01
This is the Local Football Facility Plan (LFFP) for Bristol. It was prepared by Knight, Kavanagh and Page (KKP) with support from local partners, including:
Gloucestershire FA
Somerset FA
Football Foundation
Bristol City Council
Bristol Rovers Community Foundation
Bristol City Community Trust
The West of England Sport Trust (WESPORT)
Sport England
Every local area in the Country will have a LFFP to enable investment in football facilities to be accurately targeted.
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.
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 Bristol.
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.
£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.
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:
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.
This LFFP will, in effect, be the go-to document for football facility investment in [add local area].
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 Gloucestershire or Somerset FAs and the Football Foundation.
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.
02
Bristol is located in the South West region. The current population of the Authority (ONS 2017 Mid-Year Estimate) is 459,252. This is expected to rise to 544,799 by 2039.
29.2% of the Bristol population is within NS SEC classification 6-8 (lower socio-economic groups).
Bristol’s ethnic composition is primarily White (84%) and this is comparable to the national average (85.4%).
The proportion of Bristol’s population represented by the BAME community is 16%. This is in line with the national average (14.6%).
Most recent figures from the Deprivation in Bristol report (2015) state that the City has 42 LSOAs in the most deprived 10% in England for IMD. Of these 42 LSOAs, there are 26 in the most deprived 5% in England and six in the most deprived 1% of the Country. The greatest levels of deprivation are in the Whitchurch Park, Hartcliffe, Filwood and Lawrence Hill areas.
*ONS data and Sport England Active Lives Survey 2016/17
Bristol is a high profile active and sustainable city and a champion of sport and active and healthy lifestyles. It:
Bristol City Council’s Corporate Strategy (2017-2022) is clear about the fact that the City faces what it describes as ‘extremely hard times’. The Strategy identifies a funding gap of £120m, with the need to reduce overall expenditure alongside what is rapidly increasing population growth. The need for cost savings has already impacted on the resources available to maintain sports pitches through the BCC Parks Department. The Strategy makes seven clear commitments, one of which is to 'be a leading cultural City, making culture and sport accessible to all'. It plans to achieve this through 'promoting opportunities, attracting funding, protecting our City investment in culture and facilitating others'. There is also an aspiration to create a new events arena which may provide opportunities for sport.
The local authority has a Playing Pitch Strategy in place, which was adopted in 2017. The key findings and stated overarching priorities are to improve the quality of natural turf pitches and stock of changing room provision, as well as to maximise access to 3G FTPs at Academy and PFI school sites.
In light of aforementioned cuts, the Council has identified the need for a different approach to management and maintenance of its playing field assets and consequently has undertaken a review of options for the contracting out of site management at some sites. The following sites have been identified to be put forward for asset transfer as part of a Council review of playing field assets and subsequently may need improvement to grass pitch and/or changing provision, to be determined once the future management operators are established:
The Council operates a community infrastructure levy (CIL) to secure developer contributions and the Council reports that leveraging this funding into capital projects for sport is difficult in light of other prioritised areas of investment within the CIL process.
Bristol also has a Sports Facilities Strategy, with ANOG based methodology evidencing a need to protect all indoor halls with community use, to improve quality and level of access (particularly to schools where there is no or limited access at present) and to consider the provision of additional sports hall in future where unmet demand may be identified in future.
Bristol is covered by both Gloucestershire FA and Somerset FA which provide governance and development support to all aspects of local football including coaches, referees, volunteers, clubs and leagues; supporting football for all. The County FAs each have a designated facilities investment lead officer who works to ensure the right facilities are located in the right locations.
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.
*See Football Foundation website for more information: www.footballfoundation.org.uk/impact/where-our-money-goes
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.
These continue to expand and enhance their range of community delivery, offering a variety of programmes and services to support local communities (sporting and non-sporting). The Bristol Rovers and Bristol City Community Trusts each run a variety of health, education, engagement, football and sporting activities within the local area.
Parkwood Leisure, SLM and Everyone Active all manage leisure provision in Bristol. The latter manages Horfield Leisure Centre which includes five small sided 3G FTPs and adjacent playing fields on which there are seven football pitches.
This has taken place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in Bristol. Seventeen individuals (representing 16 local organisations) were consulted. These include:
(See Appendix B for full list of consultees)
There are over 91,000 community football teams in England, spread over an expansive network of clubs and leagues. Bristol has a total of 569 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 Bristol, 12 clubs have more than 10 registered teams. The largest of these (based upon 2017-18 affiliation data) are:
*The FA Whole Game System - Season 2017/18
20 Gloucestershire and Somerset FAs affiliated leagues operate in Bristol. They offer competitive opportunities for many different players, including women and girls, disability, youth and adults.
Bristol largest local leagues (2017-18) include:
The County FA reports that there is significant cross boundary migration in Bristol due to teams migrating outwards to the local Avon Youth League and Hanham Minor League based across South Gloucestershire & Bristol . There is also some inwards migration from teams based in Bath & North East Somerset and North Somerset, who take part in the Bristol based leagues.
It should also be noted that there are a number of Bristol based teams who participate within University, College, regional and professional leagues.
Disability football
There are 9.4million people in England with a long-standing limiting disability, illness or condition which equates to 18% of the population – almost one in five. Football playing opportunities should be flexible, inclusive and accessible for everyone, whatever their level of ability. This could entail inclusion in mainstream activity or teams / sessions specifically for people with a disability.
In Bristol there are nine football teams / sessions specifically for people with a disability. It is a priority of the County FAs to grow this provision. For talented players the FAs run Regional Centres and England national squads.
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. Bristol has five FA Wildcats girls football centres and the priority is to grow and sustain this activity.
At August 2018, Bristol’s number of female teams is lower than local areas of a similar size. The County FAs' priority is to support existing clubs to grow and encourage more clubs to develop playing opportunities for females. The local girls league is the Bristol Girls League and matches are played on a home and away basis. The league is expected to grow its provision in future years. The local adult female league is the Gloucestershire County Women’s League or Somerset Womens League and matches are played on a home and away basis and the league is expected to grow its provision in future years.
For talented players, the most local FA Regional Talent Club (RTC) is Bristol City Women which is located in Filton, South Gloucestershire. 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 Bristol City Women’s FC which provides player pathway opportunities for gifted and talented female players and a spectator interest for fans.
Many different types of small-sided football are played in England, from teams and leagues to recreational and informal. It is an established and important part of the modern game.
Small-sided teams & leagues are organised and competitive activities; typically with players registered to clubs and affiliated to leagues and their County FAs. Examples include Futsal and local small-sided leagues running at venues such as sports halls, 3G FTPs or small-sided 3G centres.
Key local providers include:
Futsal is an exciting, fast-paced, small sided team game that is widely played across the world. Typically it’s played on an indoor surface with hockey-sized goals and a size 4 football with reduced ball bounce. It is the FA’s aim to ensure Futsal is available across the country.
There are currently 14 futsal teams in Bristol that play in the National Futsal League, BUCS and FLT Educational programme at key site locations including Merchants Academy and Bristol Grammar School. It is a priority for Gloucestershire FA and Somerset FA to Grow Futsal for male & female players .
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 nine FA Just Play Centres in Bristol. Walking football sessions are delivered by a range of community organisation such as Gloucestershire FA, Somerset FA and Bristol Rovers FC, Bristol City FC. Walking football and Just Play are areas that the County FA has prioritised for further growth and development. Other local recreational football programmes include Man vs fat, casual bookings, and the GFA Summer Flexi-11-a-side league which are delivered by a range of organisations including Bristol Sport.
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 Bristol is played particularly in the North and West and East of the City. The Downs, Horfield Common and Netham Park are key site locations that are heavily used.
The key strengths of local football in Bristol include a high number of Adult Male, Youth Male and Mini-Soccer provision and it is recommend 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 , these include Women & Girl’s, Futsal and Recreational Just Play sessions.
It is therefore recommended that the future football development priorities for Bristol are:
The facilities required to assist this are now set out in the Assets and Opportunities section.
Additionally, each priority project that progresses to a funding application via the Football Foundation will produce a detailed ‘site development plan’ specifying all football development activity, usage and key partner engagement.
03
This section reviews existing football facility assets in Bristol. It identifies current issues and presents opportunities for improvements, including a list of priority projects for potential investment.
Local assets and opportunities have been reviewed inline with four investment priorities:
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.
04
3G FTPs are a high quality and indispensable part of modern football facilities; their impact cannot be underestimated. In recent years the industry has seen major innovations and improvements to artificial surfaces (and sports lighting). This has created playing surfaces that replicate a good standard natural turf pitch whilst significantly increasing levels of use (x20). All FTPs must have sports lighting to achieve this.
The high quality, consistent playing surface is the ideal environment to play the game and for young people to learn. With regular maintenance programmes, FTPs can be heavily used all year round with no decline in quality. They almost completely negate annoying fixture cancellations during winter months, helping football to be a key part of a regular physical activity habit.
High capacity levels offer a great opportunity to embrace all formats and engage all participants. A full-sized 3G caters for an average of 1,200 participants per week and is suitable for various location types. That means being fully inclusive to all sections of the community, with a particular focus on under-represented groups such as women and girls, people with a disability, BAME communities and people from lower socio-economic groups.
The way 3G FTPs are used is rapidly changing; current line-marking systems allow for match play across all formats of football (5v5, 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11). This enables significant levels of match-play to be transferred from grass to 3G.
The national ‘Mini Pitch’ programme delivers small 3G FTPs at primary school sites to provide a high quality introduction to football and get children more physically active. While mini pitches are reviewed in this section, they are not included in the demand and supply analysis for 3G FTPs.
The FA model for affiliated team training indicates there is no further requirement for additional full sized 3G FTPs in Bristol to service affiliated team training demand, with one full sized pitch being able to service training demand of 42 teams.
FA data states that there are currently twelve 3G FTPs in Bristol; this is sufficient number of pitches to meet assessed demand.
Existing 3G FTPs in Bristol:
Additionally, there are currently four small-sided 3G FTP centres in Bristol:
Ten of the 11 full-size 3G FTPs within Bristol are available for community use. It is recommend that community use opportunities are explored at Redland Green School through installation of floodlighting, including FA registration in the short-term to establish weekend community use for matches which does not require lighting. Until such time as this have been resolved, this site will be regarded as part of the local 3G FTP supply and demand and no additional pitches will be identified in lieu of this. Six are on the FA Register for 3G FTPs (meaning they are quality checked and can be used for football match play). It is strongly recommend that the five remaining pitches are on the register to enable more match play on 3G.
The geographical spread of existing facilities is uneven; the majority are located in the North and South of the local area. Local consultation reveals level of access at PFI/Academy school sites to be an issue.
Plans for a new 3G FTP at St Brendan's Sixth Form College are already being developed without funding via the Football Foundation. The pitch is a rugby driven scheme; however, it will potentially incorporate some capacity to be used for football. Also, a new small 3G FTP MUGA is presently being developed at Lockleaze Sports Complex.
The Council has identified the need for three new secondary schools; one each in the North, Central and South of the City. Development of a new secondary school in the North (Trinity Academy) is more progressed and plans show the development of a new full sized 3G FTP on the basis of school requirements. Dependent on site selection, the two other schools planned may also see additional 3G FTP developed on the basis of school curricular need. Whilst undersupply for community use would not be the principal driver should this be the case, opportunities to establish and secure community access to these sites should be explored.
Similarly, the RFU has invested in the development of a new rugby driven full sized 3G FTP at North Bristol Rugby Football Club. This too is likely to carry some capacity able to be used for football, with the site neighbouring Gloucestershire FA where a full sized 3G pitch already exists. Both sites lie within South Gloucestershire but are considered accessible and likely used by residents from Bristol's Northern fringe. The two local authorities share a densely populated border area where there is much fluidity between local authorities when it comes to accessing facilities. Consequently, it is key to consider supply and demand of 3G FTPs in Bristol alongside South Gloucestershire.
On the same basis, to the Southern border of Bristol there are two possible 3G FTP schemes awaiting planning permission which would be considered accessible to South Bristol teams and groups. In a similar manner to South Gloucestershire, Bristol based teams travel to access 3G FTP provision near to the City border in Bath & North East Somerset, such as the stadia 3G FTP at Keynsham Town FC.
There is a 5v5 sized indoor 3G FTP within an industrial unit at Action Indoor Sports. The site is used by some teams for affiliated training and by residents playing recreational or small sided football. The site is proposed to be lost as part of the Hengrove Park development area and should be considered within any mitigation.
Three priority projects for potential investment have been identified, however only one includes the creation of new 3G FTP provision and is not based on an undersupply for affiliated team training. Bristol Rovers Community Trust plans to develop new 3G FTP provision for use by its professional football, education and community programmes, whilst two projects require resurfacing of existing 3G FTPs:
1 - Bristol City Community Trust (site TBC) - new floodlit 3G FTP
2 - Oasis Academy Brislington - refurbish floodlit 11v11 3G FTP
3 - Pen Park Sports Ground - refurbish floodlit 7v7 3G FTP
Redland Green School, Bristol Learning Campus and Bristol Brunel Academy all have existing 3G FTPs which exceed the recommended ten-year surface lifespan either presently or by 2019 and will require resurfacing subject to the rate of deterioration. However, all three are required to do so as conditions of their respective contracts with the Council; therefore, are not expected to seek Football Foundation funding.
05
Playing fields are one of the most important resources for sport in England. All football players should have the opportunity to play on good quality grass pitches. However, FA data shows that 63% of pitches in England are poor / low standard and 1 in 6 games are cancelled. As such, poor pitch quality is consistently cited as the number one issue for players.
The priority is, therefore, to sustainably improve grass pitch quality across all main pitch owners (local authorities, education establishments and clubs). However, the level of maintenance required to obtain good quality standards is regularly affected by restricted budgets and limited knowledge/ training. Compaction and grass coverage are two key causes of poor quality pitches. Both are commonly treated via a maintenance driven solution (and do not necessarily require costly drainage schemes).
Playing fields are also valuable resources for informal play and open-access sites are encouraged but, for many, problems such as dog fouling and vandalism mean that they need to be protected with mitigation measures such as fencing.
In many local areas the key challenge is to create a sustainable approach to provide good quality football pitches for the long-term. Many local authorities (78%) intend to increase pitch hire fees in the future. However, many players (63%) believe facilities are already expensive and some (16%) believe prices are prohibitive. A sustainable solution should, therefore, carefully balance pitch quality and affordability.
While the education sector (37%) and local authorities (32%) are still the principal asset owners of grass pitches, clubs / leagues own or maintain an increasing share (currently 25%). Assets and opportunities have been considered across each sector.
Although large (3+ pitch) strategic sites are important and make up much of the project list within the LFFPs, this does not mean that other club, league and community/voluntary sites are not important or eligible for funding. These sites are key to the Football Foundation's Grass Pitch Programme to deliver 20,000 good quality pitches.
For more information click here.
The PitchPower app is the gateway to any grass pitch improvement funding. It is the tool that will allow clubs and organisations to complete pitch inspections and access funds.
If you haven't signed up and completed a PitchPower pitch inspection, you will need to do this before you can apply for the Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund.
Learn more by clicking here.
The Bristol PPS identifies 270 grass football pitches of varying format sizes, of which just 3% are rated as good quality and 75% as standard quality. The total proportion of pitches in Bristol rated as poor quality represents 22%.
PitchFinder data indicates that there are currently 24 grass pitch sites in Bristol with three or more full-size pitch equivalents containing 123 grass pitches.
Local consultation shows no common issues, though maintenance and consequent impact on pitch quality at Council sites is expected as a result of the reduction in maintenance resource over the past year.
New playing fields are to be developed as part of the Hengrove Park residential development without funding via the Football Foundation. These are initially identified to be marked with rugby pitches but consideration should also be given to potential to be marked for football.
Twelve priority projects for potential investment have been identified. Each site has three or more full-size pitch equivalents of poor or standard quality. Pitch quality rating was evidenced by the Bristol PPS and qualified by local partners. Due to significant number of grass pitch sites in Bristol local partners did not select all sites and prioritised only 12 containing 80 full-size pitch equivalents. The prioritisation was informed by local partners with the rationale of selecting sites in the poorest condition, that had the most pitches, that were most well utilised and/or as part of a strategic focus to improve a number of the most key Local Authority pitches:
3 - Pen Park Sports Ground - natural grass pitch improvements
4 - Brislington Football Club (with Brislington Cricket Club) - natural grass pitch improvements
5 - City & Port of Bristol Sports & Social Club - natural grass pitch improvements
6 - Dundridge Recreation Ground - natural grass pitch improvements
7 - Eastville Park - natural grass pitch improvements
8 - Filwood Park Playing Fields - natural grass pitch improvements
9 - Greville Smyth Park - natural grass pitch improvements
10 - Manor Farm - natural grass pitch improvements
11 - Rose Green Centre - natural grass pitch improvements (scope to develop new pitch provision)
12 - St Bede's Catholic College - natural grass pitch improvements
13 - The Downs - natural grass pitch improvements
14 - Whitehall Sports Ground - natural grass pitch improvements
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. 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 24 key sites with three or more full-size pitch equivalents in Bristol, 18 have suitable changing room pavilions/clubhouses whilst six have facilities that need improvement/ replacement.
Five further sites including The Park Centre (Knowle) and four locations identified for asset transfer were identified as important in that they require improvement even though they have less than three full-size pitch equivalents.
The development of new changing provision without funding via the Football Foundation is being pursued at the following sites:
There are plans for the development of new grass sports pitches as part of the Hengrove Park residential development. Plans do not presently show the creation of any accompanying toilet or ancillary facilities. If pitches are adult sized, consideration needs to be given to how these will be serviced by changing rooms and if an additional pavilion is required.
Ten priority projects for potential investment have therefore been identified. Five projects have three or more full-size pitch equivalents and were deemed to have an unsuitable pavilion, whilst five projects have less than three full-size pitch equivalents but are regarded as requiring improvement:
6 - Dundridge Recreation Ground - refurbish changing pavilion
9 - Greville Smyth Park - refurbish changing pavilion
10 - Manor Farm - refurbish changing pavilion
13 - The Downs - refurbish changing pavilion
15 - The Park Centre (Knowle) - new changing pavilion
The following sites have been identified by the Council for asset transfer and require improvement:
7 - Eastville Park - refurbish changing pavilion
16 - Begbrook Green Park - refurbish changing pavilion
17 - Canford Park - refurbish changing pavilion
18 - Kings Head Lane Park - new changing pavilion
19 - Redcatch Park - refurbish changing pavilion
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 and the various facility types they relate to.
Research suggests that small-sided players in teams & leagues, and in recreational sessions, prefer a 3G surface type because it replicates a good standard natural turf pitch. These facilities have already been covered in the 3G FTP section of this LFFP.
Indoor environments currently accommodate 20% of football participation and are also popular with players in teams & leagues and recreational sessions . Indoor sports halls are most popular, along with some community halls and indoor 3G centres. Environments need to be engaging, have clear line-marking and the correct size goalposts.
Informal players require facilities that are open and free to access as this enables play opportunities that are often spontaneous. In these circumstances multi-use games areas (MUGAs) can be effective in areas of high urban population and limited green space. Such facilities can be modern, bright, creative and engaging. While this plan will identify suitable locations for such facilities, the design and specifics of the facility type can be agreed at a later stage with Football Foundation staff when projects are ready to progress to pre-application stage.
Parks and open green spaces are also important to informal play and require goalposts and zones that are free from litter and dog fouling.
Local consultation reveals proposals for one indoor facility to develop small-sided football:
20 - Lockleaze Sports Complex - new indoor sports hall (to be considered in line with new sports hall to be developed at Trinity Academy)
In September 2018, Ashton Gate Ltd announced plans to develop a new sports and convention centre beside Ashton Gate Stadium (Bristol City FC) in partnership with Bristol City FC and Bristol Sport. The new indoor arena would host Bristol Flyers basketball club but would potentially be able to host other sports including the likes of netball. A project and indoor area of this size may have potential to be used for Futsal, including an international sized Futsal court within the arena setting.
Both Bristol City and Bristol Rovers Community Foundations report the lack of double court sports halls able to accommodate sufficient futsal courts as a key driver behind respective aspirations to develop new indoor football provision. There is just one double courts sports hall in Bristol at present at The City Academy.
There is a small sided 3G surface within a warehouse space at Action Indoor Sports which is due to be lost as a result of the proposed plans for the Hengrove Park residential development. Whilst use of this venue is reported to be limited, there will be a need to ensure this loss of a small sided football facility is mitigated as part of the scheme.
Avonmouth Coastal Community has aspirations to develop a new sports centre within a warehouse space. Intentions are for the formation of a CIC to operate what would include two indoor spaces, a climbing wall, two small sided 3G FTPs and a cafe. The scheme would lie within one of the biggest employment areas and reportedly has the support of both the Port of Bristol and several large local businesses.
Four potential opportunities for MUGA’s have been identified. In each case the rationale is based on the site being in an area of high urban population , limited green space , high levels of deprivation, high levels of lower social economic groups and corresponding high local demand for informal football:
1 - Bristol City Community Trust (site TBC) - new MUGA
5 - City & Port of Bristol Sports & Social Club - refurbish MUGA
15 - The Park Centre (Knowle) - refurbish MUGA
21 - Riverside Park - refurbish MUGA
Current plans for the new Hengrove Park residential development propose the creation of a new MUGA. This presents potential for innovation in design and to bring vibrancy to the new neighbourhood which should be explored through the design phase.
The Council plans to develop a new MUGA at Henbury Skatepark off Crow Lane.
Following local consultation, three locations have been identified to support small-sided informal football. Here, the rationale is based on local parks and open green spaces with suitable space/ areas to increase informal football in high IMD areas:
22 - Blaise Castle Estate - improved open space
23 - Rawnsley Park - improved open space
24 - Greystoke Avenue - improved open space
08
This list compiles all of the priority projects for potential investment. Each project has been scored against two principle factors: deliverability and outcomes (quality, inclusivity, sustainability, engagement and usage).
The list will be used flexibly; a projects ‘rating’ does not determine the exact order that it will progress to a funding application to the Football Foundation as we understand there are many factors that influence this. The process for moving a project from this list and into the ‘pre-application stage’ will be managed by the Football Foundation.
ST BEDES CATHOLIC COLLEGE LONG CROSS, BRISTOL, , BS11 0SU
Education
Medium (2/4)
3.1/4
68% (8.2/12)
Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male
BISHOPSTON RFC Bonnington Walk, Bristol, , BS7 9YU
Other
Low (1/4)
3.5/4
66% (7.9/12)
To build new facility including provision/markings for futsal, including to support Bristol Rovers Community Trust education programme futsal activity.
BAME; Disability; IMD / lower social economic groups; Mini-soccer; Pro-club; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male
MANOR FARM West Town Lane, Bristol, , BS14 9EA
Other
Low (1/4)
3.2/4
62% (7.4/12)
Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male
WHITEHALL SPORTS GROUND Johnsons Road, Bristol, , BS5 9AZ
Education
Medium (2/4)
2.7/4
61% (7.3/12)
Pitches are also overmarked
Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male
ROSE GREEN SPORTS LEISURE 65 Gordon Road, Whitehall, Bristol, , BS5 7DR
Other
Medium (2/4)
2.6/4
61% (7.3/12)
Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male
Location details: Suitable site yet to be located
Pro club
Low (1/4)
3.1/4
60% (7.1/12)
Site TBC
Adult female; Adult male; BAME; Disability; IMD / lower social economic groups; Mini-soccer; Pro-club; Youth female; Youth male
GREVILLE SMYTH PARK ASHTON ROAD, BRISTOL, , BS3 2EQ
Local Authority
Low (1/4)
2.8/4
55% (6.6/12)
Key need for improvements to toilet provision rather than full changing provision
Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male
THE PARK KNOWLE Daventry Road, Bristol, , BS4 1DQ
Other
Low (1/4)
2.8/4
55% (6.6/12)
Adult female; Adult male; Disability; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male
BRISLINGTON FOOTBALL CLUB IRONMOULD LANE, BRISTOL, , BS4 5SA
Football club
Low (1/4)
2.7/4
54% (6.4/12)
Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male
PEN PARK SPORTS GROUND PEN PARK SPORTS PAVILION JARRATTS ROAD, BRISTOL, , BS10 6WF
Other
Medium (2/4)
2.1/4
51% (6.1/12)
Location details: park
Local Authority
Low (1/4)
2.6/4
51% (6.1/12)
Disability; IMD / lower social economic groups; Small-sided informal
CITY AND PORT OF BRISTOL SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB Nibley Road, Bristol, , BS11 9XW
Other
Medium (2/4)
2.0/4
51% (6.1/12)
Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male
FILWOOD PARK PLAYING FIELDS CRESWICKE ROAD, BRISTOL, , BS4 1UA
Other
Low (1/4)
2.4/4
49% (5.9/12)
Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male
OASIS ACADEMY BRISLINGTON HUNGERFORD ROAD, BRISTOL, , BS4 5EY
Education
Low (1/4)
2.3/4
47% (5.7/12)
2007 build which now meets recommended lifespan
Youth female; Youth male
EASTVILLE PARK FISHPONDS ROAD, EASTVILLE, BRISTOL, , BS5 6PX
Local Authority
Low (1/4)
2.3/4
47% (5.6/12)
Adult male; BAME; IMD / lower social economic groups; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Youth male
, BS10 7QT
Local Authority
Low (1/4)
2.3/4
47% (5.6/12)
BAME; IMD / lower social economic groups; Small-sided informal
, BS5 0TD
Local Authority
Low (1/4)
1.9/4
41% (4.9/12)
BAME; IMD / lower social economic groups; Small-sided informal
, BS10 6AZ
Local Authority
Low (1/4)
1.9/4
41% (4.9/12)
BAME; IMD / lower social economic groups; Small-sided informal
THE DOWNS 8A DOWNLEAZE, STOKE BISHOP, BRISTOL, , BS9 1NA
Other
Low (1/4)
1.9/4
40% (4.8/12)
Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Youth female; Youth male
BEGBROOK GREEN PARK BLENMAN CLOSE, BRISTOL, , BS16 1JH
Local Authority
Low (1/4)
1.9/4
39% (4.7/12)
Adult male; Youth male
CANFORD PARK CANFORD LANE, BRISTOL, , BS9 3NY
Local Authority
Low (1/4)
1.6/4
36% (4.3/12)
Adult male
KINGS HEAD LANE PARK KINGS HEAD LANE PARK VICARAGE ROAD, BEDMINSTER DOWN, BRISTOL, , BS13 7DB
Local Authority
Low (1/4)
1.6/4
36% (4.3/12)
Adult male
REDCATCH PARK REDCATCH PARK BROAD WALK, KNOWLE, BRISTOL, , BS4 2EP
Local Authority
Low (1/4)
1.6/4
36% (4.3/12)
Adult male
DUNDRIDGE RECREATION GROUND DUNDRIDGE LANE, BRISTOL, , BS5 8SW
Local Authority
Low (1/4)
1.5/4
34% (4.0/12)
Improvements may only be needed to toilet provision, requires further investigation of quality and works required.
Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth male
09
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