Local Football Facility Plan Central Bedfordshire

Central Bedfordshire is in the East region.

The current population of the Authority (ONS 2017 Mid-Year Estimate) is 280,030. This is expected to rise to 343,005 by 2039.

Central Bedfordshire is ranked 38th out of 47 LAs in the region, and 265 out of 326 LAs nationally on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (ONS).

Central Bedfordshire's ethnic composition is primarily white (93.8%). This is higher than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of Central Bedfordshire’s population represented by the BAME community is 6.2%. This is below the national average (14.6%).

Local Authority

The Central Bedfordshire Council five-year strategic plan vision is to make Central Bedfordshire a great place to live and work. To achieve this, the Authority is targeting achievement of the following outcomes:

• Develop great resident services
• Improve education and skills
• Protect the vulnerable and improve wellbeing
• Create stronger communities
• For the Authority to become a more efficient and responsive council

To improve the wellbeing of residents and visitors, the Authority plans to ensure that its health provision is of the highest quality, and will continue over the timescale of the Plan to invest in its leisure facilities and open spaces and country parks.

The Council Playing Pitch Strategy was produced in 2014 and is therefore out of date and needs to be updated.

County Football Association

Central Bedfordshire is covered by the Bedfordshire County FA. It provides governance and development support for all aspects of local football including coaches, referees, volunteers, clubs and leagues to support football for all. The County FA has a designated facilities investment lead officer who works to ensure that such facilities are located in the appropriate area of need based on the demand.

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). Luton Town Community Trust deliver weekly Skills Performance Centres for 6 to 12 year olds as well as community sessions during the half-term for young children in the Flitwick, Dunstable, Ampthill, Arlesey, Stotfold and Sandy areas within Central Bedfordshire.

Local Leisure Operator

Stevenage Leisure Limited is the key leisure operator in Central Bedfordshire. It currently runs six leisure centres, including Dunstable, Sandy and Houghton Regis. The operator manages the small sided 3G pitches at Flitwick Leisure Centre and the sand dressed pitch at Sandy Leisure Centre, which can accommodate football training demand.

Local Consultation

This has taken place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in Central Bedfordshire. 29 individuals (representing 27 local organisations) were spoken to. The agencies consulted include:

• Central Bedfordshire Council
• A range of parish and town councils
• A number of local football clubs

(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. Central Bedfordshire has a total of 737 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 Central Bedfordshire, 21 clubs have more than 10 registered teams. These (based upon 2018-19 affiliation data) are:

• AFC Dunstable - 30 teams
• Woburn & Wavendon FC - 37 teams
• Ampthill Town FC - 15 teams
• Barton Rovers Youth - 20 teams
• Biggleswade Town Youth - 20 teams
• Biggleswade United - 16 teams
• Cranfield Colts - 14 teams
• Dunstable Town - 22 teams
• Dunstable Town Youth - 21 teams
• EB Lions AFC - 19 teams
• Flitwick Eagles - 54 teams
• Houghton Athletic- 11 teams
• Leighton Town Youth - 13 teams
• Leighton United - 25 teams
• Linslade Galaxy - 15 teams
• Ramsey Manor] -10 teams
• Sandy Colts - 10 teams
• Shefford Saints - 39 teams
• Stotfold Junior - 48 teams
• Toddington Rovers - 15 teams

Leagues

Ten leagues cater for clubs across Central Bedfordshire. They offer competitive opportunity for many different players, including girls, disability, youth and adults. Women’s football competition is provided in partnership with a neighbouring County FA through the Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire County Women’s League. This league hosts six teams from Central Bedfordshire.

The ten local leagues (2018-19) are listed below, with a breakdown of how many teams from Central Bedfordshire compete in each league:

• Bedfordshire FA Girls Football League – 43 out of 78 teams– home and away fixtures with some festivals for U8-U12 age groups throughout the season at central venues on a Saturday morning]
• Bedfordshire County Football League – 27 out of 64 teams– home and away fixtures on a Saturday afternoon
• Bedford & District Sunday Football League– 14 out of 37 teams– home and away fixtures on a Sunday morning
• Leighton & District Sunday Football League– 26 out of 30 teams– home and away fixtures on a Sunday morning.
• Bedfordshire Mini Soccer Football League – 70 out of 127 teams– home and away fixtures on a Sunday morning with festivals for certain age groups throughout the season.
• Bedfordshire Youth Saturday League – 53 out of 100 teams– home and away fixtures on a Saturday morning.
• Chiltern Junior Sevens– 78 out of 152 teams– home and away fixtures on a Saturday morning for U12 age groups with festival/grading groups taking place for U7-U11
• Chiltern Youth Football League – 101 out of 209] teams– home and away fixtures spread across Sunday morning (U11-U13) and afternoons (U14-U18)
• Mid Beds Mini League – 46 out of 52 teams–[home and away fixtures on a Saturday morning for U12 age groups with festival/grading groups taking place for U7-U11
• Dunstable & District Lower Schools Football League – all 7 teams are from Central Bedfordshire – home and away fixtures on a Saturday morning for U12 age groups with festival/grading groups taking place for U7-U11.

The County FA reports some cross boundary migration into neighbouring counties with teams competing in the following leagues; Milton Keynes & Border Counties Youth League, Eastern Junior Alliance, The TrophyUK.net Royston Crow Youth Football League & Milton Keynes & District Development League. The reasons for this include the close proximity of neighbouring border counties and short travelling distances.

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 Central Bedfordshire there are 18 football teams / sessions specifically for people with a disability. In addition, the County FA also deliver the Ability Accounts League at Dunstable (CFA headquarters), with a total of 21 teams competing across four leagues. It is a priority of the County FA to grow and sustain 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. Central Bedfordshire has 11 FA Wildcats girls football centres and the priority is to sustain this activity.

There are 43 female teams in Central Bedfordshire; this 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 Bedfordshire FA Girls Football League . Matches are played on home and away basis and it is expected to grow its provision in future years. The local adult female league is the Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire County Women’s League.

For talented players, the nearest FA Regional Talent Club (RTC) is is Milton Keynes Dons, however Bedfordshire FA’s Advanced Coaching Centre is located at Wixams, Green Lane, Bedford. 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 Arsenal FC which provides player pathway opportunities for gifted and talented female players and a spectator interest for fans.

Small Sided Football

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

Small-sided teams and leagues are organised and competitive activities; typically with players registered to clubs and affiliated to leagues and their County FAs. Examples include futsal and local small-sided leagues running at venues such as sports halls, 3G FTPs or small-sided 3G centres. Key local providers include:

• Final Whistle- Cedars Academy
• Flitwick Leisure Centre 5 a-side
• Sandy Sports Centre 5 a-side
• Power Play – Creasey Park
• Soccer Sixes – Dunstable

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.

The County has a National League futsal team, Bedford Futsal Club. Currently, 10 futsal teams across the county of Bedfordshire play in the ad-hoc tournaments and one-off events delivered by Bedfordshire FA, the Regional Youth Futsal Series and Bedfordshire Youth Saturday League. These are delivered at key site locations including the University of Bedfordshire and Polhill Campus (which has a purpose made futsal court for youth football). In addition, teams enthusiastic about futsal have set up pockets of activity with training sessions and informal matches at several venues in the County including the John Bunyan Sports & Fitness Centre, Luton 6th Form, Biddenham Upper School.

It is a priority for the County FA to grow Futsal for male, female, youth and 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 are currently six FA Just Play centres in Central Bedfordshire. Walking football sessions are delivered by a range of community organisations (including, Barton Rovers, Biggleswade Town, Bedfordshire FA, Flitwick Eagles) and are also supported by Central Bedfordshire Council. Walking football and Just Play are County FA priorities for further growth and development. Other local recreational football programmes include casual bookings of 3G pitches and sports halls across the area; these are orchestrated/delivered by a range of organisations including the Central Bedfordshire Council Active Lifestyles team and its delivery partners ranging from football clubs, to independent organisations.

There is also a Bedfordshire Veterans League for 35+ year old players that provide fixtures twice a month on a Sunday evening. It has two divisions (North with 10 teams & South with 9 teams) that play on 3G pitch sites across the county. In the North fixtures are played at Kempston Rovers (Bedford) & Robert Bloomfield (Shefford) whilst in the South, the Bedfordshire FA (Dunstable) and Lealands High School, Luton (on 60x40 yard 3G pitches) are key venues.

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 Central Bedfordshire is played particularly in Leighton, Dunstable, Flitwick, Shefford, Wixams & Biggleswade and facility providers include; Flitwick Leisure Centre, Creasey Park, Cedars Upper School, and Biggleswade Town.

Some of the key features of local football in Central Bedfordshire are the strength of club development and the existing facility base which has enabled growth of a large number of clubs. This has meant that Central Bedfordshire has a substantial number of clubs and teams. However, this continued team growth means that additional facility investment is required to support growing demand, particularly in certain areas of the Authority. In addition, there are aspects of football provision that do not match that in local authorities of a similar size, including the conversion of male and female youth teams into adult teams, which needs to be prioritised. It is therefore recommended that the future football development priorities for Central Bedfordshire are to:

1. Increase the number of senior adult male football teams.
2. Increase the number of adult female football teams.
3. Support the transition of female youth teams into adult football.
4. Continue to deliver a range of community programmes across the area.
5. Address facility shortfalls in key areas by providing the opportunity for other clubs to develop and progress (use good practice examples of Flitwick Football Centre, Creasey Park & Cedars Upper School).

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

Projects that progress 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 Central Bedfordshire. 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 investment priorities are 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.

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 full-sized (11 v 11) 3G FTPs in Central Bedfordshire are located at:

• Cedars Upper School
• Etonbury Academy
• Redborne Upper School
• Creasey Park
• All Saints Academy

In addition, there are currently three small-sided 3G FTP centres in Central Bedfordshire located at:

• Bedfordshire FA: one 60x40 FTP
• Robert Bloomfield Academy: one 60x40 FTP
• Flitwick Leisure Centre two x 5V5 FTP

Because there is no current PPS demand for full sized 3G FTPs has been calculated using the FA training ratio model 1:38. On the basis that there are 737 teams in Central Bedfordshire, there is a requirement for 19.5 full sized 3G FTPs. There are currently 6.5 full-sized 3G FTP equivalents (five full sized and 1.5 full sized pitch equivalents) in the Authority and there is thus a shortfall of 13.

Cranfield Pavilion (Mill Road) was recently approved by the Football Foundation for funding. The new full sized 3G FTP at this venue will be owned by the Parish Council and managed by Bedfordshire FA. Key users will include Cranfield United (three teams) and Cranfield Colts (20 teams). It is planned this will be operational from the start of the 2020 season. This reduces the shortfall to 12.

Fullbrook Middle School is in the process of installing an 11v11 youth sized 3G FTP, located on the border of Milton Keynes and Central Bedfordshire in Woburn Sands. The pitch is being funded and delivered by the school and not through the Football Foundation framework, therefore it is uncertain whether the pitch will be included on the FA pitch register. Once the pitch is in-situ and has been FA tested, this plan and the subsequent shortfall can be re-calculated as it will become clear as to which clubs the 3G FTP will service.

It should also be noted that Luton Rugby Club is moving to a new site in Toddington and as part of the development, it proposes to install two new 3G Rugby compliant pitches. Although these will be available for local clubs (such as Toddington Rovers) to hire, the assumption is that the new pitches will be predominantly used for rugby and will not affect the overall 3G FTP supply in the Authority. There is currently no timescale for this development.

All the 3G FTPs listed above are available for community use and four of the five full sized venues 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 All Saints Academy pitch is also assessed and placed on the Register.

The geographic spread of existing facilities is uneven. There are provision gaps in the north east (around Sandy and Biggleswade) and in the areas to the north of Dunstable, despite both having substantial local populations and high numbers of affiliated football teams. In addition, there are significant levels of housing growth proposed in these areas which will only intensify the need for facilities. For example, 7,500 and 2,000 new dwellings are proposed in Houghton Regis and Biggleswade respectively.

Local club consultation reveals common issues with limited availability, long travel distances and a lack of match play on 3G pitches and it is recommended that these are addressed. Biggleswade alone has over 60 affiliated football teams at a number of clubs (such as Bigglewade United and Biggleswade Town) and there is an acute requirement for a 3G FTP to support these. Currently they are having to travel cross border into Cambridgeshire to access provision.

Ten priority projects for potential investment are identified, generating a total of 13.5 full size 3G pitch equivalents. Of these, 3G double hubs are proposed at four sites. Each is proposed based upon a rationale of addressing key provision gaps, serving key communities and addressing the needs of the affiliated game. Sites offer good access, will deliver geographic spread and will service areas where significant housing growth is to occur - where match funding should be achievable via developer contributions.

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 28 grass pitch sites in Central Bedfordshire with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three pitches but deemed to be of strategic importance). These contain 93 grass pitches. Of these, club consultation confirms that 12 are considered to have good quality pitches and 16 are of standard quality or poor quality.

As the PPS is out of date, sites for investment were identified via consultation and confirmed by the LFFP Steering Group. It was concluded that the 16 sites upon which the grass pitches are considered to be poor are to be taken forward as a priority . In addition, the new leisure centre development site at Leighton Linslade (proposed three pitch site) and the new development at Barton-Le-Clay will also require investment, making 18 sites in total.

18 priority projects for potential investment are identified. Pitch quality rating was evidenced by clubs and ratified by local partners. Prioritisation was based on a rationale of selecting sites with large numbers of pitches which are in poor condition; thus optimising impact.

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 28 key grass pitch sites in Central Bedfordshire with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three pitches but deemed to be of strategic importance), 20 have suitable changing rooms, four require improvement/replacement and four have no facilities (or inappropriate facilities) and require new changing rooms.

In addition to these eight sites, the new developments Leighton Linslade growth area and Barton-Le-Clay will also require new build pavilions, resulting in ten priority projects.

Ten priority projects for potential investment are 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 that no indoor facilities presently require improvement to develop small sided football.

Two potential opportunities for MUGAs are identified. These are located in the Authority's most deprived wards where recreational facilities are of poor quality or limited. Both can be linked to organisations which can deliver programmes of activity at these sites.

Local consultation did not highlight any parks and open green spaces that require improvement to develop small sided football at this point.

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:

• Central Bedordshire Council- Policy Manager, Leisure, Libraries and Countryside
• Central Bedordshire Council- Active Lifestyles Manager
• Leighton FC- Club Secretary
• Houghton Athletic- Club Secretary
• Linslade Galaxy FC - Club Secretary
• Woburn and Wavendon FC- Club Secretary
• Dunstable Town Youth- Town Clerk
• Dunstable Town Council- Town Clerk
• Potton United- Town Clerk
• Linslade Parish Council- Town Clerk
• Stondon Parish Council- Town Clerk
• Clophill Parish Council- Town Clerk
• Eaton Bray Lions FC- Club Secretary
• Ickwell & Old Warden FC- Club Secretary
• Astral Park Ballers- Club Secretary
• Arlesey Town FC- Club Secretary
• Kingsbury Park FC- Club Secretary
• Clifton FC- Club Secretary
• Lidlington United Sports Club- Town Clerk
• AFC Shillington- Club Secretary
• St Mary's School (Clophill)- Club Secretary
• Langford Football Club- Club Secretary
• Area Manager: England Hockey
• Houghton Regis Town Council – Town Clerk
• Biggleswade Town Council – Town Clerk
• Sandy Town Council – Town Clerk
• Biggleswade Town Youth – Club Chairman
• Biggleswade United – Secretary
• Biggleswade FC - Club Chairman