Local Football Facility Plan Chorley

Chorley is in the North West Region.

The current population of the Authority (ONS 2017 Mid-Year Estimate) is 115,772. This is expected to rise to 132,183 by 2039.

Chorley is ranked 32 out of 39 LAs in the region, and 183 out of 326 LAs nationally on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (ONS).

Chorley's ethnic composition is primarily white (96.9%). This is higher than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of Chorley’s population represented by the BAME community is 3.1%. This is below the national average (14.6%)

Local authority

The Chorley Local Plan (2012-2026) aligns with the following objectives in the Central Lancashire Core Strategy in relation to promoting health and wellbeing. These are to:

• Improve the health and wellbeing of all Central Lancashire’s residents and reduce the health inequalities that affect the more deprived areas.
• Improve access to health care, sport and recreation, open green spaces, culture, entertainment, and community facilities and services, including healthy food.
• Create environments in Central Lancashire that help to reduce crime, disorder and the fear of crime, especially in the more deprived areas which often experience higher levels of crime.

Policy 24 in the Central Lancashire Core Strategy has the aim to "ensure that everyone has the opportunity to access good sport, physical activity and recreation facilities by (a) devising robust standards based on quantified needs, accessibility and qualitative factors, through seeking developer contributions; (b) protecting existing sport and recreation facilities unless they are proven to be surplus to requirements; and (c) identifying sites for new facilities where providers have evidence of need".

The Authority's Playing Pitch Strategy was finalised in 2018 as part of a joint strategy for Central Lancashire (Preston, Chorley and South Ribble). The key findings and stated overarching priorities are to reduce grass pitch and 3G shortfalls.

County football association

Chorley is covered by the Lancashire County FA. It provides governance for, and development support to, all aspects of local football including coaches, referees, volunteers, clubs and leagues; supporting football for all. The County FA has a designated facilities investment lead officer who works to ensure the right facilities are located in the right locations.

Football Foundation

The Regional Engagement Manager and Regional Technical Project Manager at the Football Foundation work collaboratively with the County FA to provide pre-application support to priority projects for potential investment.

Sport England

Has a network of planning managers who have a statutory role in the planning system to protect playing fields and provide consultation responses to planning applications relating to sporting facilities. They also play a key role in strategic planning for sports facilities, providing advice and support to local authorities to assess need for facilities in their local area.

Professional community club organisations (CCOs)

These offer a variety of programmes and services to support local communities (sporting and non-sporting). Both the Wigan FC Community Trust and the Preston North End Community and Education Trust runs some initiatives within the local area, whilst the Chorley FC Community Foundation has a growing community programme albeit the Club is not professional.

Local leisure operator

Active Nation operates the Council's leisure stock, with numerous parish council's also operating facilities (such as Coppull and Euxton). In addition, private lettings operators manage several community facilities within schools.

Local consultation

This has taken place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in Chorley. 12 individuals (representing ten local organisations) were spoken to. The agencies consulted include:

• Chorley Council
• Chorley FC
• Lancashire Constabulary

In addition, the majority of clubs, leagues and schools were consulted as part of the 2018 PPS. It was not deemed to be necessary to consult with these again, unless supply/ demand was known to have significantly changed.

(See Appendix B for full list of LFFP consultees)

Clubs

There are over 91,000 community football teams in England, spread over an expansive network of clubs and leagues. Chorley has a total of 223 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 Chorley, nine clubs have more than 10 registered teams. The largest of these (based upon 2018-19 affiliation data) are:

• Euxton Villa FC - 35 teams
• Brinscall Village FC - 16 teams
• Adlington Juniors FC - 13 teams
• Euxton Girls FC - 13 teams
• Charnock Richard FC - 13 teams

Leagues

While there is no league opportunity for football specifically within Chorley, suitable provision is made in neighbouring South Ribble and Preston. The County FA, thus, reports significant cross boundary migration to/from Chorley due to teams playing in the aforementioned local authorities. Key leagues accessed are:

• Mid Lancashire Colts Junior Football League - 218 teams - home and away at u9s and u10s; central venue for u7s and u8s
• Central Lancashire Junior Football League - 220 teams - home and away for u11s to u16s
• Lancashire Sunday Football League - 71 teams - home and away for u18s and open age

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

Women and girls

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

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

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

At 16, Chorley’s number of female teams is higher than 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 West Lancashire and North Valley Girls' League in which matches are played on a home and away basis. It is expected to sustain its provision in future years. The local adult female league is the Lancashire County Women's League in which matches are played on a home and away basis. It is expected to sustain its provision in future years.

For talented players, the most local FA Regional Talent Club (RTC) is Blackburn Rovers FC which is located in Blackburn & Darwen. 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 teams are Blackburn Rovers Ladies, Manchester City Women's and Manchester United Women's football clubs 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 includes Soccer Sixes, which operates out of Parklands Academy.

Futsal is an exciting, fast-paced, small sided team game that is widely played across the world. Typically it is played on an indoor surface with hockey-sized goals and a size 4 football with reduced ball bounce. It is the FA’s aim to ensure that futsal is available across the country.

Two futsal teams in Chorley currently play in the Red Rose Futsal League at key site locations including Bishop Rawstorne School. It is a priority for the County FA to grow futsal for all 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 Chorley. Walking football sessions are delivered by a range of community organisations such as Chorley FC Community Trust and Wigan Athletic Community Trust. Walking football and Just Play are County FA priorities for further growth and development. Other local recreational football programmes include the Kicks projects run by the aforementioned community trusts.

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 Chorley is played across the local authority. Tatton Recreation Ground, Coronation Recreation Ground, Harpers Recreation Ground, Rangletts Recreation Ground, Eccleston Recreation Ground and Greenside Recreation Park are key well-used site locations.

The key strengths of local football in Chorley include youth and female 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 adult male and disability provision.

It is therefore recommended that the future football development priorities for Chorley are:

1. Development of full size 3G pitches to meet shortfall (and to cater for e.g. FA Just Play, disability and walking football)
2. Development of more accessible recreational facility within clubs and open spaces
3. Increased development and enhancement of pitch improvement programme across several key sites
4. Investment into changing facility and flexible space with clubs and sites
5. Development of dedicated facility to support growth in women's and girls' football
6. Identification of sites to develop futsal

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

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

This section reviews existing football facility assets in Chorley. 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 3G FTP in Chorley at Bishop Rawthorne C of E Language College. In addition, there are also two small-sided 3G FTP at Clayton Green Sports Centre (measuring 20 x 19 metres each).

Both are available for community use. The facility at Bishop Rawthorne C of E Language College is on the FA register for 3G FTPs (meaning it is quality checked and can be used for football match play).

As noted earlier, the Chorley PPS was undertaken in 2018. This indicates that there is a shortfall of four full size 3G FTPs; this remains the case when considering current affiliation data.

An additional full sized 3G FTP is proposed at Chorley Rugby Club, albeit question marks exist as to whether this is still progressing. Nevertheless, if provided, this will not reduce identified shortfalls as it is to primarily service rugby activity and will therefore not achieve the required footballing outcomes.

The existing full sized 3G FTP is located to the west of the authority, meaning there are gaps elsewhere and the recommendations made in this plan will help to address this.

Local consultation confirms common issues with limited 3G FTP availability and lack of match play on 3G and it is recommended that these are addressed. Many teams currently train in neighbouring authorities or on sand-based artificial turf pitches.

Four priority projects for potential investment are identified. Each is for a full sized 3G FTP as this will alleviate the identified shortfall. The proposals made will address existing gaps in provision and service key local football demand and popluated areas of the borough.

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

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

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

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

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

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

For more information click here.

PitchPower

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

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

Learn more by clicking here.

There are currently 15 grass pitch sites in Chorley with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three pitches but deemed to be of strategic importance). These contain 59 grass pitches. Of these, two are considered to be of good quality, six are of standard quality and seven are of poor quality.

In addition to the 15 grass pitch sites identified above, two key potential sites do not currently cater for football. One of these is West Way Playing Fields - a full sized 3G FTP is proposed for the site (as referenced in the 3G section) together with one adult and one youth grass pitch. This will necessitate grass pitch investment to ensure that provision is made to a good standard.

The second site relates to Brinscall Village Junior FC, which is intending on acquiring land to develop a new 11 v 11 pitch. The land in question is located in close proximity to Brinscall St John's Primary School, which is currently used by the Club. The acquisition of the land will result in grass pitch investment being required in order to ensure provision is provided to a good quality. Scope exist within this to also improve the existing pitches within the are that are also used by the Club.

Local consultation confirms the issues noted in respect of poor quality grass pitches and the need to address this. Improving pitch quality in Chorley is a key target for Lancashire FA.

It was determined that 12 of key sites should be prioritised for improvement. This will result in quality improvements to 25 pitches.

In total, 12 priority projects for potential investment are identified. Pitch quality rating was evidenced by PPS and ratified by local partners. Prioritisation was based on a rationale of selecting sites in the poorest condition, that had the most pitches and that were most well utilised (or offer potential to be best utilised).

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 15 existing key grass pitch sites in Chorley with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three but deemed to be of strategic importance), 10 have suitable changing rooms or are not in need of provision, four require improvement/replacement and one has no facilities and requires new changing rooms.

In addition, the proposed new site at West Way Playing Fields and the land to be acquired by Brinscall Village Junior FC will both require new changing pavilions to service provision.

Seven 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 and leagues and recreational sessions . Indoor sports halls are most popular, along with some community halls and indoor 3G centres. Environments need to be engaging, have clear line-marking and the correct size goalposts.

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

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

Local consultation indicates that, at present, no indoor facilities require improvement to develop small sided football. Nevertheless, it is considered important to promote the use of existing indoor sports halls and gyms to increase indoor football and futsal participation.

Two potential opportunities for MUGAs have been identified. In both cases the rationale is based on the site being in an area of locally high population density with relatively high proportions of people from lower social economic groups (and corresponding substantive local demand for informal football).

In addition, consultation with Inspire Youth Zone determined that the organisation wishes to start to undertake outreach work within deprived wards and the more rural wards, with the aim of transitioning children to its centre, which hosts a small-sided, indoor 3G FTP (installed 2017). This work would involve a coach delivering football-based sessions, potentially utilising MUGAs within the targeted wards. It is therefore recommended that Inspire Youth Zone is consulted/supported to ensure it has access to appropriate facilities in terms of quality and location.

Two specific locations have been identified to support small sided informal football with regard to parks and open green spaces. The Council is keen to continue to develop further opportunities for small-sided football within parks and open green spaces as and when they arise, in a partnership approach with all relevant stakeholders. The two within this plan are examples of locations that could be targeted.

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:

• Secretary - Euxton Girls FC
• Chief Inspector - Chorley Police Station
• General Manager - Places for People
• Youth Work Manager - Inspire Youth Zone
• Secretary - Chorley FC
• Operations Manager - Active Lancashire
• Head of PE - Lancashire County Council
• Planning Officer - Lancashire County Council
• Open Space Strategy Manager - Chorley Council
• Planning Officer - Chorley Council
• Chairman - Brinscall Village Junior FC
• Futures Manager - Progress Housing Group

In addition, the majority of other local clubs, leagues and education providers were consulted as part of the 2018 PPS process; findings from this informed the LFFP.