Local Football Facility Plan Blaby

Full report

Introduction
Blaby
Assets and Opportunities
3G Football Turf Pitches (FTPs)
Improved grass pitches
Changing room pavilions / clubhouses
Small Sided Facilities
Appendix A: Priority project list
Appendix B: Consultation list

Introduction

This is the Local Football Facility Plan (LFFP) for Blaby District Council. It was prepared by Knight, Kavanagh and Page (KKP) with support from local partners, including:

Blaby District Council
Leicestershire and Rutland County Football Association
Football Foundation
Leicester-Shire and Rutland Sport
Sport England

What is the goal?

Every local area in the Country will have a LFFP to enable investment in football facilities to be accurately targeted.

Who is behind this?

The Football Association, the Premier League and Sport England (on behalf of Government). This partnership finances the National Football Facility Strategy (NFFS) and commissions the Football Foundation to deliver it.

What is the purpose of this plan?

The national 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 Blaby.

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 out to everyone.

How are we going to do it?

£1.3billion has been spent by football and Government since 2000 to enhance existing football facilities and build new ones. However, more is needed if football and Government’s shared objectives for participation, individual well-being and community cohesion are to be achieved.

Nationally, direct investment will be increased – initially to £69 million per annum from football and Government (a 15% increase on recent years). Locally, the work has already started* - this LFFP will guide the allocation of 90% of national funds and forge stronger partnerships with local stakeholders to develop key sites. This, together with local match-funding will deliver over one billion pounds of investment into football facilities over the next 10-years.

What are the priorities for investment?

This LFFP, with guidance from local partners, has developed a list of high level projects for potential investment. Each is aligned to the investment priorities set out in the National Football Facilities Strategy, 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.
Small-sided facilities: to grow the small-sided game for teams & leagues, recreational and informal play.

What outcomes will be achieved?

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. Each has been scored against two principal factors: deliverability and the five key outcomes (as stated above).

The list will be used flexibly; project ‘rating’ 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.

How should this plan be used?

This LFFP will, in effect, be the go-to document for football facility investment in Blaby.

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 outcomes, become a quality & sustainable facility and demonstrate suitable match-funding.

When each 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 Leicestershire and Rutland County Football Association and the Football Foundation.

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.

Blaby

Local area

Blaby is in the East Midlands region.

The current population of the Authority (ONS 2017 Mid-Year Estimate) is 98,977. This is expected to rise to 111,631 by 2039.

Blaby is ranked 36 out of 40 (least deprived) LAs in the region and 288 out of 326 (least deprived) LAs nationally on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (ONS).

Blaby's ethnic composition is primarily white (90.9%). This is higher than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of Blaby's population represented by the BAME community is 9.1%. This is below the national average (14.6%).

Demographics

98,977 Current population (2017)
111,631 Projected population (2039)

36th most deprived out of 40 local authorities in the region
288th most deprived out of 326 local authorities in England

Ethnicity data

Asian (6.09%)
Black (0.96%)
Mixed (1.6%)
Other (0.36%)
White (90.99%)

25%

27%

26%

% of people that are inactive

Blaby
Region
England

*ONS data and Sport England Active Lives Survey 2016/17

Local partners

Local Authority

The Blaby District Council Corporate Plan (2018 - 2021) sets out the Council's vision, ambitions and objectives over a three year time span. One of the key stated objectives is to ensure that its people live healthy lives within vibrant communities that they are happy to live in, work and visit. This is to be achieved by investing in high quality leisure and recreational facilities, supported by work with key partners including parish councils.

The Authority undertook a PPS audit as part of its Open Space Strategy. As part of the Strategy, all football grass pitch sites were audited. This noted that the majority of grass pitch sites are either poor or standard quality.

County Football Association

Blaby is covered by the Leicestershire and Rutland 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 Community Club Organisations (CCOs)

These offer a variety of programmes and services to support local communities (sporting and non-sporting). There is no active CCO in Blaby, however Leicester City Community Trust operate infrequently in the area.

Local Leisure Operator

Local Authority leisure facilities in Blaby, including the Pavilion Leisure Centre in Huncote and Enderby Leisure Centre are managed through Everyone Active. The Pavilion has two small sided cages, which are available for both evening and daytime use. There is currently no football provision at Enderby Leisure Centre, although discussions are underway to develop a small sided offer at this site.

Local consultation

This has taken place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in Blaby. 16 individuals (representing 14 local organisations) were spoken to. The agencies consulted include:

Blaby District Council
Leicestershire Schools Sports Partnership
A number of Parish Councils
A range of football clubs

(See Appendix B for full list of consultees)

Local football

Clubs

There are over 91,000 community football teams in England, spread over an expansive network of clubs and leagues. Blaby has a total of 306 teams.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 Blaby, 11 clubs have more than 10 registered teams. The largest of these (based upon 2018-19 affiliation data) are:

Glenfield United, 24 teams
Kirby Muxloe 88 Juniors, 23 teams
Whetstone Juniors, 22 teams
Saffron Dynamo, 19 teams
Blaby and Whetstone Boys, 19 teams

Affiliated Teams

82 Adult male teams
6 Adult female teams
56 Youth male teams
16 Youth female teams
31 Disability teams
86 Mini-soccer teams

The FA Whole Game System- season 2018/19. Total number of teams may include additional affiliated teams to those listed above, e.g. futsal teams.

Leagues

18 leagues operate in Leicestershire and Rutland . They offer competitive opportunity for many different players, including women and girls, disability, youth and adults . Male, female and youth futsal leagues also run in Leicestershire and Rutland. The largest adult local leagues (2018-19) in the County include:

The Alliance Football League – 74 teams– home and away
Leicester and Charnwood Sunday Football League – 43 teams– home and away
Leicestershire Senior League – 40 teams– home and away
Leicester City Football League- veterans – 40 teams– home and away
North Leicestershire Football League – 37 teams– home and away
Leicester and District Football League – 33 teams– home and away
Hinckley and District Sunday Football League - 21 teams– home and away
Leicestershire Senior County Women’s Football League - 11 teams– home and away

Leicestershire and Rutland's largest youth local leagues (2018-19) include:

Leicester and District Mutual Football League, U7-U10 – 452 teams– home and away
Leicester and District Sunday Junior U13-U15– 218 teams– home and away
Leicestershire Foxes Sunday League U11-U12 – 201 teams– home and away
Leicester City County Girls League U8-U18 – 142 teams– home and away
MDH Teamwear Leicestershire Youth League U16 – U18 – 89 teams– home and away
Leicestershire Midweek Floodlit Youth League U18 – 20 teams– 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.

In Blaby there are ten football teams specifically for people with a disability. It is a priority of the County FA to sustain/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. Leicestershire and Rutland operates a number of Wildcats girls sessions and the priority is to grow this activity to 15 successful and sustainable centres across the county by 2021.

There are 24 female teams in Blaby, which 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 Leicester City County Girls U8-U18 League in which matches are played on a home and away basis. It is expected to grow its provision in future years particularly at mini soccer age groups. The local adult female league is the Leicestershire Senior County Women’s Football League. It too plays matches on a home and away basis and is expected to grow provision in future years.

For talented players, the nearest FA Regional Talent Club (RTC) is Leicester City Women’s FC which is located in Leicester City . Higher level talent pathway opportunities are also provided regionally and nationally by the FA, culminating in the England Women’s national squads. The nearest Women’s Super League team is Leicester City Women’s 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:

Champions Soccer at St Margaret's Pastures
Power Play at Brockington College
Football Mundial at Harborough Town.

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 that futsal is available across the country.There are currently 106 futsal teams in Leicestershire and Rutland that play in the Leicestershire Futsal Fives Female and Male Leagues and the Leicestershire and Rutland Youth Futsal League at key site locations including Crown Hills Community College, Judgemeadow Community College, Babington Academy and Brockington College. It is a priority for the County FA to grow both affiliated and recreational futsal.

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 12 FA Just Play centres in Leicestershire and Rutland and the County FA is working towards having 15 in place by 2021. 16 walking football sessions are delivered at/by a range of community organisation including leisure centres, community centres and clubs. The County FA has prioritised walking football and Just Play for further growth. Other local recreational football programmes are primarily delivered through Leicester City Community Trust projects.

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

Currently, informal football in Blaby is played at a number of parks sites including Cosby Recreational Ground.

Summary

The key strengths of local football in Leicestershire and Rutland include the vibrant club structure and proven track record of investment into charter standard clubs. It is recommended that the following future football development priorities for Leicestershire and Rutland are:

1.Increasing access and provision of 3G Football Turf Pitches (FTP's) for training and match play.

2.Improving changing room facilities for adult football.

3.Improving or enhancing facilities to support women and girls football.

4.Proving appropriate facilities to support participants within BAME communities.

5.Working with clubs and partners to provide access to appropriate high quality facilities.

6.Developing or enabling access to suitable facilities countywide to support the development of futsal.

7.Providing opportunities to support informal provision and recreational play.

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

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.

Assets and Opportunities

This section reviews existing football facility assets in (add local area). 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 FTPs
Improved grass pitches
Changing room pavilions / clubhouses
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 Football Turf Pitches (FTPs)

Improved grass pitches

Changing room pavilions/clubhouses

Small Sided Facilities

3G Football Turf Pitches (FTPs)

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.

Assets and Opportunities

There is one existing full-sized (11 v 11) 3G FTP in Blaby at Brockington College which was funded by the Football Foundation in 2008. In addition, there are currently four small-sided 3G FTP centres:

Blaby and Whetstone Youth Club (one 5v5 pitch, funded by the Football Foundation)
Holmes Park (one 5v5 pitch, funded by the Football Foundation)
Pavilion Leisure Centre (two 5v5 cages)
Saffron Dynamo Football Club (one 7v7 pitch, funded by the Football Foundation)

There is a full size 3G pitch at Leicester Forest East Rugby Club that is on the FA 3G Pitch Register, however, it is marked out for rugby union and not football. The pitch can accommodate some training demand and junior match play, however it is not widely accepted as regularly community available for football, and is therefore not included in the supply for this piece of work.

There is no current PPS and, therefore, demand has been calculated using the FA training ratio model 1:38. On the basis that there are 306 teams in Blaby, there is a requirement for eight full sized 3G FTPs. There is, thus, a shortfall of seven full sized 3G FTPs.

Due to the fact that several smaller sided pitches are available, it has been agreed that the number of full sized 3G FTPs required in Blaby in respect of this LFFP phase should be set at six.

All 3G FTPs (including small sided) are available for community use. In addition, Brockington College is on the FA Register for 3G FTPs (meaning that it has been quality checked and can be used for football match play).

The only full size pitch is located in the centre of the Authority and there are provision gaps in both the north and the south with considerable centres of population; and it is recommended that these are addressed.

Local consultation reveals limited availability and linked, substantial travel to access 3G pitches as issues that need to be addressed.

Priority projects

Six priority projects for potential investment are identified. These comprise of five new full size FTPs (one of which is a potential double 3G pitch project at Lubbesthorpe) and two small sided projects, including three new 5v5 pitches at Enderby Leisure Centre and one new 7v7 pitch at The Winstanley School.

Location

COUNTESTHORPE COMMUNITY COLLEGE WINCHESTER ROAD, COUNTESTHORPE, LEICESTER, Leicestershire, LE8 5PR

Facilities

New 11v11 Floodlit 3G FTP (1)
Natural grass pitch improvements (3)
New Changing Pavilion (1)

NFFS outcome score

3.1/4

Overall score

84% (10.1/12)

Notes

Current facilities: 2 x full size grass pitch equivalents, small sided sand based AGP and changing provision.

Current users: Kirby Muxloe FC

Rationale: The Club has just submitted a planning application for a stadia 3G pitch at the site, which will accommodate the growing demands of the Club's junior and senior teams and serve as a community asset in the north of the Authority. The Club also has aspirations to develop new a changing facility.

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.

Improved grass pitches

There are currently 15 grass pitch sites in Blaby with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three pitches but deemed to be of strategic importance). These contain 55 grass pitches. Of these, the pitches at six are considered to be of good quality, nine sites are either of standard or poor quality.

Nine sites are prioritised for improvements. This will improve the quality of 33 pitches.

Local consultation highlights the issue of with poor quality pitches which needs to be addressed.

Priority projects

Nine priority projects for potential investment are identified. Pitch quality rating was evidenced in the Open Space Strategy and further ratified by local partners during LFFP consultation. Prioritisation was informed by a rationale based on selection of sites in the poorest condition that are, or have the potential to be well utilised and reflect the strategic focus on improving football participation.

Location

COUNTESTHORPE COMMUNITY COLLEGE WINCHESTER ROAD, COUNTESTHORPE, LEICESTER, Leicestershire, LE8 5PR

Facilities

New 11v11 Floodlit 3G FTP (1)
Natural grass pitch improvements (3)
New Changing Pavilion (1)

Owner

Education

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.1/4

Overall score

68% (8.1/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Disability; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

Location

COSBY RECREATION GROUND PARK ROAD, COSBY, LEICESTER, Leicestershire, LE9 1RN

Facilities

Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Natural grass pitch maintenance (5)
Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)

Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.4/4

Overall score

57% (6.9/12)

Notes

Current facilities: 5 x full size grass pitch equivalents, and changing provision

Current users: Croft Juniors

Rationale: Standard rated pitches- investment required. Poor quality changing- seeking funding from the Foundation. A recreational facility will also support the investment made in the changing/grass, providing a range of options for football.

Project Focus

Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Youth female; Youth male

Changing room pavilions / clubhouses

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.

Assets and opportunities

Of the 15 key grass pitch sites in Blaby with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three but of strategic importance), three sites have suitable changing rooms, seven require improvement/replacement and five will require a new changing pavilion.

Priority projects

Twelve priority projects for potential investment are identified. Prioritisation was informed by local partners based upon a rationale of selecting sites deemed to have a pavilion which needs to be replaced or refurbished, or those requiring new provision to support participation or other facility development:

Location

COUNTESTHORPE COMMUNITY COLLEGE WINCHESTER ROAD, COUNTESTHORPE, LEICESTER, Leicestershire, LE8 5PR

Facilities

New 11v11 Floodlit 3G FTP (1)
Natural grass pitch improvements (3)
New Changing Pavilion (1)

Owner

Education

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.1/4

Overall score

68% (8.1/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Disability; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

Location

KIRBY MUXLOE SPORTS CLUB SPORTS CLUB RATBY LANE, CONTINUATION, KIRBY MUXLOE, Leicestershire, LE9 2AQ

Facilities

New Changing Pavilion (1)
New 11v11 Floodlit 3G FTP (1)

Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

Very High (4/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.1/4

Overall score

84% (10.1/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Location

COSBY RECREATION GROUND PARK ROAD, COSBY, LEICESTER, Leicestershire, LE9 1RN

Facilities

Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Natural grass pitch maintenance (5)
Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)

Owner

Other

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.5/4

Overall score

59% (7.0/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

Location

DOROTHY AVENUE PLAYING FIELD Dorothy Avenue, Glen Parva, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE2 9JD

Facilities

Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Natural grass pitch maintenance (2)
Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)

Owner

Other

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.3/4

Overall score

55% (6.6/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

Location

KIRBY MUXLOE RECREATION GROUND STATION ROAD, KIRBY MUXLOE, LEICESTER, Leicestershire, LE9 2EN

Facilities

Natural grass pitch improvements (3)
Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)

Owner

Other

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.0/4

Overall score

49% (5.9/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

Location

LUTTERWORTH ROAD UNIT 7, BEECHES FARM LUTTERWORTH ROAD, WHETSTONE, LEICESTER, Leicestershire, LE8 6NA

Facilities

Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)

NFFS outcome score

2.4/4

Overall score

48% (5.8/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Adult male; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Youth female; Youth male

Location

OAKFIELD PARK PLAYING FIELDS HOSPITAL LANE, BLABY, Leicestershire, LE8 4FE

Facilities

Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Natural grass pitch improvements (4)
Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)

Owner

Other

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.2/4

Overall score

54% (6.4/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Adult male; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Youth female; Youth male

Location

STONEY STANTON WAR MEMORIAL PLAYING FIELDS SPORTS PAVILION CAREY HILL ROAD, STONEY STANTON, Leicestershire, LE9 4LA

Facilities

Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)

Owner

Other

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

1.9/4

Overall score

48% (5.8/12)

Notes

Current facilities: 2 x full size grass pitch equivalents, and changing provision

Current users: FC The Star Inn First, SS Bulls Heads

Rationale: Standard rated pitches- investment required. Changing facility poor- upgrade required.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Youth female; Youth male

Location

THURLASTON FOOTBALL CLUB Earl Shilton Road, Thurlaston, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE9 7TG

Facilities

New Changing Pavilion (1)
Natural grass pitch improvements (3)

Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.6/4

Overall score

61% (7.3/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

Location

WINSTON AVENUE SPORTS GROUND Sports Pavilion WINSTON AVENUE, CROFT, LEICESTER, Leicestershire, LE9 3GQ

Facilities

Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
New Changing Pavilion (1)
Natural grass pitch improvements (5)

Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.4/4

Overall score

57% (6.9/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Youth female; Youth male

Small Sided Facilities

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.

Priority projects

Indoor

Local consultation indicates that one new indoor facility could be developed to enhance small sided football. This is located at Brockington College. The site is currently popular for futsal in the school's sports hall, however, it is interested in a second (dedicated) indoor facility to enable the school to double its capacity to accommodate futsal/indoor football.

Multi Use Games Areas (MUGAs)

Eight potential opportunities for MUGAs are identified. In each case the rationale is based on the site being in an area with limited recreational provision which has high local demand for informal football.

Parks and open green spaces

Local consultation reveals that there is potential for one new small sided opportunity at Narborough Park.

Location

, LE19 4BD

Facilities

Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
New 11v11 Floodlit 3G FTP (2)

Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.2/4

Overall score

70% (8.4/12)

Notes

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

Location

BROCKINGTON COLLEGE Blaby Road, Enderby, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE19 4AQ

Facilities

New Indoor Football Facility (1)

Owner

Education

Deliverability score

Low (1/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.9/4

Overall score

56% (6.8/12)

Notes

Current facilities: 1 x full size 3G FTP, 3 x full size grass pitch equivalents, and changing provision

Current users: Football & Fitness Academy, Glenfield United Junior Foxes Futsal, Leicester Futsal Mens,
West End FC Futsal Fives

Rationale: The site's 3G pitch is a heavily used facility. The pitch carpet will need to be replaced over the next couple of years, as it is coming to the end of its shelf life. This will be replaced as part of the Football Foundation terms and conditions of award.

In addition, the College has aspirations to have a dedicated futsal centre on site, supporting the local community and clubs.The current sports hall is already heavily used as a regional futsal hub, allowing significant growth in the sport, however, it is also restricted as it has pressures from other sports and also serves the schools needs during exam periods. A dedicated futsal centre on land identified by the school would allow the school to pursue a more balanced programme at the current sports hall.

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

Location

COSBY RECREATION GROUND PARK ROAD, COSBY, LEICESTER, Leicestershire, LE9 1RN

Facilities

Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Natural grass pitch maintenance (5)
Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)

Owner

Other

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.5/4

Overall score

59% (7.0/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

Location

DOROTHY AVENUE PLAYING FIELD Dorothy Avenue, Glen Parva, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE2 9JD

Facilities

Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Natural grass pitch maintenance (2)
Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)

Owner

Other

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.3/4

Overall score

55% (6.6/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

Location

MOSSDALE MEADOWS KINGSWAY, LEICESTER, Leicestershire, LE3 2TW

Facilities

Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Natural grass pitch improvements (4)
Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)

Owner

Other

Deliverability score

Low (1/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.4/4

Overall score

48% (5.8/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Adult male; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Youth female; Youth male

Location

OAKFIELD PARK PLAYING FIELDS HOSPITAL LANE, BLABY, Leicestershire, LE8 4FE

Facilities

Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Natural grass pitch improvements (4)
Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)

Owner

Other

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.2/4

Overall score

54% (6.4/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Adult male; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Youth female; Youth male

Location

WINSTON AVENUE SPORTS GROUND Sports Pavilion WINSTON AVENUE, CROFT, LEICESTER, Leicestershire, LE9 3GQ

Facilities

Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
New Changing Pavilion (1)
Natural grass pitch improvements (5)

Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.4/4

Overall score

57% (6.9/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Youth female; Youth male

Location

THORPE ASTLEY COMMUNITY CENTRE LAKIN DRIVE, THORPE ASTLEY, BRAUNSTONE, LEICESTER, Leicestershire, LE3 3RU

Facilities

Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)

NFFS outcome score

1.7/4

Overall score

44% (5.3/12)

Notes

Current facilities: None

Current users: None

Rationale: Extension to existing facilities for young people with a focus on informal football

Project Focus

Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational

Appendix A: Priority project list

This list sets out all priority projects for potential investment. Each has been scored against two principal factors: deliverability and outcomes (quality, inclusivity, sustainability, engagement and usage).

The list will be used flexibly; project ‘rating’ 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.

Location

KIRBY MUXLOE SPORTS CLUB SPORTS CLUB RATBY LANE, CONTINUATION, KIRBY MUXLOE, Leicestershire, LE9 2AQ

Facilities

New Changing Pavilion (1)
New 11v11 Floodlit 3G FTP (1)

Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

Very High (4/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.1/4

Overall score

84% (10.1/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Location

HOLMES PARK DOG & GUN LANE, WHETSTONE, LEICESTER, Leicestershire, LE8 6FA

Facilities

New 11v11 Floodlit 3G FTP (1)

Owner

County FA

Deliverability score

High (3/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.4/4

Overall score

82% (9.9/12)

Notes

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

Location

MEADOWS SPORTS GROUND Leicester Road, Countesthorpe, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE8 5QW

Facilities

New Changing Pavilion (1)

Owner

Other

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.7/4

Overall score

78% (9.3/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Disability; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

Location

, LE19 4BD

Facilities

Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
New 11v11 Floodlit 3G FTP (2)

Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.2/4

Overall score

70% (8.4/12)

Notes

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

Location

COUNTESTHORPE COMMUNITY COLLEGE WINCHESTER ROAD, COUNTESTHORPE, LEICESTER, Leicestershire, LE8 5PR

Facilities

New 11v11 Floodlit 3G FTP (1)
Natural grass pitch improvements (3)
New Changing Pavilion (1)

Owner

Education

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.1/4

Overall score

68% (8.1/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Disability; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

Location

LUTTERWORTH ROAD UNIT 7, BEECHES FARM LUTTERWORTH ROAD, WHETSTONE, LEICESTER, Leicestershire, LE8 6NA

Facilities

Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)

Owner

Other

Deliverability score

High (3/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.2/4

Overall score

62% (7.4/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

Location

WINSTANLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE KINGSWAY NORTH, LEICESTER, Leicestershire, LE3 3BD

Facilities

New 7v7 Floodlit 3G FTP (1)

Owner

Education

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.7/4

Overall score

61% (7.3/12)

Notes

Project Focus

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

Location

THURLASTON FOOTBALL CLUB Earl Shilton Road, Thurlaston, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE9 7TG

Facilities

New Changing Pavilion (1)
Natural grass pitch improvements (3)

Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.6/4

Overall score

61% (7.3/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

Location

COSBY RECREATION GROUND PARK ROAD, COSBY, LEICESTER, Leicestershire, LE9 1RN

Facilities

Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Natural grass pitch maintenance (5)
Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)

Owner

Other

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.5/4

Overall score

59% (7.0/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

Location

GLENFIELD SPORTS GROUND GLENFIELD SPORTS GROUND GYNSILL LANE, GLENFIELD, Leicestershire, LE7 7AG

Facilities

Natural grass pitch improvements (4)

Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.4/4

Overall score

57% (6.9/12)

Notes

Current facilities: 4 x full size grass pitch equivalents, and changing provision

Current users: Glenfield Town FC, Glenfield United Junior

Rationale: Standard rated pitches- investment required.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

Location

WINSTON AVENUE SPORTS GROUND Sports Pavilion WINSTON AVENUE, CROFT, LEICESTER, Leicestershire, LE9 3GQ

Facilities

Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
New Changing Pavilion (1)
Natural grass pitch improvements (5)

Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.4/4

Overall score

57% (6.9/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Youth female; Youth male

Location

BROCKINGTON COLLEGE Blaby Road, Enderby, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE19 4AQ

Facilities

New Indoor Football Facility (1)

Owner

Education

Deliverability score

Low (1/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.9/4

Overall score

56% (6.8/12)

Notes

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

Location

DOROTHY AVENUE PLAYING FIELD Dorothy Avenue, Glen Parva, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE2 9JD

Facilities

Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Natural grass pitch maintenance (2)
Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)

Owner

Other

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.3/4

Overall score

55% (6.6/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

Location

OAKFIELD PARK PLAYING FIELDS HOSPITAL LANE, BLABY, Leicestershire, LE8 4FE

Facilities

Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Natural grass pitch improvements (4)
Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)

Owner

Other

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.2/4

Overall score

54% (6.4/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Adult male; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Youth female; Youth male

Location

KIRBY MUXLOE RECREATION GROUND STATION ROAD, KIRBY MUXLOE, LEICESTER, Leicestershire, LE9 2EN

Facilities

Natural grass pitch improvements (3)
Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)

Owner

Other

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.0/4

Overall score

49% (5.9/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

Location

ENDERBY LEISURE AND GOLF CENTRE MILL LANE, ENDERBY, LEICESTER, Leicestershire, LE19 4LX

Facilities

New 5v5 Floodlit 3G FTP (3)

Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

1.9/4

Overall score

49% (5.9/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Adult male; BAME; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

Location

MOSSDALE MEADOWS KINGSWAY, LEICESTER, Leicestershire, LE3 2TW

Facilities

Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Natural grass pitch improvements (4)
Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)

Owner

Other

Deliverability score

Low (1/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.4/4

Overall score

48% (5.8/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Adult male; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Youth female; Youth male

Location

STONEY STANTON WAR MEMORIAL PLAYING FIELDS SPORTS PAVILION CAREY HILL ROAD, STONEY STANTON, Leicestershire, LE9 4LA

Facilities

Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)

Owner

Other

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

1.9/4

Overall score

48% (5.8/12)

Notes

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Youth female; Youth male

Location

THORPE ASTLEY COMMUNITY CENTRE LAKIN DRIVE, THORPE ASTLEY, BRAUNSTONE, LEICESTER, Leicestershire, LE3 3RU

Facilities

Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)

NFFS outcome score

1.7/4

Overall score

44% (5.3/12)

Notes

Current facilities: None

Current users: None

Rationale: Extension to existing facilities for young people with a focus on informal football

Project Focus

Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational

Appendix B: Consultation list

A range of local agencies and larger (usually 10 plus team) local football clubs were invited to participate in the LFFP consultation. Those that contributed are listed below:

Leisure Manager- Blaby District Council
Planning Officer- Blaby District Council
Parks and Countryside Officer- Blaby District Council
Club Secretary: Blaby and Whetstone FC
Club Secretary: Cosby Juniors
Club Secretary: Oadby and Wigston FC
Club Secretary: Whetstone Juniors
Leicestershire School Sports Partnership
Facilities Manager: Brockington College
Parish Clerk: Enderby Parish Council
Parish Clerk: Blaby Parish Council
Parish Clerk: Forest East Parish Council
Parish Clerk: Kirby Muxloe Parish Council
Parish Clerk: Sapcote Parish Council
Parish Clerk: Thurlaston Parish Council
Parish Clerk: Huncote Parish Council

Local Football Facility Plan Blaby

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Contents

Introduction

What is the goal?

Who is behind this?

What is the purpose of this plan?

Why invest in football facilities?

How are we going to do it?

What are the priorities for investment?

What outcomes will be achieved?

How should this plan be used?

How should this plan NOT be used?

Blaby

Local area

Demographics

Ethnicity data

% of people that are inactive

Local partners

Local Authority

County Football Association

Football Foundation

Sport England

Professional Community Club Organisations (CCOs)

Local Leisure Operator

Local consultation

Local football

Clubs

Affiliated Teams

Leagues

Disability football

Women and Girls

Small Sided Football

Recreational Football

Summary

Assets and Opportunities

3G Football Turf Pitches (FTPs)

Improved grass pitches

Changing room pavilions/clubhouses

Small Sided Facilities

3G Football Turf Pitches (FTPs)

Assets and Opportunities

Priority projects

Location

Facilities

Owner

Deliverability score

NFFS outcome score

Overall score

Notes

Project Focus

Location

Facilities

Owner

Deliverability score

NFFS outcome score

Overall score

Notes

Project Focus

Location

Facilities

Owner

Deliverability score

NFFS outcome score

Overall score

Notes

Project Focus

Location

Facilities

Owner

Deliverability score

NFFS outcome score

Overall score

Notes

Project Focus

Location

Facilities

Owner

Deliverability score