Local Football Facility Plan Cheshire East

Demographics for the area can be seen below:

Local Authority

Local government is responsible for a range of vital services for people and businesses in defined areas, therefore the Local Authority is a key stakeholder in helping to deliver this plan, whether this be through the local planning authority, funding, PPOSS or community engagement. It must engage with it's communities and encourage community participation in decision-making, while considering the needs of people currently living in communities and those who will live there in the future. This engagement should translate in to the type of facilities that need to be built and for who.

County Football Associations

County Football Associations (CFAs) provide governance for, and development support to, all aspects of local football including coaches, referees, volunteers, clubs and leagues; supporting football for all. All CFAs have a designated facilities investment lead officer(s) that works to ensure the right facilities are located in the right locations. For further information visit the CFA website.

Football Foundation

Delivery Managers and Technical Project Managers at the Football Foundation work collaboratively with the CFAs to provide pre-application support and lead on the delivery of priority projects for potential investment. Facility Planning Managers (FPMs) will lead and be responsible for all aspects of strategic planning and will lead on refreshing of LFFPs.

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)

Supported by facility investment CCOs can offer a variety of programmes and services to support local communities (sporting and non-sporting). They run a variety of health, education, engagement, football and sporting activities within their local areas. Projects identified in the LFFP help CCOs support delivery on a local level.

Local consultation

Local consultation has taken place via the LFFP steering group, which agreed that views captured through the Playing Pitch & Outdoor Sport Strategy were recent enough to inform the plan. Furthermore, it is a requirement and key element of project development that those which move through to application phase undertake detailed community engagement to ensure that facilities fully serve the communities they are being designed for.

Clubs

There are over 110,000 community football teams in England, spread over an expansive network of clubs and leagues.

To deliver the goals laid out within the FA Grassroots Football Strategy for male and female football, there must be a vibrant, best-in-class club network around the country. The FA will work to encourage as many clubs as possible to achieve England Football Accreditation, assuring quality in everything they offer, including ever-safer and stronger player pathways. This will be coupled with a commitment to improve the quality of thousands of pitches up and down the country, with a particular focus on grass pitches.

Over the last 10-years there has been a significant national increase in the number of large multi-team football clubs. Locally, the following clubs have more than ten registered teams:

• Richmond Rovers*** – 100 teams (merger of Richmond Rovers, Poynton Juniors and 8by8, now playing and training across sites in Cheshire East and south Stockport)
• Egerton*** – 77 teams
• Nantwich Town*** – 66 teams
• Sandbach United*** – 63 teams
• Macclesfield FC** – 45 teams
• Tytherington Juniors** – 43 teams
• Holmes Chapel Hurricanes*** – 40 teams
• Alderley United – 39 teams
• Congleton Town Juniors** – 34 teams
• Wilmslow Town*** – 33 teams
• Wilmslow Sports** – 30 teams
• Crewe FC*** – 29 teams
• Bollington United** – 27 teams
• Vale Juniors Congleton*** – 27 teams
• AFC Alsager** – 23 teams
• Cheshire Blades*** – 22 teams
• Hurdsfield Phoenix – 20 teams
• Middlewich Town Youth*** – 20 teams
• Crewe Town – 18 teams
• Crewe Alexandra – 17 teams
• Alex Soccer Centre – 13 teams
• Macclesfield Boys Juniors – 13 teams

Represents England Football Two Star (**) or Three Star (***) Accreditation level

Leagues

Leagues offer competitive opportunity for many different players, including women and girls, disability, youth and adults. The largest local leagues are:

• Mid Cheshire Youth Football League - home and away fixtures
• Timperley & District Junior Football League - home and away fixtures
• Stockport Metropolitan League - home and away fixtures
• Alexandra Soccer Centre (mini soccer) - central venue fixtures
• South Cheshire Youth League - home and away fixtures, central venue fixtures
• Crewe Regional Sunday League - home and away fixtures
• Cheshire Football League - home and away fixtures
• Cheshire Veterans League - home and away fixtures
• Cheshire Ability Counts football League (Disability) - central venue fixtures
• Potteries Junior Youth League - home and away fixtures
• East Cheshire Sunday Football League - home and away fixtures
• Alderley Mini Soccer League - central venue fixtures

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.

Comets is a recreational, pan-disability football programme for disabled boys and girls aged between 5 and 11. Pan-disability is the largest format of disability football, which sees players with a broad range of impairments and health conditions play together. Comets offers a flexible and inclusive way of playing, one that’s all about playfulness, friendships and having fun. For talented players the FA runs regional centres and England national squads. Projects identified in the LFFP help CFAs support disability football delivery on a local level, which will be identified through local community engagement.

Women and girls

The FA’s strategy, titled Inspiring Positive Change, pledges to create a sustainable future for women’s and girls’ football in England. One key target set out was for 75% of schools to be delivering equal access to football in PE lessons by 2024. This target was achieved a whole year ahead of schedule. The strategy outlines eight transformational objectives, the following across grassroots football:-

• Early Participation – Every primary school-aged girl to have equal access to football in school and in clubs.
• Development Participation – Every girl to have equal access to participate for fun, for competition and for excellence.
• Club Player Pathway – Collaborate with clubs to develop an effective high-performance, inclusive player-centred pathway.
• Football For All – Recruit and support a motivated, diverse range of local leaders organising football for their communities.
• Coaching – Support the development of exceptional coaches at every level of the game who are representative of our society.
• Refereeing – Ensure that every female referee afforded high-quality bespoke learning and development opportunities from grassroots through to the elite game.

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. FA Squad Girls' football sessions provide girls aged 12-14 with a fun, non-competitive way to play football locally with friends, whether completely new to football, transitioning from Wildcats, or simply wanting to play.

For talented players, the Girls' Emerging Talent Centres (ETCs) across the nation are provided to increase and diversify the talent pool and give more girls than ever the chance to take their first steps on the pathway towards playing professional football. Higher level talent pathway opportunities are also provided regionally and nationally by the FA, culminating in the England Women’s national squads. Women’s Super League and Women's Championship teams provide player pathway opportunities for gifted and talented female players and a spectator interest for fans.

One catalyst for growth was the victory by the Lionesses in the 2022 EUROs finals. Female football is now growing at a rate of 13% year on year and it is imperative that there is sufficient supply and quality of facilities (both on and off the pitch) to meet this demand. By 2030 it is estimated that 21% of all teams will be women and girls' teams.

Casual football

Casual 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 match play. Casual football demand will be explored as part of the community engagement when a facility project is developed to ensure that the needs are captured. 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. Each project must be mindful to offer opportunities beyond the affiliated game, particularly for women and girls.

This section reviews existing football facility assets. 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 Football Turf Pitches (FTPs)
• Improved grass pitches
• Off pitch and ancillary facilities
• PlayZones

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 pitches 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. All 3G pitches must have sports lighting and offer a broad programme of community use 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, 3G pitches 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. An 11v11 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 women and girls, low socio-economic groups, people with disabilities and culturally diverse communities. The way 3G pitches are used allows for match play across all formats of football (5v5, 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11). This enables match play to be transferred from grass to 3G as well as being a fantastic asset for training. Only pitches on The FA 3G Register can accommodate affiliated match play (meaning they are quality checked). It is strongly recommended that all pitches are registered.

Although Football Foundation investment will always be football led, 3G pitches offer a fantastic opportunity to support other sports, particularly traditional grass pitch sports. Where appropriate, and through engagement with other NGBs, projects below will include potential multisport opportunities.

There are seventeen 11v11 3G FTPs in the area:

• All Hallows Catholic College
• Alsager Leisure Centre
• Alsager Sports Hub
• Congleton High School
• Cumberland Arena
• Crewe Alexandra Soccer Centre
• Eaton Bank Academy
• Egerton Youth Club
• Holmes Chapel Leisure Centre
• Middlewich Leisure Centre
• Macclesfield Football Club
• Nantwich Town FC - x2 pitches
• Reaseheath College
• Shavington Leisure Centre
• Crewe Alexandra (Reaseheath Training Complex)
• Sandbach Community Football Centre

Additionally, there are currently 12 small-sided 3G FTPs, of which the following seven have floodlighting and are available for community use:

• Barony Sports Complex
• Crewe Alexandra Soccer Centre
• Everybody Active (Alderley Park)
• Disley Amalgamated Sports Club
• Manchester Metropolitan University (Chesire Sports Centre)
• Middlewich Town Football Club
• Macclesfield RUFC (Priory Park)

The 11v11 3G FTP at Crewe Alexandra (Reaseheath Training Complex) is unavailable for community use. The site is a private facility for professional football club Crewe Alexandra FC.

Cheshire East has a Playing Pitch & Outdoor Sport Strategy (PPOSS) undertaken in 2023 and finalised in 2024. The PPOSS indicated that there is a shortfall of at least nine 11v11 3G pitches. This was based on 776 teams accessing equivalent of thirteen 11v11 pitches as there are limitations on capacity for community use at Alsager Leisure Centre (substantial use by imported teams), Nantwich Town FC (FIFA Quality Pro stadia pitch has lower recommended weekly use), Reaseheath College (no football use, predominantly programmed for rugby union activity) and Crewe Alexandra (Reaseheath Training Complex - professional football club site, unavailable for community use). The PPOSS identified shortfalls for 3G FTPs in the North (Knutsford, Macclesfield, Poynton, Wilmslow sub-areas) and the South (Crewe, Nantwich) areas of the local authority.

Since 776 teams were recorded in the 2022/23 season within the PPOSS, the number of teams has grown to 850 for the 2023/24 season, representing an additional 74 teams. Cheshire FA reports that approximate growth is focused in Knutsford (15 teams), Nantwich (16 teams), Crewe (15 teams) and Macclesfield (10 teams), with fewer than 10 teams spread across other areas. The current need for 11v11 3G FTPs is therefore increased from the PPOSS, with the Knutsford shortfall increasing from 1.25 to 1.5, Nantwich from 0.5 to 1, Crewe from 2 to 2.3 and Macclesfield from 2.5 to 2.85. In practice and in anticipation of further future growth, the LFFP identifies projects for two 11v11 3G FTPs required for the Knutsford area and three in the Macclesfield area.

Since the PPOSS, the poor quality sand based AGP at Shavington Leisure Centre has now been converted to 3G over the course of summer 2024. The location of the pitch is accessible to service demand from clubs in both the Nantwich and Crewe sub-areas. There is a current need for one 11v11 pitch in the Nantwich sub-area and the demand is considered to now be met by Shavington Leisure Centre, unless future review of the programme of use determines that Nantwich based clubs are not regularly accessing the pitch to meet all demand, or demand amongst Nantwich based clubs grows further.

Macclesfield FC has aspirations to be promoted into the Football League, which if successful would prompt the need to replace its 11v11 size 3G pitch with a grass pitch to meet EFL regulations. The Club may decide to do this beforehand to future proof its site, for example when the existing 3G surface reaches the end of its lifespan, or may opt for another 3G but FIFA Quality Pro standard, which similarly would reduce its usability in term of number of hours. Either scenario would in effect lead to either loss of one 11v11 size 3G pitch in Cheshire East or a substantial reduction in 3G capacity onsite, which could in turn increase the shortfall of pitches in Macclesfield in future.

In addition to the shortfall of 11v11 3G FTPs there are also eight 3G FTPs that require replacement up to 2027. Of these, three (All Hallows Catholic College, Cumberland Arena and Sandbach Community Football Centre) were Football Foundation funded and are required to have a pitch replacement fund in place. They are therefore excluded from the priority project list. Nantwich Town Football Club also requires resurfacing and was also FF funded, however is included as a priority project as the Club will be eligible to seek FF funding again in 2024/25 due to the expiry of FFF terms and conditions for the initial pitch build.

Multisport opportunities for rugby union are identified and outlined in the project list below.

The FA has seen unprecedented growth in football over the last five years, particularly in the youth and women & girls game. Overall participation is estimated to grow year on year, equating to an additional 326 teams by 2030, of which 104 will come from women and girls. This could represent the equivalent of up to nine additional 11v11 3G FTPs.

The following priority projects for potential investment are identified:

The Football Foundation is on a mission to transform the quality of grass football pitches across England, because great facilities enhance physical and mental wellbeing, strengthen communities and empower people.

The quality of football pitches is a huge issue for community football; 150,000 matches are postponed each year due to poor pitches. We are therefore on a mission to have 20,000 quality grass pitches across England so that everyone has a great place to play. Since the programme began there are over 7000 quality pitches and the next milestone is to have 12,000 quality pitches by 2028.

The key challenge is to create a sustainable approach to provide good quality football pitches for the long term. While the education sector and local authorities are still the principal asset owners of grass pitches, clubs and leagues own or maintain an increasing share and we will continue to prioritise investment into sites that are maintained by clubs or leagues. Investment into new or additional machinery and equipment is an important step towards sustainability for the voluntary sector. Ensuring eligible organisations can maintain their own sites, supplemented by contracted out major works (e.g. aeration) is a more cost-effective approach in the long term.

See the link for more information on grass pitches Football Foundation | Grass Pitch Improvement

Below is a list of opportunities and funding available to support this ambitious work:

PitchPower: PitchPower is the Football Foundation's free web app for inspecting grass football, rugby and cricket pitches. Using a smart phone or tablet, a pitch inspection can be completed at the touch of a button. This provides a detailed assessment report with recommendations on improving the quality of grass pitches. The PitchPower app is available to all pitch operators as a way to assess grass pitch quality and gain access to grass pitch improvement recommendations. See Football Foundation | PitchPower

The Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund: The fund provides eligible organisations with a tapered six-year grant to help them sustain pitches already at a 'good' level and enhance pitches that are either considered 'poor' or 'basic'. to be eligible, organisations such as clubs and leagues must use the PitchPower web app to assess their pitches. Grants are also available towards maintenance machinery and equipment identified through a PitchPower report. Football Foundation | Grass Pitch

Home Advantage: 87% of grassroots football is played on grass with local authority-owned pitches making up 60% of those used for the affiliated game. However, budget pressures often mean local authorities lack the resources to maintain their grass pitches to a high standard, contributing towards the thousands of match postponements every season due to poor quality pitches.

The Home Advantage Programme aims to support grassroots clubs and organisations to take on long-term leases of the local authority sites they play at. Click the link to find out more Home Advantage Programme | Football Foundation

The Football Foundation Groundskeeping Community: a free platform that helps connect people to expert grass pitch knowledge and support. The main objectives are:

• To provide accessible learning resources to help further and extend knowledge
• To connect with leading industry experts and peers, to exchange tips & insights with fellow volunteers & professionals across the country
• To collaborate and build a community through case studies and discussion points

Sign up - Football Foundation (hivelearning.com)

Small grants: Grants up to £25k are available for items such as fencing and storage containers: Fencing | Football Foundation Storage containers | Football Foundation

Several sites in Cheshire East have accessed FF funding already to improve their grass pitches and others remain eligible to do so via the opportunities above. However, many key grass pitch sites for football in the local authority are managed by the Council directly and should be improved further where possible. Cheshire East Council received FF funding in 2020 towards grounds maintenance equipment to better maintain its playing pitch sites, including the following which are strategically important for football participation:

• King George V Playing Fields (Crewe)
• Back Lane (Congleton)
• Mary Dendy Playing Fields (Knutsford)
• Sutton Lane Playing Fields (Middlewich)
• Jim Evison Playing Fields (Wilmslow)

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. The process of community engagement once a project has been identified means the facility will properly service the local area and it's people, not just for football but potentially for other sports as well. It is essential to speak to female players as part of this process, as the game continues to grow at significant rates, suitable off pitch and ancillary provision for females is essential. It also means, creating environments that are welcoming to players, spectators, volunteers and officials from all sections of the community. See Football Foundation website for design considerations: Changing Pavilion Design Key Considerations | Football Foundation

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 11v11 pitch equivalents. However, as pitch quality is the number one priority for players this is prioritised before investment in changing room pavilions and 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. Where larger scale investment, such as those identified in this section, is not appropriate, small grants are also available to support upgrades and improvements to changing rooms, toilets and clubhouses. See Changing pavilions and clubhouses | Football Foundation

Of the key grass pitch sites that support and deliver grassroots football, as referenced in the Playing Pitch & Outdoor Sports Strategy and agreed through the steering group, four sites require improvement/refurbishment. Projects are included in this section where it is expected that new or refurbished facilities will contribute to strong sport and community outcomes, such as:

• Large multipitch sites (often three or more pitches) with significant football usage and poor off pitch facilities;
• A priority site for women and girls;
• Club and community sites;
• Sites with new 3G pitches.

No multi-sport off pitch needs have been identified through NGB consultation or by the LFFP Steering Group.

The list below identifies priority projects for potential investment.

Good facilities are important to all small sided football players, but it is important to understand the different formats of the small-sided game, the audiences and the various facility types they relate to. Research suggests that small-sided players in teams and leagues, and in organised 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.

Whilst our priorities will always be football led, we believe small sided facilities provide a good opportunity to collaborate with other sports to deliver high quality spaces for people to play recreational sport. This will be achieved via our PlayZones Programme:

Football Foundation PlayZones Programme

PlayZones are modern, safe and engaging facilities that are designed for recreational football and at least one other sport. There are a range of facility types to meet the needs of different sports. Our research shows us that community engagement is the key to developing great small sided facilities and that we shouldn't try and identify sites without first identifying two key things:

• Key priority places within the local authority
• Key priority groups within the local authority

Through this programme we want to address stubborn inequalities in activity levels and access to sports facilities within four priority groups:

• Lower socio-economic groups
• Women and girls
• Disabled people and people with long-term health conditions
• Ethnically diverse communities

When it comes to small sided facilities one size does not fit all and localised design and ownership will yield the greatest engagement from under represented groups. Activation is also as important as the facility itself for these groups. Suitable places will be identified through a combination of mapping, to include identification of our priority groups and crossover with other multi-sport priorities. Further community engagement will be required for design and delivery. All projects will then need to be developed by a cross sector consortium where partners who understand and represent the people and the place come together to drive the project forward and create access and opportunities for priority groups.

More about the programme can be found on The Football Foundation website here: Football Foundation PlayZones Programme | Football Foundation

A range of local agencies were invited to participate in the LFFP consultation which was carried out as part of a Playing Pitch Strategy process. Those that contributed to the LFFP steering group are listed below:

• Programme Director - Cheshire East Council
• Director (Environment and Neighbourhoods) - Cheshire East Council
• Planning and Design Consultant - Ansa Environmental Services
• Commercial Manager - Ansa Environmental Services
• Facilities & Investment Manager - Cheshire FA
• Delivery Manager - Football Foundation
• Planning Manager - Sport England
• Facilities Development Manager (North) - Rugby Football Union
• Facilities Planning Manager (Recreational Game) - England & Wales Cricket Board
• Clubs & CPA Lead Officer - Cheshire Cricket Board
• Facilities Relationship Manager - England Hockey
• National Clubs Manager - Rugby Football League
• Facilities Manager - Rugby Football League
• Strategic Lead for Active Environments - ActiveCheshire
• Operations Manager - Crewe Alexandra FC