Local Football Facility Plan Bromsgrove

Bromsgrove is in the West Midlands region.

The current population of the authority (ONS 2017 Mid-Year Estimate) is 97,594. This is expected to rise to 109,676 by 2039.

Bromsgrove is ranked 30 out of 30 LAs in the region, and 279 out of 326 LAs nationally on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (ONS).

Bromsgrove's ethnic composition is primarily white (96%). This is higher than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of Bromsgrove's population represented by the BAME community is 4%. This is below the national average (14.6%).

Local authority

The Bromsgrove District Council Local Plan 2011-2030 highlights that one of the important components of health and wellbeing is the open space, sport and recreation facilities which are integral to both urban and rural communities. It highlights that the provision of high quality, accessible open space, sport and recreation facilities in the right areas can have significant benefits in relation to health, community cohesion and general wellbeing.

Based on the above, it states that it will protect all existing facilities of this nature from development, except those in areas with an oversupply or where the need or benefits of the development clearly outweigh the loss. Where proposed development would result in the loss of a facility or area of open space, the policy requires appropriate compensation for the loss. All housing developments are expected to contribute to the delivery of these amenities in accordance with the provision standards identified in the Open Space, Sport and Recreation Facilities Assessment (2010).

The health of the people of Bromsgrove District was reported to be generally better than the England Average in its 2011 Annual Health Profile - produced by the Association of Public Health Observatories. The Local Plan states that various partners associated with the Worcestershire Health and Well Being Board are key to aiding Bromsgrove’s health and wellbeing, but the Council acknowledges that it can make a contribution by improving people’s lifestyles through supporting community sports organisations and direct leisure provision.

In relation to sports facilities, the Council is committed to support opportunities for healthy and active lifestyles through:

• Working with partners of the Worcestershire Health and Well-Being Board to explore new ways to improve opportunities for healthy and active lifestyles.
• Providing excellent access to sport, leisure and recreation facilities.

The Authority Playing Pitch Strategy was produced in 2015 and has not been updated - as such it is no longer a robust evidence base.

County football association

Bromsgrove is covered by both the Worcestershire County FA and Birmingham County FA. They 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's have 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 Bromsgrove.

Local leisure operator

Everyone Active is the key leisure operator in Bromsgrove. It runs one key site; Bromsgrove Sport & Leisure Centre. This site does not have any 3G FTP or grass pitch provision.

Local consultation

This has taken place with a diverse set of community groups in Bromsgrove. 13 individuals (representing 13 local organisations) were spoken to. The agencies consulted include:

• Bromsgrove and District Sunday League
• Woodrush High School
• Bromsgrove Indoor Bowls Club

(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. Bromsgrove area has a total of 198 teams, which is higher than local areas of a similar size.

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

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

• Bromsgrove Sporting Colts - 23 teams
• Catshill FC - 25 teams
• West Hagley FC - 21 teams
• Meadow Park FC - 18 teams
• Alvechurch FC - 47 teams

Leagues

One main league operates in the area; the Bromsgrove and District Football League, this has 37 teams playing on a home and away basis and offers competitive opportunities for adults. Matches are played at either a central venue or at club sites. While there are no specific league opportunities for disability, youth and female players within Bromsgrove, suitable provision is made in the neighbouring Wyre Forest and Worcester areas.

The County FA reports some cross boundary migration to/from Bromsgrove due to teams playing in Birmingham FA affiliated leagues.

Two national leagues affect teams that play in the Bromsgrove area. These also have some ground restrictions related to participating in them; these need to be taken into consideration.

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 Bromsgrove there are no football teams / sessions 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. Bromsgrove has two FA Wildcats girls football centres and the priority is to grow this activity.

At 11, Bromsgrove’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 main local girls’ leagues are the Mercian Fortis League (Worcestershire) and the Central Warwickshire Girls (Birmingham). In both of these, matches are played on a home and away basis and both are expected to grow their provision in future years. The local adult female league is the Midwest Counties League in which matches are played on a home and away basis. It expects to sustain its provision in future years.

For talented players, the most local FA Regional Talent Club (RTC) is West Bromwich Albion which is located in the Birmingham County FA area. 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 Birmingham City 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.

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. Soccer Sixes currently runs at South Bromsgrove High School.

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 one futsal teams in Bromsgrove. It playx in the National League at key site locations including Birmingham Futsal Arena. It is a priority for the County FA to grow futsal for male/ female/ youth/ adult players.

Recreational football

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

There is currently no FA Just Play centre in the Bromsgrove area. 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 Bromsgrove area is played particularly in the central part of the local authority. Charford Recreation Ground is a key well-used site.

The key strengths of local football in Bromsgrove include adult and youth provision and it is recommended that this is sustained and also encouraged to grow further. However, gaps in provision do exist and there are aspects of football provision that are lower than local authorities of a similar size, these include female, disability and walking football. It is therefore recommended that the future football development priorities for Bromsgrove are:

1. Female
2. Disability
3. Walking football

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

Additionally, each priority project that progresses to a funding application via the Football Foundation will produce a detailed ‘site development plan’ specifying all football development activity, usage and key partner engagement.

This section reviews existing football facility assets in Bromsgrove. 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 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 is one full sized (11v11) 3G FTP in Bromsgrove. It is located at South Bromsgrove Community High School. There is also one small size 3G FTP at HMP Hewell; however, this is not available for community use.

In the absence of an up to date PPS, demand for full size 3G FTPs has been calculated using the FA training ratio model 1:38. On the basis that there are 198 teams in Bromsgrove, there is a requirement for five full size 3G FTPs. Given the presence of one this represents a shortfall of four full sized 3G FTPs.

Steering group discussion has; however, led to a consensus about the shortfall position with regard to full sized 3G FTPs being reduced. With no up to date PPS to fully determine demand and subsequent sustainability of four additional 3G FTPs, more exploration is required before committing to the development of more provision than that identified in the most recent PPS (two full size 3G FTPs).

Following delivery of two 3G FTPs and analysis of supply and demand based on a robust evidence base (an up to date PPS), consideration should be given towards whether further full size 3G provision is required. Feasibility work may required to identify the best sites for provision to be provided.

The pitch at South Bromsgrove Community High School is available for community use and is on the FA Register for 3G FTPs (meaning that it has been quality checked and can be used for football match play). It is strongly recommended that any 3G FTPs developed in the future are assessed and registered to enable more match play on 3G.

The one 3G FTP is located to the south of Bromsgrove centre. There are, based upon football demand and key population centres, provision gaps in the north and east of the District. It is recommended that these are addressed.

Local consultation reveals common issues with limited 3G FTP availability and it is a key proposed outcome of this plan that this is addressed.

Three priority projects for potential investment are identified (two full size and one small sided 3G FTP). Each was selected based upon a rationale of addressing a provision gap, serving an area with relatively high population density, improving geographic spread and catering for affiliated football demand. Levels of deprivation and subsequent areas with higher proportions of people from lower social economic groups have also been considered.

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, many players (63%) believe facilities are already expensive and some (16%) believe prices are prohibitive. A sustainable solution should, therefore, carefully balance pitch quality and affordability.

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

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

For more information click here.

PitchPower

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

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

Learn more by clicking here.

There are currently 11 grass pitch sites in Bromsgrove with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three pitches but deemed to be of strategic importance). These contain 50 grass pitches.

In addition to the 11 grass pitch sites identified above, one brand new site; Hayes Playing Field, also requires pitch improvements.

This totals 12 key sites and it was determined that five should be prioritised for improvements. This will result in quality improvements to 14 pitches.

Five priority projects for potential investment are identified:

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 12 key grass pitch sites in Bromsgrove with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three pitches but of strategic importance), eight have suitable changing rooms, three require improvement/replacement and one has no facilities and requires new changing/toilet provision.

Four priority projects for potential investment are, thus, identified:

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 & 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 one indoor facility that requires improvement to develop small-sided football. At Woodrush High School/Community Hub there is potential to provide appropriate goals and markings in the sports hall to allow futsal sessions to take place for pupils, community groups and young people attending the youth centre. This may also link to Birmingham Tigers Futsal Club.

One potential opportunity to develop a MUGA is been identified. This site is in an area of significant population with a relatively high proportions people from lower social economic groups. The proposed location for this is:

• Beech Road Recreation Ground - where an existing half sized MUGA could be extended and improved to encourage more informal football participation.

Following local consultation, no locations have been identified to support small sided informal football. This is supported by Sport England recreational football mapping tool which does not identify any hot spots in the Bromsgrove area.

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:

• Alvechurch FC - Chairman
• Birmingham County FA
• Birmingham Tigers Futsal - Secretary
• Bromsgrove District Council - Sports Development Officer
• Bromsgrove and District Sunday League - Secretary
• Bromsgrove Indoor Bowls Club - Chairman
• Bromsgrove Sporting FC - Chairman
• Catshill FC - Chairman
• Football Foundation - Engagement Manager
• Worcestershire FA - Football Development Manager
• Birmingham FA - Facility and Investment Lead
• Sport England - Planning Manager
• Woodrush High School - Business Manager