Arrow icon Printer icon PlayFC logo PlayFC logo

Local Football Facility Plan Barnsley

Introduction

01

This Local Football Facility Plan (LFFP) has been prepared with support from local partners, including the County FA, the Local Authority, the Football Foundation, Active Partnership and Sport England. The list of groups we consulted with can be found in Appendix B. Every local authority in the Country has an LFFP to support investment in football facilities to be accurately targeted. Facility investment is not static and the plans are periodically updated to reflect changes and to ensure the right projects are prioritised.

Who is behind this?

The Premier League, The FA and Government's charity - the Football Foundation - that helps communities improve their local football facilities through grant awards.

What is the purpose of this plan?

The Football Foundation’s funding partners have significantly increased investment to accelerate efforts to deliver more and better football facilities for the grassroots game. The purpose of this plan is to identify the priority projects for potential investment in this area.

2019 Introduction
2019 Introduction 2

Why invest in football facilities?

As the nation’s most popular team sport, football has the power to contribute positively to vital social outcomes and health priorities. To maximise this power, facilities have to be welcoming environments to attract first-time users and repeat visits, whether for informal, recreational or competitive football.

Research clearly and continually demonstrates the positive impact high-quality football facilities, in the right locations, can have on participation and enjoyment. Latent demand exists, but facility quantity and quality has to ‘step up’ if football is to reach everyone.

How are we going to do it?

Since its creation in 2000, the Football Foundation has invested more than £1 billion to improve grassroots facilities across the country. However, in order for the Foundation to reach its goal of ensuring everyone has a great place to play regardless of gender, race, disability or place, there’s still plenty more left to do.

What are the priorities for investment?

This LFFP, with guidance from local partners, has developed a list of high level projects for potential investment, which include:

  • 1,000 new 3G Football Turf Pitches (FTPs): in a mix of sizes and settings, dependent upon local needs. All aimed at enhancing the quality of the playing experience.
  • 20,000 improved natural-turf pitches: to help address drop-off due to a poor playing experience.
  • 1,000 new changing pavilions / clubhouses: all linked to priority sites.
  • PlayZones: small sided facilities to create safe, inclusive and accessible facilities that bring communities together through recreational forms of football and a range of other sports and activities.

Key project outcomes/targets

The priority projects for potential investment identified in this plan will help develop a sustainable network of quality facilities to drive participation across all parts of the game. Central to this are five key success factors: quality, inclusivity, sustainability, engagement and usage. Each identified project takes account of these factors.

The project list sets out all priority projects for potential investment. The list will be used flexibly and does not determine the exact order in which it will progress to a funding application to the Football Foundation, as many factors influence this. The process for moving a project from this list and into the pre-application stage will be managed by the Football Foundation.

Multi-sport approach

Although Football Foundation funded projects will always be football led, there is an opportunity to make a real difference for other sports and for physical activity to take place on the sites. We want to be as collaborative as possible with our approach to project development and ensure that facilities are serving as many different sports and people as they can, as well as helping to tackle inequalities and support communities such as women and girls, people with disabilities & long-term health conditions, diverse communities and lower socio-economic groups.

Consultation took place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in the original LFFP, including with other sports bodies. It is a requirement that all projects that move through to application phase undertake further detailed community engagement to ensure that facilities fully serve the communities they are being designed for. This includes working with other sport NGBs to look at shared priorities and facility developments to get the best multi-sport outcomes.

How should this plan be used?

This LFFP will be the go-to document for football facility investment.

Whilst it identifies priority projects for potential investment, it does not guarantee the success of future funding applications. Each project must still follow an application process to show how it will deliver key participation and social outcomes, become a quality & sustainable facility and demonstrate suitable partnership funding.

When a project is in a position to proceed, the Football Foundation will determine a suitable timeframe to submit a grant application and pre-application support will be provided by the County FA and the Football Foundation.

Set a 10-Year vision to transform local football facilities
Identify priority projects to be delivered
Act as an investment portfolio for projects that require funding
Be updated on a regular basis

How should this plan NOT be used?

A LFFP is an investment portfolio of priority projects for potential investment - it is not a detailed demand and supply analysis of all pitch provision in a local area. It cannot be used as a replacement for a Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS) and it will not be accepted as an evidence base for site change of use or disposal.

A LFFP will however build on available/existing local evidence and strategic plans and may adopt relevant actions from a PPS and/or complement these with additional investment priorities.

2019 Introduction 3
2019 Introduction 4

Barnsley

02

Local area

Demographics for the area can be seen below:

Demographics

  • 248,449 Current population (2023)
  • 275,185 Projected population (2041)
  • 3rd most deprived out of 21 local authorities in the region
  • 38th most deprived out of 317 local authorities in England

Ethnicity data

  • Asian (0.9%)
  • Black (0.7%)
  • Mixed (0.9%)
  • Other (0.6%)
  • White (96.8%)
30%
27%
26%

% of people that are inactive

  • Barnsley
  • Region
  • England

*ONS data and Sport England Active Lives Survey

Local Football 4.png
guildford 2

Local partners

Local Authority

Local government is responsible for a range of vital services for people and businesses in defined areas, therefore the Local Authority is a key stakeholder in helping to deliver this plan, whether this be through the local planning authority, funding, PPS or community engagement. It must engage with it's communities and encourage community participation in decision-making, while considering the needs of people currently living in communities and those who will live there in the future. This engagement should translate in to the type of facilities that need to be built and for who.

County Football Associations

County Football Associations (CFAs) provide governance for, and development support to, all aspects of local football including coaches, referees, volunteers, clubs and leagues; supporting football for all. All CFAs have a designated facilities investment lead officer(s) that works to ensure the right facilities are located in the right locations. For further information visit the CFA website.

Football Foundation

Delivery Managers and Technical Project Managers at the Football Foundation work collaboratively with the CFAs to provide pre-application support and lead on the delivery of priority projects for potential investment. Facility Planning Managers (FPMs) will lead and be responsible for all aspects of strategic planning and will lead on refreshing of LFFPs.

Football Foundation Investment

99 Total grants
  • £8,366,741 Total project cost
  • £4,045,701 Total grant value
  • 41 Sites improved
  • 2 New 3G FTPs
  • 7 Changing rooms / pavilions
  • 19 Grass pitches improved

See Football foundation website for more info (http://www.footballfoundation.org.uk/impact/where-our-money-goes)

Grant data above represents total investment in the area by the Football Foundation.

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 community club organisations (CCOs)

Supported by facility investment CCOs can offer a variety of programmes and services to support local communities (sporting and non-sporting). They run a variety of health, education, engagement, football and sporting activities within their local areas. Projects identified in the LFFP help CCOs support delivery on a local level.

Local consultation

Local consultation has taken place via the LFFP steering group, which agreed that views have been captured through the Playing Pitch Strategy. Furthermore, it is a requirement and key element of project development that those which move through to application phase undertake detailed community engagement to ensure that facilities fully serve the communities they are being designed for.

2019 Local consultation 1
2019 Local consultation 2

Local football

Clubs

There are over 110,000 community football teams in England, spread over an expansive network of clubs and leagues.

To deliver the goals laid out within the FA Grassroots Football Strategy for male and female football, there must be a vibrant, best-in-class club network around the country. The FA will work to encourage as many clubs as possible to achieve England Football Accreditation, assuring quality in everything they offer, including ever-safer and stronger player pathways. This will be coupled with a commitment to improve the quality of thousands of pitches up and down the country, with a particular focus on grass pitches.

Over the last 10-years there has been a significant national increase in the number of large multi-team football clubs. Locally, the following clubs have more than ten registered teams:

  • Penistone Church FC*** - 33 teams
  • North Gawber Colliery** - 24 teams
  • AFC Pogmoor*** - 23 teams
  • Junior Tykes FC* - 20 teams
  • Wombwell Town JFC** - 20 teams
  • Dodworth Miners Welfare JFC* - 19 teams
  • Pinfold Pumas JFC* - 16 teams
  • Wombwell Main FC** - 16 teams
  • Redfearn JFC* - 15 teams
  • Athersley Recreation FC* - 15 teams
  • Brampton United JFC* - 14 teams
  • Barnsley FC - 13 teams
  • Barnsley FC Ladies* - 12 teams
  • Elsecar Main FC* - 12 teams
  • Hoyland Common Falcons JFC* - 12 teams
  • Yorkshire RTC* - 12 teams
  • Oxspring United FC** - 12 teams
  • Barnsley Sports Academy* - 11 teams
  • Staincross Rangers FC* - 11 teams

Represents England Football One Star (*) Two Star (**) or Three Star (***) Accreditation level.

Affiliated Teams

413 Teams
  • 92 Adult male teams
  • 11 Adult female teams
  • 141 Youth male teams
  • 32 Youth female teams
  • 1 Disability teams
  • 136 Mini-soccer teams

Source: The FA Whole Game System. Disability team numbers are also included within relevant age formats and therefore the total number of teams discounts this figure.

Leagues

Leagues offer competitive opportunity for many different players, including women and girls, disability, youth and adults. The largest local leagues are:

  • Barnsley and District Sunday League – adult male (home and away)
  • Barnsley and District Junior League – mini soccer, youth boys and girls (home and away)

Disability football

There are 9.4 million 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.

Comets is a recreational, pan-disability football programme for disabled boys and girls aged between 5 and 11. Pan-disability is the largest format of disability football, which sees players with a broad range of impairments and health conditions play together. Comets offers a flexible and inclusive way of playing, one that’s all about playfulness, friendships and having fun. For talented players the FA runs regional centres and England national squads. Projects identified in the LFFP help CFAs support disability football delivery on a local level, which will be identified through local community engagement.

2019 Disability 1
Disability 2

Women and girls

The FA’s strategy, titled Inspiring Positive Change, pledges to create a sustainable future for women’s and girls’ football in England. One key target set out was for 75% of schools to be delivering equal access to football in PE lessons by 2024. This target was achieved a whole year ahead of schedule. The strategy outlines eight transformational objectives, the following across grassroots football:-

  • Early Participation – Every primary school-aged girl to have equal access to football in school and in clubs.
  • Development Participation – Every girl to have equal access to participate for fun, for competition and for excellence.
  • Club Player Pathway – Collaborate with clubs to develop an effective high-performance, inclusive player-centred pathway.
  • Football For All – Recruit and support a motivated, diverse range of local leaders organising football for their communities.
  • Coaching – Support the development of exceptional coaches at every level of the game who are representative of our society.
  • Refereeing – Ensure that every female referee afforded high-quality bespoke learning and development opportunities from grassroots through to the elite game.

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.

In addition to the affiliated team data, The FA also has ambitious plans to roll out 4000 ‘casual’ football pathway programmes under the ‘Just Play’ banner including initiatives such as Wildcats, Squad Girls’ Football and walking football for women. 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. FA Squad Girls' football sessions provide girls aged 12-14 with a fun, non-competitive way to play football locally with friends, whether completely new to football, transitioning from Wildcats, or simply wanting to play.

For talented players, the Girls' Emerging Talent Centres (ETCs) across the nation are provided to increase and diversify the talent pool and give more girls than ever the chance to take their first steps on the pathway towards playing professional football. Higher level talent pathway opportunities are also provided regionally and nationally by the FA, culminating in the England Women’s national squads. Women’s Super League and Women's Championship teams provide player pathway opportunities for gifted and talented female players and a spectator interest for fans.

One catalyst for growth was the victory by the Lionesses in the 2022 EUROs finals. Female football is now growing at a rate of 13% year on year and it is imperative that there is sufficient supply and quality of facilities (both on and off the pitch) to meet this demand. By 2030 it is estimated that 21% of all teams will be women and girls' teams.

2019 women and girls 1
2019 women and girls 2

Casual football

Casual 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 match play. Casual football demand will be explored as part of the community engagement when a facility project is developed to ensure that the needs are captured. 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. Each project must be mindful to offer opportunities beyond the affiliated game, particularly for women and girls.

Assets and opportunities

03

This section reviews existing football facility assets. 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 in line with four investment priorities:

  • 3G Football Turf Pitches (FTPs)
  • Improved grass pitches
  • Off pitch and ancillary facilities
  • PlayZones

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.

2019 assets and ops 1

3G Football Turf Pitches (FTPs)

2019 assets and ops 2

Improved grass pitches

2019 assets and ops 3

Off pitch and ancillary facilities

2019 small sided 1

PlayZones

3G Football Turf Pitches (FTPs)

04

3G pitches 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. All 3G pitches must have sports lighting and offer a broad programme of community use 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, 3G pitches 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. An 11v11 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 women and girls, low socio-economic groups, people with disabilities and culturally diverse communities. The way 3G pitches are used allows for match play across all formats of football (5v5, 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11). This enables match play to be transferred from grass to 3G as well as being a fantastic asset for training. Only pitches on The FA 3G Register can accommodate affiliated match play (meaning they are quality checked). It is strongly recommended that all pitches are registered.

Although Football Foundation investment will always be football led, 3G pitches offer a fantastic opportunity to support other sports, particularly traditional grass pitch sports. Where appropriate, and through engagement with other NGBs, projects below will include potential multisport opportunities.

2019 3G pitch 1
2019 3G pitch 2

Assets and opportunities

Existing 11 v 11 3G FTPs in the area include:

  • Barnsley College (Honeywell Sports Village)
  • Barnsley FC Training Ground - unavailable
  • Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre
  • Holy Trinity School (Barnsley)
  • Horizon Community College
  • Kirk Balk Academy
  • Netherwood Academy
  • Outwood Academy Carlton
  • Outwood Academy Shafton
  • Penistone Grammar School
  • The Astrea Dearne Academy
  • Trinity Academy St Edwards

Additionally, there are currently 14 accessible small-sided 3G FTPs:

  • 5ives (Barnsley) - 6x 5v5, 2x 7v7
  • Dodworth Miners Welfare Sports and Social Club - 5v5
  • Penistone Church FC - 5v5
  • Shoot 5 Indoor Soccer- x3 5v5
  • Shaw Lane Sports Club - 7v7

A new 120x84m 3G FTP and pavilion is under construction at the new Parkside Centre in Hoyland Common, funded by FF and planned to be opened for use in 2025. This will increase the number of 11v11 3G FTPs in Barnsley to 13. Furthermore, FF funding towards the development of a second 11v11 3G FTP at Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre was offered in early 2025, which in turn will increase the number of 11v11 3G FTPs in Barnsley to 14.

Nine of the twelve existing 11v11 3G pitches (aside from Barnsley FC Training Ground, Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre and Trinity Academy St Edwards) are at education sites and are each subject to a PFI contract, managed on behalf of each school by a facilities management company. The schools each have 400 hours per year access allocated through this contract and issues have arisen in recent years as the number of hours available has reduced, leaving some schools short of hours and having to incur further costs to open facilities or open less often due to this. Consequently, hours available for community access to these sites is limited, whilst cost to access the facilities is unaffordable to most clubs due to the full cost recovery basis beyond the scope of the contract. Five 11v11 3G FTPs have considerably limited availability for community use, at Horizon Community College, Kirk Balk Academy, Outwood Academy Carlton, Netherwood Academy and Outwood Academy Shafton. The pitch at Barnsley FC Training Ground is not available for community use due to private use by the professional club.

Barnsley Borough Council produced a Playing Pitch & Outdoor Sport Strategy (PPOSS) in 2023. The PPOSS, based on 2022/23 season data, indicated a a shortfall of five 11v11 3G pitches. This was based on 402 teams accessing the equivalent of seven 11v11 3G pitches, the capacity of the current supply reduced in lieu of the limitations on access and availability for community groups to the PFI contracted school sites.

Current affiliation data from 2024/25 shows that there are 413 teams, representing a growth of 11 teams since the PPOSS. Therefore, the shortfall presented in the PPOSS is considered to remain valid and has also been applied to the LFFP. There is a PPOSS shortfall of two pitches in the Central Analysis Area, one pitch in the North East, one pitch in Penistone and one pitch in the South Analysis Area. Since the PPOSS was developed, new pitches have been built at Trinity Academy St Edwards (Central Area, representing 0.5 equivalent capacity), soon to be completed at the Parkside Centre (South Area, increased size representing 1.5 equivalent capacity) and planned at Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre (North East Area). This reduces the current shortfall to one pitch in the Penistone Area, with further projects required to meet demand remaining in the Central Area and to provide capacity for further growth in demand.

This considered, Barnsley Borough Council has expressed an aspiration to explore the potential to develop football hub sites with two or more 11v11 3G pitches each, able to service wider travel to play catchments and therefore not necessarily located in the area of the Borough where shortfalls are expressed, but instead developing programmes of use to meet needs of partner clubs from these areas. Shortfalls may not necessarily be met directly by delivering new provision in the sub areas where shortfalls exist, but where land assets able to accommodate several 3G FTPs could be developed.

In addition to the existing shortfall of 11v11 3G FTPs, there are nine 11v11 3G FTPs that are over ten years old and will require replacement in coming years subject to quality and deterioration. These are Barnsley College (Honeywell Sports Ground), Holy Trinity School (Barnsley), Horizon Community College, Kirk Balk Academy, Netherwood Academy, Outwood Academy Carlton, Outwood Academy Shafton, Penistone Grammar School and The Astrea Dearne Academy.

The pitches at Barnsley College (Honeywell Sports Ground) and The Astrea Dearne Academy are not subject to the PFI contract which obligates the provider to resurface the pitches at the other education sites. Consequently, the others are not identified as priority projects and the expectation is the pitches shall be resurfaced when required as stipulated within the agreement, without funding from the Football Foundation.

Just three of the available 11v11 3G FTPs are on the FA 3G Pitch Register (meaning they are quality checked and can be used for football match play). It is strongly recommended that the remaining eight are assessed and placed on the Register to enable more match play on 3G.

Sheffield & Hallamshire FA aspires to relocate from its current business park offices at Meadowhall (Sheffield) and is currently exploring options to move to a football led site. The vision is for a location which has onsite football facilities, including direct access to at least one 3G pitch identified as a fundamental requirement, as well as supporting ancillary provisions including an office building within which the County FA’s regular business operation would be based. Sheffield & Hallamshire FA is seeking to become a facility operator at a new site and has aspirations to explore how it can play a greater role as a partner across a range of secondary sites spanning the four main local authorities within its region. It is keen to open discussions with local authorities and/or other partners regarding the prospect of taking a greater lead in the operation of facilities.

Consultation with the RFL identified potential demand for rugby league compliancy of a future 3G FTP which may be within accessible distance of Dodworth Miners Welfare ARLFC, where the rugby league pitches (some dually used for football) are played to capacity and both sports are growing in number of teams. The PPOSS also identifies existing rugby league use of the 3G FTP at The Astrea Dearne Academy by Dearne Valley Bulldogs ARLFC, despite not being compliant for contact rugby practice. The pitch is in need of resurfacing and is identified as a potential priority project, so may hold opportunity for dual compliancy subject to levels of possible use.

12 Existing 11v11 3G FTPs
3 New 3G FTPs required
2 Replacement 3G FTPs required

The FA has seen unprecedented growth in football over the last five years, particularly in the youth and women & girls game. Overall participation is estimated to grow year on year, equating to an additional 196 teams by 2030, of which 93 teams will come from women and girls. This could represent the equivalent of at least five additional 11v11 3G FTPs, displayed as a future participation growth project below.

Allowances will be made for in the LFFP for ancillary provision for each pitch if needed, however this is subject to the final agreed location of any additional future provision and an assessment as to whether there are existing suitable facilities available. This is displayed as a future participation growth project below.

196 Potential growth teams - all
93 Potential growth teams - female
5 Potential growth 3G FTPs

Priority projects

The following priority projects for potential investment are identified:

1

Penistone Area - 3G FTP Project

Location

Location details: S36 9DF

Facilities
  • New 11v11 Floodlit 3G FTP (1)
Owner

Not known

Deliverability score

Very High (4/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.3/4

Overall score

88% (10.6/12)

Notes

The Penistone Analysis Area has a shortfall of one 3G pitch in the PPS. As such there is agreement for the need to develop an 11v11 3G pitch in the Penistone area. A location for the pitch is yet to be determined. Penistone Church FC *** is a potential partner Club and fields 33 teams in 2024/25, has a women's and girls section and is a three star England accredited club. The other potential partner club is Oxspring United FC* who field 12 teams.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; BAME; Disability; IMD / lower social economic groups; Mini-soccer; Pro-club; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

2

Barnsley Football Hub - 3G FTP Project

Location

Location details:

Facilities
  • New 11v11 Floodlit 3G FTP (2)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Very High (4/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.8/4

Overall score

96% (11.6/12)

Notes

The PPOSS identifies a shortfall of two 11v11 3G FTPs in the Central Analysis Area. The pitch at Trinity Academy St Edwards has since been developed but offers limited access for community clubs. There remains a need for additional 3G FTP provision to meet the shortfall for the Central Area.

The Council aspires to develop a multi 3G pitch football hub to meet the Central Area shortfall, but also to help provide for growth in other areas of the authority. It has already adopted this approach through the incremental development of Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre to be a double 3G FTP hub site. A potential hub site location may or may not be situated within the Central Analysis Area dependant on site feasibility and opportunity but should be reasonably accessible to meet demand from clubs from within it.

Potential partner clubs from the Central Analysis Area could include Hoyland Common Falcons JFC which fields 12 teams including junior girls teams.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; BAME; Disability; IMD / lower social economic groups; Mini-soccer; Pro-club; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

5

3G FTP's - FUTURE PARTICIPATION GROWTH

Location

Location details: To be determined.

Facilities
  • New 11v11 Floodlit 3G FTP (5)
  • New Changing Pavilion (5)
Owner

Not known

Deliverability score

Very High (4/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.3/4

Overall score

88% (10.6/12)

Notes

The FA has seen unprecedented growth in football over the last five years, particularly in the youth and women & girls game. Overall participation is estimated to grow year on year, equating to an additional 196 teams by 2030, of which 93 teams will come from women and girls. This could represent the equivalent of at least five additional 11v11 3G FTPs. Displayed as future participation growth project below.

Allowances will be made for in the LFFP for ancillary provision for each pitch if needed, however this is subject to the final agreed location of any additional future provision and an assessment as to whether there are existing suitable facilities available.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; BAME; Disability; IMD / lower social economic groups; Mini-soccer; Pro-club; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

3

Barnsley College (Honeywell Sports Ground)

Location

BARNSLEY COLLEGE (HONEYWELL SPORTS VILLAGE) HONEYWELL LANE, BARNSLEY, None, S75 1DB

Facilities
  • Refurbish existing 11v11 3G FTP (1)
Owner

Education

Deliverability score

Very High (4/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.3/4

Overall score

88% (10.6/12)

Notes

The existing 3G pitch provided at Barnsley College (Honeywell Sports Ground) shall require a replacement surface throughout the lifespan of this LFFP. The site was not initially funded by the Football Foundation when delivered. There is the need to resurface the pitch to ensure it can continue to support the 3G training need across the Authority.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; BAME; Disability; IMD / lower social economic groups; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

4

The Astrea Dearne Academy

Location

THE ASTREA DEARNE ACADEMY GOLDTHORPE ROAD, ROTHERHAM, None, S63 9EW

Facilities
  • Refurbish existing 11v11 3G FTP (1)
Owner

Education

Deliverability score

Very High (4/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.3/4

Overall score

88% (10.6/12)

Notes

The existing 3G pitch provided at The Astrea Dearne Academy shall require a replacement surface throughout the lifespan of this LFFP. The site was not initially funded by the Football Foundation when delivered. There is the need to resurface the pitch to ensure it can continue to support the 3G training need across the Authority.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; BAME; Disability; IMD / lower social economic groups; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

A project's overall score provides an indication of its potential outcomes and deliverability only (weighted twice as much towards the outcomes score). It does not impact the likelihood or level of any potential investment.

PRIORITY PROJECTS FOR 3G FTPS

Pitchfinder

Improved grass pitches

05

The Football Foundation is on a mission to transform the quality of grass football pitches across England, because great facilities enhance physical and mental wellbeing, strengthen communities and empower people. The Barnsley Borough Council PPOSS acts as the primary evidence base to identify playing pitches that should benefit from being improved.

The quality of football pitches is a huge issue for community football; 150,000 matches are postponed each year due to poor pitches. We are therefore on a mission to have 20,000 quality grass pitches across England so that everyone has a great place to play. Since the programme began there are over 7000 quality pitches and the next milestone is to have 12,000 quality pitches by 2028.

The key challenge is to create a sustainable approach to provide good quality football pitches for the long term. While the education sector and local authorities are still the principal asset owners of grass pitches, clubs and leagues own or maintain an increasing share and we will continue to prioritise investment into sites that are maintained by clubs or leagues. Investment into new or additional machinery and equipment is an important step towards sustainability for the voluntary sector. Ensuring eligible organisations can maintain their own sites, supplemented by contracted out major works (e.g. aeration) is a more cost-effective approach in the long term.

See the link for more information on grass pitches Football Foundation | Grass Pitch Improvement

2019 grass pitch 1
2019 grass pitch 2

Opportunities

Below is a list of opportunities and funding available to support this ambitious work:

PitchPower: PitchPower is the Football Foundation's free web app for inspecting grass football, rugby and cricket pitches. Using a smart phone or tablet, a pitch inspection can be completed at the touch of a button. This provides a detailed assessment report with recommendations on improving the quality of grass pitches. The PitchPower app is available to all pitch operators as a way to assess grass pitch quality and gain access to grass pitch improvement recommendations. See Football Foundation | PitchPower

The Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund: The fund provides eligible organisations with a tapered six-year grant to help them sustain pitches already at a 'good' level and enhance pitches that are either considered 'poor' or 'basic'. to be eligible, organisations such as clubs and leagues must use the PitchPower web app to assess their pitches. Grants are also available towards maintenance machinery and equipment identified through a PitchPower report. Football Foundation | Grass Pitch

Home Advantage: 87% of grassroots football is played on grass with local authority-owned pitches making up 60% of those used for the affiliated game. However, budget pressures often mean local authorities lack the resources to maintain their grass pitches to a high standard, contributing towards the thousands of match postponements every season due to poor quality pitches.

The Home Advantage Programme aims to support grassroots clubs and organisations to take on long-term leases of the local authority sites they play at. Click the link to find out more Home Advantage Programme | Football Foundation

The Football Foundation Groundskeeping Community: a free platform that helps connect people to expert grass pitch knowledge and support. The main objectives are:

  • To provide accessible learning resources to help further and extend knowledge
  • To connect with leading industry experts and peers, to exchange tips & insights with fellow volunteers & professionals across the country
  • To collaborate and build a community through case studies and discussion points

Sign up - Football Foundation (hivelearning.com)

Small grants: Grants up to £25k are available for items such as fencing and storage containers: Fencing | Football Foundation Storage containers | Football Foundation

Grass pitch sites with three or more 11v11 pitch equivalents

Pitchfinder

Off pitch and ancillary facilities

06

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. The process of community engagement once a project has been identified means the facility will properly service the local area and it's people, not just for football but potentially for other sports as well. It is essential to speak to female players as part of this process, as the game continues to grow at significant rates, suitable off pitch and ancillary provision for females is essential. It also means, creating environments that are welcoming to players, spectators, volunteers and officials from all sections of the community. See Football Foundation website for design considerations: Changing Pavilion Design Key Considerations | Football Foundation

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 11v11 pitch equivalents. However, as pitch quality is the number one priority for players this is prioritised before investment in changing room pavilions and 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. Where larger scale investment, such as those identified in this section, is not appropriate, small grants are also available to support upgrades and improvements to changing rooms, toilets and clubhouses. See Changing pavilions and clubhouses | Football Foundation

2019 clubhouse 1
Changing room 2.png

Assets and opportunities

Of the key grass pitch sites that support and deliver grassroots football, as referenced in the Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sport Strategy and/or through the steering group, three sites require improvement/refurbishment and no new builds. Projects are included in this section where it is expected that new or refurbished facilities will contribute to strong sport and community outcomes, such as:

  • Large multipitch sites (often three or more pitches) with significant football usage and poor off pitch facilities;
  • A priority site for women and girls;
  • Club and community sites;
  • Sites with new 3G pitches.

Multi-sport opportunities for rugby league are identified and outlined in the project list below.

3 Require improvement / refurbishment
0 Require new builds / replacement

The FA has seen unprecedented growth in football over the last five years, particularly in the youth and women & girls game. Overall participation is estimated to grow year on year, equating to an additional 196 teams by 2030, of which 93 teams will come from women and girls. This could represent the equivalent of at least five additional 11v11 3G FTPs. Displayed as future participation growth project below.

Allowances will be made for in the LFFP for ancillary provision for each pitch if needed, however this is subject to the final agreed location of any additional future provision and an assessment as to whether there are existing suitable facilities available.

Priority projects

The list below identifies priority projects for potential investment.

6

Elmhirst Playing Fields

Location

ELMHIRST PLAYING FIELDS ARDSLEY ROAD, WORSBROUGH, BARNSLEY, , S70 4RG

Facilities
  • Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)
Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

Very High (4/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.3/4

Overall score

88% (10.6/12)

Notes

Site is identified in the PPS as having a poor quality ancillary provision accessed by Hoyland Common Falcons FC. The Club currently accesses basic containers at the site and the ancillary provision at Farm Road Playing Fields. The Club fields 12 teams in the 2024/25 season including dedicated girls teams.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; BAME; Disability; IMD / lower social economic groups; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

7

Dodworth Miners Welfare Sports and Social Club

Location

DODWORTH MINERS WELFARE SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB 45A HIGH STREET, DODWORTH, BARNSLEY, , S75 3RF

Facilities
  • Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)
Owner

Other

Deliverability score

Very High (4/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.3/4

Overall score

88% (10.6/12)

Notes

Site is identified in the PPOSS as having poor quality ancillary provision to support the seven football pitches onsite, most of which are rated by PitchPower as basic quality.

The Club aspires to enhance the clubhouse, add a storage container and improve the parking. Dodworth Miners Welfare FC has 19 teams, including junior girls teams.

The site is also accessed by Dodworth Miners ARLFC which fields nine teams from senior to mini rugby league. One pitch is dually used for both football and rugby league. The RFL confirms that it supports the proposed enhancement and that demand within the Club has increased in the last two years and that is has female members.

Improvement of ancillary provision is required given potential to deliver key outcomes for multi-sport and the development of junior football, particularly female participation.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; BAME; Disability; IMD / lower social economic groups; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

8

Wood View Lane

Location

WOODVIEW PLAYING FIELD WOODVIEW LANE, BARNSLEY, , S75 1HF

Facilities
  • Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)
Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

Very High (4/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.3/4

Overall score

88% (10.6/12)

Notes

Site has poor quality ancillary provision and is accessed by AFC Pogmoor *** which has a long term lease for the site. The Club fields 23 teams including eight women's and girl's teams. The site received investment in 2018 to bring the clubhouse into a usable condition, however, further investment is now needed to refurbish the changing rooms and social room.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; BAME; Disability; IMD / lower social economic groups; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

5

3G FTP's - FUTURE PARTICIPATION GROWTH

Location

Location details: To be determined.

Facilities
  • New 11v11 Floodlit 3G FTP (5)
  • New Changing Pavilion (5)
Owner

Not known

Deliverability score

Very High (4/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.3/4

Overall score

88% (10.6/12)

Notes

The FA has seen unprecedented growth in football over the last five years, particularly in the youth and women & girls game. Overall participation is estimated to grow year on year, equating to an additional 196 teams by 2030, of which 93 teams will come from women and girls. This could represent the equivalent of at least five additional 11v11 3G FTPs. Displayed as future participation growth project below.

Allowances will be made for in the LFFP for ancillary provision for each pitch if needed, however this is subject to the final agreed location of any additional future provision and an assessment as to whether there are existing suitable facilities available.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; BAME; Disability; IMD / lower social economic groups; Mini-soccer; Pro-club; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

A project's overall score provides an indication of its potential outcomes and deliverability only (weighted twice as much towards the outcomes score). It does not impact the likelihood or level of any potential investment.

PRIORITY PROJECTS FOR OFF PITCH AND ANCILLARY FACILITIES

Pitchfinder

PlayZones

07

Good facilities are important to all small sided football players, but it is important to understand the different formats of the small-sided game, the audiences and the various facility types they relate to. Research suggests that small-sided players in teams and leagues, and in organised 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.

Whilst our priorities will always be football led, we believe small sided facilities provide a good opportunity to collaborate with other sports to deliver high quality spaces for people to play recreational sport. This will be achieved via our PlayZones Programme:

Football Foundation PlayZones Programme

PlayZones are modern, safe and engaging facilities that are designed for recreational football and at least one other sport. There are a range of facility types to meet the needs of different sports. Our research shows us that community engagement is the key to developing great small sided facilities and that we shouldn't try and identify sites without first identifying two key things:

  • Key priority places within the local authority
  • Key priority groups within the local authority

Through this programme we want to address stubborn inequalities in activity levels and access to sports facilities within four priority groups:

  • Lower socio-economic groups
  • Women and girls
  • Disabled people and people with long-term health conditions
  • Ethnically diverse communities

When it comes to small sided facilities one size does not fit all and localised design and ownership will yield the greatest engagement from under represented groups. Activation is also as important as the facility itself for these groups. Suitable places will be identified through a combination of mapping, to include identification of our priority groups and crossover with other multi-sport priorities. Further community engagement will be required for design and delivery. All projects will then need to be developed by a cross sector consortium where partners who understand and represent the people and the place come together to drive the project forward and create access and opportunities for priority groups.

More about the programme can be found on The Football Foundation website here: Football Foundation PlayZones Programme | Football Foundation

2019 small sided 4
Small sided 4.png

Appendix A: Priority project list

08

2

Barnsley Football Hub - 3G FTP Project

Location

Location details:

Facilities
  • New 11v11 Floodlit 3G FTP (2)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Very High (4/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.8/4

Overall score

96% (11.6/12)

Notes

The PPOSS identifies a shortfall of two 11v11 3G FTPs in the Central Analysis Area. The pitch at Trinity Academy St Edwards has since been developed but offers limited access for community clubs. There remains a need for additional 3G FTP provision to meet the shortfall for the Central Area.

The Council aspires to develop a multi 3G pitch football hub to meet the Central Area shortfall, but also to help provide for growth in other areas of the authority. It has already adopted this approach through the incremental development of Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre to be a double 3G FTP hub site. A potential hub site location may or may not be situated within the Central Analysis Area dependant on site feasibility and opportunity but should be reasonably accessible to meet demand from clubs from within it.

Potential partner clubs from the Central Analysis Area could include Hoyland Common Falcons JFC which fields 12 teams including junior girls teams.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; BAME; Disability; IMD / lower social economic groups; Mini-soccer; Pro-club; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

1

Penistone Area - 3G FTP Project

Location

Location details: S36 9DF

Facilities
  • New 11v11 Floodlit 3G FTP (1)
Owner

Not known

Deliverability score

Very High (4/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.3/4

Overall score

88% (10.6/12)

Notes

The Penistone Analysis Area has a shortfall of one 3G pitch in the PPS. As such there is agreement for the need to develop an 11v11 3G pitch in the Penistone area. A location for the pitch is yet to be determined. Penistone Church FC *** is a potential partner Club and fields 33 teams in 2024/25, has a women's and girls section and is a three star England accredited club. The other potential partner club is Oxspring United FC* who field 12 teams.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; BAME; Disability; IMD / lower social economic groups; Mini-soccer; Pro-club; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

6

Elmhirst Playing Fields

Location

ELMHIRST PLAYING FIELDS ARDSLEY ROAD, WORSBROUGH, BARNSLEY, , S70 4RG

Facilities
  • Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)
Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

Very High (4/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.3/4

Overall score

88% (10.6/12)

Notes

Site is identified in the PPS as having a poor quality ancillary provision accessed by Hoyland Common Falcons FC. The Club currently accesses basic containers at the site and the ancillary provision at Farm Road Playing Fields. The Club fields 12 teams in the 2024/25 season including dedicated girls teams.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; BAME; Disability; IMD / lower social economic groups; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

7

Dodworth Miners Welfare Sports and Social Club

Location

DODWORTH MINERS WELFARE SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB 45A HIGH STREET, DODWORTH, BARNSLEY, , S75 3RF

Facilities
  • Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)
Owner

Other

Deliverability score

Very High (4/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.3/4

Overall score

88% (10.6/12)

Notes

Site is identified in the PPOSS as having poor quality ancillary provision to support the seven football pitches onsite, most of which are rated by PitchPower as basic quality.

The Club aspires to enhance the clubhouse, add a storage container and improve the parking. Dodworth Miners Welfare FC has 19 teams, including junior girls teams.

The site is also accessed by Dodworth Miners ARLFC which fields nine teams from senior to mini rugby league. One pitch is dually used for both football and rugby league. The RFL confirms that it supports the proposed enhancement and that demand within the Club has increased in the last two years and that is has female members.

Improvement of ancillary provision is required given potential to deliver key outcomes for multi-sport and the development of junior football, particularly female participation.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; BAME; Disability; IMD / lower social economic groups; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

8

Wood View Lane

Location

WOODVIEW PLAYING FIELD WOODVIEW LANE, BARNSLEY, , S75 1HF

Facilities
  • Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)
Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

Very High (4/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.3/4

Overall score

88% (10.6/12)

Notes

Site has poor quality ancillary provision and is accessed by AFC Pogmoor *** which has a long term lease for the site. The Club fields 23 teams including eight women's and girl's teams. The site received investment in 2018 to bring the clubhouse into a usable condition, however, further investment is now needed to refurbish the changing rooms and social room.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; BAME; Disability; IMD / lower social economic groups; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

5

3G FTP's - FUTURE PARTICIPATION GROWTH

Location

Location details: To be determined.

Facilities
  • New 11v11 Floodlit 3G FTP (5)
  • New Changing Pavilion (5)
Owner

Not known

Deliverability score

Very High (4/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.3/4

Overall score

88% (10.6/12)

Notes

The FA has seen unprecedented growth in football over the last five years, particularly in the youth and women & girls game. Overall participation is estimated to grow year on year, equating to an additional 196 teams by 2030, of which 93 teams will come from women and girls. This could represent the equivalent of at least five additional 11v11 3G FTPs. Displayed as future participation growth project below.

Allowances will be made for in the LFFP for ancillary provision for each pitch if needed, however this is subject to the final agreed location of any additional future provision and an assessment as to whether there are existing suitable facilities available.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; BAME; Disability; IMD / lower social economic groups; Mini-soccer; Pro-club; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

3

Barnsley College (Honeywell Sports Ground)

Location

BARNSLEY COLLEGE (HONEYWELL SPORTS VILLAGE) HONEYWELL LANE, BARNSLEY, None, S75 1DB

Facilities
  • Refurbish existing 11v11 3G FTP (1)
Owner

Education

Deliverability score

Very High (4/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.3/4

Overall score

88% (10.6/12)

Notes

The existing 3G pitch provided at Barnsley College (Honeywell Sports Ground) shall require a replacement surface throughout the lifespan of this LFFP. The site was not initially funded by the Football Foundation when delivered. There is the need to resurface the pitch to ensure it can continue to support the 3G training need across the Authority.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; BAME; Disability; IMD / lower social economic groups; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

4

The Astrea Dearne Academy

Location

THE ASTREA DEARNE ACADEMY GOLDTHORPE ROAD, ROTHERHAM, None, S63 9EW

Facilities
  • Refurbish existing 11v11 3G FTP (1)
Owner

Education

Deliverability score

Very High (4/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.3/4

Overall score

88% (10.6/12)

Notes

The existing 3G pitch provided at The Astrea Dearne Academy shall require a replacement surface throughout the lifespan of this LFFP. The site was not initially funded by the Football Foundation when delivered. There is the need to resurface the pitch to ensure it can continue to support the 3G training need across the Authority.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; BAME; Disability; IMD / lower social economic groups; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

A project's overall score provides an indication of its potential outcomes and deliverability only (weighted twice as much towards the outcomes score). It does not impact the likelihood or level of any potential investment.

Appendix B: Consultation list

09

The LFFP was informed by the 2023 Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sport Strategy in which all clubs within the Authority were invited to consult with to inform the study. A range of local agencies were invited to participate in the LFFP consultation, Those that contributed are listed below:

  • Senior Public Health Officer - Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
  • Sport and Physical Activity Officer - Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
  • Head of Football Development & Facilities - Sheffield County FA
  • Facilities Planning Manager - Football Foundation
  • Delivery Manager - Football Foundation
  • Planning Manager - Sport England
  • Barnsley FC Community Trust
  • Yorkshire Sport Foundation
  • Facilities Development Manager (North) – Rugby Football Union
  • Facilities Planning Manager (Recreational Game) - England & Wales Cricket Board
  • Head of Region (South Yorkshire) - Yorkshire Cricket Board
  • Facilities Development Manager - England Hockey
  • Facilities and Planning Manager - England Athletics
  • National Clubs Manager - Rugby Football League
  • Facilities Manager - Rugby Football League

Share the full Barnsley plan