Local Football Facility Plan Bracknell Forest

Bracknell Forest is in the South East Region.

The current population of the Authority (ONS 2017 Mid-Year Estimate) is 120,377. This is expected to rise to 133,033 by 2039.

Bracknell Forest is ranked 43 out of 67 LAs in the region, and 287 out of 326 LAs nationally on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (ONS).

Its ethnic composition is primarily white (90.59%). This is lower than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of Bracknell Forest’s population represented by the BAME community is 9.41%. This is below the national average (14.6%)

Local authority

The Bracknell Forest Council Core Strategy commits it to improving health and wellbeing as well as protecting and enhancing the environment. Inherent to this is that existing recreational facilities (including sports pitches) are to be retained, with the Council resisting the loss of existing provision (unless exceptions are met).

The Authority PPS was adopted in 2017. The key findings include varied grass pitch quality as well as 3G FTP shortfalls, with new provision required to alleviate this.

County football association

Bracknell Forest is covered by Berks & Bucks 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 regularly active CCO in Bracknell Forest, although the Reading FC Community Trust does run some initiatives.

Local leisure operator

Everyone Active is a key leisure operator in Bracknell Forest, operating sites such as Bracknell Leisure Centre which hosts a 3G FTP. The majority of other football provision is operated by schools plus parish and town councils.

Local consultation

This has taken place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in Bracknell Forest. 19 individuals (representing 17 local organisations) were spoken to. The agencies consulted include:

• Bracknell Forest Council
• Bracknell Town Council
• Farley Wood Community Centre
• Berks County FC

(See Appendix B for full list of consultees)

Clubs

There are over 91,000 community football teams in England, spread over an expansive network of clubs and leagues. Bracknell Forest has a total of 270 teams, which is comparable to local areas of a similar size.

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

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

• Binfield FC - 36 teams
• Berks County FC - 37 teams
• Bracknell Athletic FC - 14 teams
• Bracknell Cavaliers FC - 22 teams
• Bracknell Town FC - 35 teams
• FC Bracknell - 20 teams
• Sandhurst Town Boys & Girls FC - 45 teams
• Whitegrove & Warfield FC - 20 teams

Leagues

Three leagues cater for clubs and teams in Bracknell Forest. They offer competitive opportunity for many different players, including women and girls, youth and adults. While there is no specific league opportunity for disability football in Bracknell Forest, suitable provision is made in neighbouring Oxford (via a central venue). The largest local leagues (2018-19) include:

• East Berkshire Football Alliance – 870 teams– home and away
• Berkshire County Girls Football League – 122 teams– home and away
• Bracknell Town & District Sunday League – 49 teams– home and away

The County FA reports some cross boundary migration to/from Bracknell Forest due to teams playing in and coming to play from Wokingham and the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead.

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 Bracknell Forest there is one football team / session specifically for people with a disability. It is a priority of the County FA to grow this provision. For talented players the FA runs regional centres and England national squads.

Women and girls

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

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

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

At 17, Bracknell Forest’s number of female teams is comparable to local areas of a similar size. The County FA’s priority is to support existing clubs to grow and encourage more clubs to develop playing opportunities for females. The local girls’ league is the Berkshire County Girls' League in which matches are played on a home and away basis. It is expected to grow its provision in future years. The local adult female league is the Thames Valley County Women's League which also plays on a home and away basis. It too is expected to grow its provision in future years.

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

Small sided football

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

Small-sided teams 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:

• Football Invasion – Garth Hill College
• Play Football – Bracknell Leisure Centre
• Soccer Sixes – King’s Academy

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.

Currently seven Bracknell Forest based futsal teams play in the Berkshire Futsal League. It is a priority for the County FA to sustain futsal participation for players.

Recreational football

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

There are currently two FA Just Play centres in Bracknell Forest. Walking football sessions are delivered by a range of community organisation such as Bracknell Town Walking Football Club. Walking football and Just Play are County FA priorities for further growth and development.

Informal football

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

Currently, informal football in Bracknell Forest is played particularly in the north and central parts of the local authority. Farley Community Centre and Westmorland Park are key well-used site locations.

The key strengths of local football in Bracknell Forest include youth football, futsal and walking football provision and it is recommended that this is sustained and also encouraged to grow further. However, there are aspects of football provision that are lower than local authorities of a similar size, including disability football. Women's and girls' football is also identified as an area for growth. It is therefore recommended that the future football development priorities for Bracknell Forest are:

1. Female pathway - youth to adult
2. Disability football
3. Adult male player retention

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.

This section reviews existing football facility assets in Bracknell Forest. 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 is reviewed applying a standard approach, supplemented by input from consultation with local partners and stakeholder organisations.

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

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

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

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

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

There are five full sized (11 v 11) 3G FTPs in Bracknell Forest located at:

• Bracknell Leisure Centre
• Easthampstead Park School
• Garth Hill College
• King's Academy Binfield
• Larges Lane (Bracknell Town FC)

Bracknell Town FC has previously indicated that it may need to leave Larges Lane in order to meet ambitions of progressing up the football pyramid. Furthermore, the site has been earmarked for housing. Any relocation would have to ensure that the existing 3G pitch is mitigated (as well as other onsite provision) on a like-for-like basis, as a minimum.

There are also two small-sided 3G FTPs; one at Harman's Water Primary School (30m x 15m) and one at Wooden Hill Primary & Nursery (60m x 30m).

All the existing full size 3G FTPs are floodlit and available for community use, whilst neither of the small-sided venues are. Only two of the full sized venues (Bracknell Leisure Centre and Larges Lane) are on the FA Register for 3G FTPs (meaning they are quality checked and can be used for football match play). It is strongly recommended that the remaining three are assessed and placed on the Register to enable more match play on 3G. In particular, this needs to happen at King's Academy Binfield as the pitch is currently in use for matches, despite not being certified. For the pitches at Easthampstead Park School and Garth Hill College to pass assessments, it is likely that quality improvements will be needed.

The 2017 Bracknell Forest PPS indicates a need for six full size 3G FTPs; however, due to growth in demand since, this is considered to have increased to a need for seven - applying the FA training ratio model (1:38). This means that the current shortfall is two, although a proposal for a full sized 3G FTP to be installed at Ranelegh School could reduce this to one. The proposal does not require Football Foundation funding so is not included as a project within this plan. There is also some uncertainty with regard to the extent to which this provision will be made available to the wider community.

In addition to the shortfall of full size 3G FTPs, two existing surfaces require replacement in the near future; Easthampstead Park School and Garth Hill College. Both were installed in 2011 and the latter is considered to be particularly in need of attention due to its poor quality.

The geographic spread of existing facilities is uneven; the majority are located centrally and to the east of the Authority area. There is a provision gap to the north, as well as a need for further provision elsewhere due to pockets of high demand. It is recommended that this is addressed.

Local consultation reveals common issues with high pricing, low availability and a limited opportunity for match play on 3G and it is recommended that these are addressed. None of the existing FTPs were Football Foundation funded, meaning preferred pricing and usage policies are not necessarily adhered to.

Four priority projects for potential investment are identified. Two are for full sized 3G FTPs; one in the Sandhurst Area and one in the Warfield Area, with specific sites yet to be identified. The former has been proposed for a while and is seen as the preferred option to alleviate the existing shortfall of provision (with Sandhurst Secondary School explored as an option). The latter is considered to be required to accommodate expected future growth as well offsetting an additional shortfall caused as a result of usage/pricing policies not helping to guarantee the level of community use required. The north of Bracknell Forest is considered most in need albeit potential options are limited in the short term - if no solution can be found, developing a small-sided FTP at a site such as Westmorland Park could be considered as an alternative.

The remaining two projects are for the refurbishment of existing facilities at Garth Hill College and Easthampstead Park School. This will enable FA testing to be carried out and as a result increase usage.

For investment to go ahead in relation to 3G FTPs, it is imperative that the providers agree to the terms and conditions set out by the Football Foundation as well as ensuring that provision promises and goes onto achieve key outcomes. This includes agreeing to the creation of a sinking fund in order to ensure long-term sustainability.

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

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

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

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

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

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

For more information click here.

PitchPower

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

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

Learn more by clicking here.

There are currently 13 grass pitch sites in Bracknell Forest with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three pitches but deemed to be of strategic importance). These contain 56 grass pitches. Of these, two are considered to have good quality pitches, seven are of standard quality and four are poor quality.

Local consultation shows common issues with poor quality, limited availability, overuse and long travel distances and it is recommended that these are addressed. Several large clubs such as Binfield FC and Berks County FC are spread across numerous sites due to insufficient local provision, with the latter also having to play fixtures and train in neighbouring local authrorities.

Of the 13 key pitch sites referenced above it was determined that eight of these should be prioritised. This will result in quality improvements to 29 pitches. In addition, the creation of pitches is recommended at Warfield Memorial Ground and Binfield Cricket Club which could, if realised, result in investment in an additional two sites and five pitches.

Ten priority projects for potential investment are identified. Pitch quality rating was evidenced by the PPS and ratified by local partners. Prioritisation was based on a rationale of selecting sites that could best reduce local shortfalls or that are in the poorest condition and that are, or could be, well-utilised. Eight projects relate to improving existing provision; two to investing in new provision.

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

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

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

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

Of the 13 key grass pitch sites in Bracknell Forest with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three but deemed to be of strategic importance) nine have suitable changing rooms or are not considered to be in need of provision, three require improvement/replacement and one currently has no changing rooms and requires some level of provision (Priory Fields)

In relation to the two sites with new grass pitch proposals, Binfield Cricket Club already has suitable provision and is therefore not in need of Football Foundation investment. In contrast, Warfield Memorial Ground may be in need as the existing pavilion on the site is poor quality and football access is not guaranteed. As a minimum, dedicated toilets are required to cater for any future football activity. Furthermore, additional car parking is likely to be needed.

Four priority projects are identified. It must be noted that the Council's preference is for social and catering facilities to be prioritised rather than changing rooms, particularly at a site such as Westmorland Park. Due to the age, gender and preferences of users of the sites, demand for access to changing rooms can be minimal. This is also the case at Binfield Football Club, with the Club wanting to invest in a new kitchen and new toilets to support youth and mini demand.

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

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

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

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

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

Local consultation indicates that, at present, no indoor facilities require improvement to develop small sided football. Demand is relatively minimal and can be catered for at existing facilities (i.e. school sports halls) or with more urban neighbouring authorities (i.e. Reading).

Four potential opportunities for MUGAs are identified. For three of these, the rationale is based on sites serving areas of significant population with corresponding high local demand for informal football. One project is for an existing MUGA to be improved and to make it more suited to football activity, whilst two are for MUGAs to be developed at sites already accessed for recreational purposes.

The final opportunity could be wide ranging; during consultation, a number of active community centres were discovered to be located within or nearby local primary schools. As such, it is recommended that further exploration takes place to understand whether any of these schools could host MUGAs or small-sided 3G FTPs. Such provision could be accessed by pupils during weekdays, with the community centres becoming delivery partners at evenings and weekends.

No locations have been identified to support small sided informal football, although each proposed MUGA site development could support informal grass provision as well.

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:

• Senior CIL & Infrastructure Officer - Bracknell Forest Council
• Head of Leisure Facilities - Bracknell Forest Council
• Team Manager (Policy) - Bracknell Forest Council
• Secretary - Bracknell Cavaliers FC
• Manager - Berks County FC
• Chairman - Binfield FC
• Clerk - Binfield Parish Council
• Clerk - Crowthorne Parish Council
• Clerk - Sandhurst Town Council
• Clerk - Bracknell Town Council
• Area Manager - A2 Dominion
• Head of Communities - Stonewater
• Communities Officer - Thames Valley Housing
• Manager - Farley Wood Community Centre
• Community Manager - Owlsmoor Community Centre
• Manager - Crown Wood Community Centre
• Manager - Birch Hill Community Centre
• Manager - Hanworth Community Centre
• Chief Executive Officer - Get Berkshire Active