hoyland
• Shoot 5 - Penistone

Only four of the 13 pitches are available for community use. It is, thus, important and recommended that options for community use at the eight secondary school academy sites in Barnsley are fully explored* . Three of the full-sized 3G FTPs are on the FA Register (meaning they are quality checked and can be used for football match play).

The geographic spread of existing facilities is even. Local consultation highlights concerns about the high prices associated with gaining access to school academy sites and the lack of match play on 3G. It is recommended that these issues are addressed.

(* Barnsley’s secondary school sites are currently operated under a PFI contract. An arrangement whereby Barnsley Council purchased subsidised programmed hours from the PFI contractor ended recently due to Council efficiency savings).

Three priority projects for potential investment have been identified. Undersupply was calculated using the 2016 PPS figure and taking account of the current limitations with regard to the accessibility of school based FTP sites. Plan recommendations have been endorsed by local partners based on a rationale of good access, high population, geographic spread, the success and quality of existing facilities, high levels and density of deprivation, high proportions of people from lower social economic groups :

1- North Barnsley – new double floodlit 11 v 11 FTP

• Existing football facilities – n/a.
• Current users –n/a
• Rationale – there is the potential to align a new leisure centre development with a new double 11v11 3G FTP. This could cater for junior
  team training & match-play demand and drive participationgrowth in: junior, senior and women and girls football, over 50s
  participation, recreational and disability football, and among people from lower socio-economic groups

2- Rockingham Sports Ground – new floodlit 11 v 11 FTP

• Existing football facilities – 1 x grass pitch, clubhouse.
• Current users – Several affiliated teams including Worsbrough Bridge Athletic
• Rationale – The site , which caters for other sports including cricket is subject to a masterplan that includes commercial development with potential associated planning gain. It is a potential site for CFA involvement with the possible capacity to cater for significant junior team training & match-play demand. It could help drive participation growth in: junior, senior and women and girls football, over 50s participation, recreational and disability football plus people from lower socio-economic groups.

3- Central / East Barnsley – new floodlit 11 v 11 FTP

• Existing football facilities – n/a.
• Current users – n/a
• Rationale – PPS identifies a shortfall in full size FTP's in the Central / East analysis areas. There is potential to relocate junior team training & match-play demand from those teams unable to access 3G provision on academy sites. It would accommodate potential participation growth in: junior, senior and women and girls football, over 50s participation, recreational football, disability football and among people from lower socio-economic groups.

NB Consultation highlighted that Barnsley College (Honeywell lane) could form the potential site for
Central / East Barnsley FTP pending resolution of feasibility issues.

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 1 in 6 games are 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 resources 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.

In many local areas the key challenge is to create a sustainable approach to provide good quality football pitches for the long-term. Many 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.

The Council’s Playing Pitch Strategy identified a key challenge in relation to the quality of natural grass pitches: 50% rated as poor, 4% rated good and 46% rated standard.

Since 2016 the Council has invested significantly in a number of key grass pitch sites implementing the recommendations made in its PPS particularly in respect of improving pitch quality. Therefore, the Plan builds on this recent investment.

Although there are currently 19 grass pitch sites in Barnsley with three or more full-size pitch equivalents containing 75 grass pitches, three of the priorities set out below relate to smaller two-pitch sites, due to their strategic importance for Football.

Six priority projects for investment are identified . These have been endorsed by local partners and rationale for their selection includes their present poor condition and the strategic focus to improve local authority/club pitches.

4- Redfearns Sports Field - works to poor quality natural grass pitches

• Existing football facilities – 2 x grass pitches, clubhouse
• Current users – Redfearns JFC (9 affiliated teams)
• Rationale – Participation growth in junior, senior and women and girls football and among people from lower socio-economic
  groups.

5- Barnsley College (The Fleets) - works to poor quality natural grass pitches

• Existing football facilities – 2 x grass pitches
• Current users – BSA Juniors
• Rationale – participation growth in: junior, senior and women and girls football and among people from lower socio-economic
  groups.

6 - Carlton Park - works to poor quality natural grass pitches

• Existing football facilities – 3 x grass pitches
• Current users – Barnsley Ladies (Youth) 8 affiliated teams, Bridge Tigers JFC (4 affiliated teams),
• Rationale – Site identified as poor quality in PPS. Participation growth in: junior, senior and women and girls football and among
  people from lower socio-economic groups.

7- Rotherham Rd Playing Fields –works to poor quality natural grass pitches

• Existing football facilities – 3 x grass pitches
• Current users – 3 affiliated teams
• Rationale – Site identified as poor quality in PPS . Participation growth in: junior, senior and women and girls football and among people from lower socio-economic groups.

8- Athersley Memorial Park - works to poor quality natural grass pitches (Laithes lane)

• Existing football facilities – 5 x grass pitches
• Current users – No affiliated football
• Rationale – Site identified as poor quality in PPS . Participation growth in: junior, senior and women and girls football and among people from lower socio-economic groups.

9 -Elmhirst Playing Fields- works to poor quality natural grass pitches

• Existing football facilities – 5 x grass pitches
• Current users – Hoyland Falcons JFC
• Rationale – community asset transfer to Hoyland Falcons JFC. The PPS identifies this site as poor quality and in need of improvement. It will drive participation growth in: junior, senior and women and girls football and among people from lower socio-economic groups

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 19 key sites with three or more full-size pitch equivalents in Barnsley, 16 have suitable changing room pavilions/clubhouses, two have existing facilities that need improvement/ replacement and one has no facilities and requires a new changing pavilion. In addition, three sites with less than three full-size pitch equivalents have been prioritised by the steering group.

Six priority projects for potential investment have, therefore, been identified. Each has either no facilities or has an unsuitable pavilion.

4- Redfearns Sports Field – pavilion refurbishment

• Existing football facilities – 2 x grass pitches, clubhouse
• Current users – Redfearns JFC (9 affiliated teams)
• Rationale – Participation growth in: junior, senior and, women and girls football and among people from lower socio-economic
  groups.

9 - Elmhirst Playing Fields- Pavilion Refurbishment

• Existing football facilities – 5 x grass pitches
• Current users – Hoyland Falcons JFC
• Rationale – community asset transfer to Hoyland Flacons JFC. The PPS identifies this site as poor quality and in need of
  improvement. It will drive participation growth in: junior, senior and women and girls football and among people from lower socio-
  economic groups

10 - Dorothy Hyman Stadium – new build pavilion

• Existing football facilities – 3 x grass pitches, full sized floodlit FTP
• Current users – 14 affiliated teams including Pinfold Puma’s (6 teams)
• Rationale – external changing rooms required to support new build FTP & grass pitches. Potential participation growth in: junior,
  senior and women and girls football and among people from lower socio-economic groups.

11 - Dodworth MW – new build pavilion

• Existing football facilities – 2 x grass pitches
• Current users – Dodworth MW JFC (9 affiliated teams)
• Rationale. participation growth in: junior, senior and, women and girls football and among people from lower socio-economic
  groups.

12 - Goldthorpe Recreation Ground – pavilion refurbishment

• Existing football facilities – 3 x grass pitches
• Current users – Dearne & District JFC (20 affiliated teams)
• Rationale – potential asset transfer site to Dearne & District JFC. Driving participation growth in: junior, senior and women and
  girls football and among people from lower socio-economic groups.

13 - Wood View Lane – Pavilion refurbishment

• Existing football facilities – 1 x grass pitch, pavilion
• Current users – n/a
• Rationale – this is a site with potential for asset transfer to AFC Pogmoor (13 affiliated teams). It should drive growth in junior,
  senior and women and girls football and among people from lower socio-economic groups.

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 & 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 & 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 that, at present, no indoor facilities require improvement to develop small-sided football.

Consultation with Barnsley Council’s Parks team confirmed the view that Barnsley already has an extensive network of MUGA provision that is of good quality and is maintained by the Council. On this basis, no opportunities to invest in MUGAs are set out in this plan. Future investment in MUGAs and informal facilities should be based on site in areas of high urban population, with limited green space, facing high levels of deprivation and containing a high proportion of people from lower social economic groups (and the associated corresponding high local demand for informal football).

Following local consultation, three locations are identified at which provision for small-sided informal football should be considered. The rationale is based on popular local parks and open green spaces which contain suitable space/areas well suited for developments designed to increase levels of informal football played in the borough:

14 - Locke Park– provision of small football goals.

• Existing facilities - large grassed park
• Existing users – Social / recreational users.
• Rationale – this is a large park site in a central urban location with potential to attract significant footfall. It will drive participation
  growth in informal /recreational football among young people, women & girls and those from lower socio-economic groups.

6- Carlton Park – provision of small football goals.

• Existing facilities - large grassed park
• Existing users – social / recreational users.
• Rationale – this is a large park site in a suburban location with potential to attract significant footfall. It will drive participation
  growth in informal/recreational football, young people, women & girls and among people from lower socio-economic groups.

15 - Royston Park– provision of small football goals.

• Existing facilities - large grassed park
• Existing users – social / recreational users.
• Rationale – this is a large park site in suburban location with potential to attract significant footfall. It will drive participation
  growth in informal /recreational football, for young people, women & girls and among those from lower socio-economic groups.

• CEO – Barnsley FC Reds in the Community
• Deputy CEO – Barnsley Premier Leisure
• Sport & Active Recreation Officer – Barnsley Council
• PFI Contracts Manager – Barnsley Council
• Equity & Inclusion Manager – Barnsley Council
• Parks Officer – Barnsley Council
• Sport Programme Manager - Barnsley College
• Secretary – Penistone Church FC
• Secretary – Wombwell Main FC
• Secretary – AFC Pogmoor FC
• Secretary – Hoyland Common Falcons FC
• Manager – Shaw Lane Sports Association
• CEO – Priory Campus • Head of Operations – Coalfields Regeneration Trust
• Director of Development - Yorkshire Sport Foundation