Local Football Facility Plan Craven

Craven is located in the Yorkshire and The Humber region. The current population of the Authority (ONS 2017 Mid-Year Estimate) is 56,604. This is expected to rise to 58,498 by 2039.

24.5% of the Craven population is within NS SEC classification 6-8 (lower socio-economic groups). This is lower than the national average (30.6%).

Craven’s ethnic composition is primarily White (97.4%) and this is higher than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of Craven’s population represented by the BAME community is 2.6%. This is below the national average (14.6%).

Based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), the South Skipton Ward of Craven is identified as being the most deprived. As such, there is a particular focus on improving health and wellbeing within this area.

Local Authority

The local authority has a Playing Pitch Strategy in place, which was undertaken in 2016. The key finding and stated overarching priority is to improve the quality of current grass pitch provision though the implementation of a collaborative pitch maintenance programme. This will give clubs the option of opting into the Pitch Improvement Programme, receiving advice and training and being able to access joint equipment banks; located at key sites.

Overall, there is a sufficient supply of grass pitches to meet demand; however, there are a number of overplayed sites. This comes as a result of large junior clubs in the area beginning to outgrow the sites they currently access. In order to address this, exploring options of such clubs moving to sites to better suit their needs should be explored.

County Football Association

Craven is covered by West Riding County FA which provides governance 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 Club Community Organisations (CCOs)

Where CCOs are operating they provide a variety of programmes and services to support local communities (sporting and non-sporting); however, at present there is currently no active CCO in the Craven District.

Local leisure operator

There are two main leisure operators in Craven; Craven Leisure and the Coulthurst Trust. The former provides the MUGA at Craven Leisure Centre; the latter manages the Coulthurst Craven Sports Centre (Sandylands), where the offer includes a full size 3G FTP.

Local consultation

This has taken place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in Craven. 11 individuals (representing 10 local organisations) were consulted. These include:

[add top 3-5 organisations – preferably with a direct football facility investment connection]

• Craven Wanderers FC
• Skipton Walking Football
• Friends of Embsaywith Eastby Recreation Ground
• Skipton Extended Learning for All (SELFA)

(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. Craven has a total of 80 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 Craven, two clubs have more than ten registered teams. Based upon 2017-18 affiliation data, these are:

• Sutton Juniors - 16 teams
• Skipton Juniors - 12 teams

Other larger clubs within Craven are:

• Craven Wanderers – nine teams
• Settle United – eight teams
• Embsay Juniors – seven teams
• Grassington Juniors – six teams

Two leagues operate in Craven. They offer competitive opportunities for many different players, including youth and adults. While there are no specific league opportunities for women and girls, and players with a disability within Craven, there is however suitable provision provided in neighbouring leagues.

Craven largest local leagues (2017-18) include:

• Craven, Aire & Wharfe Junior League – 445 teams – fixtures played home and away
• Craven & District Football League – 42 teams – fixtures played home and away

The County FA reports that there is low level cross boundary migration in Craven due to teams migrating outwards to the Bradford Sunday Alliance.

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 Craven there are currently 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 run 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 five to 11 with regular opportunities to play football in a fun and engaging environment. Craven has four FA Wildcats girls football centres and the priority is to grow this activity.

At three, Craven’s number of female teams is lower 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 Riding Girls League and matches are played on a home and away & central venue basis. The league is expected to grow its provision in future years. The local adult female league is the West Riding County Women’s League and matches are played on a home and away and the league is expected to sustain its provision in future years.

For talented players, the most local FA Regional Talent Club (RTC) is Blackburn Rovers which is located in Blackburn . 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 Manchester 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.

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

Key local providers include:

• Powerplay, Sandylands Sports Centre

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

There are currently two Futsal teams in Craven that don't play in a formal League but play friendly fixtures against other teams. It is a priority for the County FA to grow Futsal for youth and adult players.

Recreational football

Recreational football iis 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 one FA Just Play Centre in Craven. Walking football sessions are delivered by a range of community organisations such as Active Wharfedale CiC and Skipton Walking Football Club. Walking football and Just Play are areas that the County FA has prioritised for further growth and development. Other local recreational football programmes include programmes delivered by Sandylands Sports Centre.

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 Craven is played particularly in the Skipton area which has several recreation grounds with informal goalposts. The town also has several MUGA’s where kick-about football takes place more regularly than on the grass pitches.

Outside of Skipton the villages in the South Craven area all have informal recreation grounds, with most having goalposts.

The key strengths of local football in Craven include strong junior and adult male (Saturdays) provision. It is recommended that this is sustained and also encouraged to grow further. However, gaps in provision do exist, these include woman & girls, disability football and futsal.

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

1. Women & Girls
2. Small Sided & Futsal
3. Recreational offer (including Walking Football, Just Play Centres and flexible 11v11 opportunities)

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 Craven's. It identifies current issues and presents opportunities for improvements, including a list of priority projects for potential investment.

Local assets and opportunities have been reviewed inline with four investment priorities:

1. 3G FTPs
2. Improved grass pitches
3. Changing room pavilions / clubhouses
4. 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.

FA data states that there are currently two 3G FTPs in Craven; which is sufficient to meet the assessed demand in the area.

Existing 3G FTPs in Craven include:

• Sandylands Sports Centre
• South Craven High School

One of the two pitches are available for community use. The remaining existing FTP at South Craven High School is currently having floodlighting installed, funded by the School, meaning community use opportunities should be explored following completion.

The pitch at Sandylands is on the FA Register for 3G FTPs (meaning it is quality checked and can be used for football match play). It is strongly recommend that the 3G FTP at South Craven High School also undergoes testing to enable more match play on 3G.

There is also a third 3G FTP being developed at Giggleswick School. This is being funded through a housing development in the locality. Whilst it will be focused towards rugby, as a World Rugby Compliant 3G pitch, it will have some capacity for grassroots football and as such, will accommodate some demand.

The geographical spread of existing facilities is uneven; the majority are located in the south of the authority; however, this is the most densely populated area, as well as being the area with the highest levels of deprivation.

Local consultation reveals common issues with long travel distances and lack of community access. As previously mentioned, it is recommended that the latter is addressed. The long travel distances is a consequence of the rural characteristics and subsequent low population density, of a high proportion of the plan area. As such, this issue is likely harder to resolve when taking pitch sustainability into consideration.

Despite there not presently being a need to provide any more full size 3G FTPs, three priority projects for small sized 3G FTPs are identified.

Two priority projects for potential investment have been identified. No undersupply was calculated using the FA 3G FTP demand and supply model. This being said, due to Craven having rural areas, where residents find it harder to access full size 3G FTPs in areas of higher population density (often more urban), need for two small sided 3G FTPs has been identified.

1 - Burton In Longsdale Sport and Recreation Field– provide 3G FTP to replace current MUGA (5v5, 7v7 or 9v9 sized dependent upon justified demand)

• Existing facilities: one full size equivalent pitch, one sand filled AGP and changing facilities.
• Current users: recreational users.
• Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, senior football, women’s and girls football, disability football, recreational football and football for the over 50s. Possible relocation of Craven Wanderers FC.

2 - Ingleton Community Centre – Provide 5v5 3G FTP to replace current MUGA

• Existing facilities: small sized, floodlit, sand based AGP, one adult grass pitch and community centre.
• Current users: Craven Wanderes FC, Ingelton FC and recreational users.
• Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, senior football, women’s and girls football, disability football, recreational football and football for the over 50s.

Playing fields are one of the most important resources for sport in England. All football players should have the opportunity to play on good quality grass pitches. However, FA data shows that 63% of pitches in England are poor / low standard and 1 in 6 games are cancelled. As such, poor pitch quality is consistently cited as the number one issue for players.

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

Playing fields are also 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.

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

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

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

For more information click here.

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 three grass pitch sites in Craven with three or more full-size pitch equivalents containing 15 grass pitches. Of these, one is considered to have good quality pitches and two are poor quality.

In addition, there are three sites of less than three pitches which are deemed to be strategically important identified as requiring investment and a further two sites that have potential to be developed to accommodate demand.

Local consultation shows common issues with poor quality pitches and for large youth clubs, a need to play across multiple sites. The latter is due to number of pitches available and pitch carrying capacity, as a result of quality. It is recommended that these issues are addressed where possible.

12 priority projects for potential investment have been identified. Two of the sites have three or more full size pitch equivalents of poor or standard quality, with the remaining considered to be strategically important and in need of investment despite providing less provision, or not having been developed yet. Pitch quality ratings were evidenced by the current PPS and the prioritisation was made by local partners with the rationale of selecting sites that were the poorest in quality and that were most well utilised or had the greatest potential for increased utilisation following improvements.

1 - Bentham Playing Field – works to natural grass pitches

• Existing facilities: two full size equivalent pitches, changing facilities and MUGA – two tennis courts in size.
• Current users: recreational users.
• Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, senior football, women’s and girls football, disability football, recreational football and football for the over 50s. Potential relocation for Craven Wanderers FC.

13 - Burton in Longsdale – works to natural grass

• Existing facilities: one full size equivalent pitch, one sand filled AGP and changing facilities.
• Current users: recreational users.
• Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, senior football, women’s and girls football, disability football, recreational football and football for the over 50s. Potential relocation of Craven Wanderers FC .

2 - Ingleton Community Centre – works to natural grass pitches

• Existing facilities: one full size equivalent pitch, small size AGP (42x30) and community centre.
• Current users: Craven Wanderers FC, Ingleton FC and recreational users.
• Rationale: participation growth in: junior football, senior football, women’s and girls football, disability football, recreational football and football for the over 50s. Potential relocation for Craven Wanderers FC.

8 - Ingleton Primary School – works to natural grass pitches

• Existing facilities: two full size equivalent pitches
• Current users: nine affiliated teams from Craven Wanderers FC.
• Rationale: participation growth in; junior football and girls football.

*Due to the close proximity of projects numbers one, two, three and nine, these should be considered in conjunction. One of these sites should also be the location of an equipment bank for joint use between these sites.

3 - Settle College – works to natural pitches, consider site for pitch maintenance equipment bank

• Existing facilities: three full size equivalent pitches.
• Current users: five affiliated teams from Settle United Juniors FC and Settle College FC.
• Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, senior football, women’s and girls football, disability football, recreational football and football for the over 50s.

4 - Sandylands Grass Pitches – works to natural pitches and consider site for pitch maintenance equipment bank

• Existing facilities: four full size equivalent pitches.
• Current users: 12 affiliated teams from Skipton Junior FC (including three girls teams) and one affiliated team from Craven College FC.
• Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, senior football, women’s and girls football, disability football, recreational football and football for the over 50s.

5 - Gargrave Sports Field – works to natural pitches in short term; however, potential land swap (Embsay Sports Field) as part of housing development. Neighbouring land could provide more pitches to accommodate demand. It should be ensured these pitches are of good quality.

• Existing facilities: one full size equivalent pitch.
• Current users: two affiliated teams from Embsay Juniors FC Junior FC two affiliated team from GrassingtonJunior FC.
• Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, senior football, women’s and girls football, disability football, recreational football and football for the over 50s.

6 - The Skipton Academy – works to natural pitches including area of undulations where more pitches could be provided. This would need a feasibility study due to land being protected.

• Existing facilities: two full size equivalent pitches.
• Current users: five affiliated teams from Embsay Junior FC.
• Rationale: participation growth in; junior football and girls football.

7 - Embsay Sports Field – works to natural grass pitches

• Existing facilities: one full size equivalent pitch.
• Current users: recreational users.
• Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, senior football and women’s and girls football. NB - a long term project linked to close by housing development to provide youth and mini pitches to accommodate Embsay Juniors FC.

9 - Malsis School - as part of development of former school site look to provide pitches for Sutton Juniors FC and potentially Sutton FC.

• Existing facilities: disused school fields with old pavilion
• Current users: N/A
• Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, girls football and senior football

14 - Cononley Sport Club – works to natural grass pitch and extension of current 11v11 pitch to move away from cricket cross over.

• Existing facilities: one full size equivalent pitch and changing facilities.
• Current users: two affiliated teams from Cononley Sports Club First and Cononley Sports Juniors.
• Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, senior football.

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 three key sites with three or more full-size pitch equivalents in Craven, one has a suitable changing room pavilion/clubhouse, one has a changing room pavilion/clubhouse which is currently being built. The remaining site has a changing room pavilion/clubhouse that requires refurbishment.

An additional two sites with less than three full-size pitch equivalents are deemed to be strategically important and as such, are identified as requiring investment. Both of these would require a new changing room pavilion/clubhouse.

Three priority projects for potential investment have therefore been identified. Two projects have three or more full-size pitch equivalents and have a changing room pavilion/clubhouse deemed to be unsuitable. The other project is at a site which could provide more grass pitch provision in the future and would require new changing facilities.

3 - Settle College/Bridge End Ground – refurbish and extend Settle United FC clubhouse

• Existing facilities: three full size equivalent pitches (Settle College) and one adult grass pitch (Bridge End Ground).
• Current users: five affiliated teams from Settle United Juniors and three affiliated teams from Settle United FC.
• Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, girls football and senior football.

4 - Sandylands Grass Pitches – provide changing facilities that can accommodate Skipton Town Ladies and Skipton Town Juniors FC (potential to link this to other sports on site (cricket and rugby)

• Existing facilities: two adult grass pitches and two junior grass pitches.
• Current users: 12 affiliated teams from Skipton Junior FC (including three girls teams) and one affiliated team from Craven College FC.
• Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, senior football and women’s and girls football.

11 - Malsis School - as part of development of former school site look to refurbish changing pavilion

• Existing facilities: disused school fields with old pavilion.
• Current users: N/A.
• Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, girls football and senior football.

Good facilities are important to all small-sided football players, but it is important to understand the different formats of the small-sided game and the various facility types they relate to.

Research suggests that small-sided players in teams & leagues, and in recreational sessions, prefer a 3G surface type because it replicates a good standard natural turf pitch. These facilities have already been covered in the 3G FTP section of this LFFP.

Indoor environments currently accommodate 20% of football participation and are also popular with players in teams & leagues and recreational sessions . Indoor sports halls are most popular, along with some community halls and indoor 3G centres. Environments need to be engaging, have clear line-marking and the correct size goalposts.

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

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

Local consultation reveals there are no indoor facilities that require improvement to develop small-sided football.

Two potential opportunities for MUGA’s have been identified. In each case the rationale is based on the site being in an area of high urban population , limited green space , high levels of deprivation, high levels of lower social economic groups and corresponding high local demand for informal football:

15 - Cowling Park - Provide MUGA

• Existing facilities: small sized football goal, youth shelter and children's play area.
• Current users: recreational users.
• Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, girls football and recreational play.

10 - Greatwood & Horse Estate Community Centre – MUGA improvements to make dementia friendly for Sporting Memories Group. Look to carry out feasibility study for this.

• Existing facilities: MUGA and informal grass pitch.
• Current users: recreational users.
• Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, senior football, women’s and girls football, disability football, recreational football and football for the over 50s.

Following local consultation, two locations have been identified to support small-sided informal football. Here, the rationale is based on highly popular local parks and open green spaces with suitable space / areas to increase informal football:

11- Aireville Park - new informal football provision to accompany MUGA

• Existing facilities: children's play area.
• Current users: recreational users.
• Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, girls football and recreational play.

12 - Embsay Recreation Ground – improve informal football offer

• Existing facilities: MUGA wall and children's play area.
• Current users: recreational users and occasionally EmbsayJunior FC.
• Rationale: participation growth in: junior football, girls football and recreational play.

• Chairman - Settle United AFC
• Sports Development – Craven District Council
• Chairman – Skipton Walking Football
• Committee member – Craven Wanderers FC
• Head of Development – North Yorkshire Sport • Chairman – Sutton Juniors FC
• Founder – SELFA
• Development Manager - North Yorkshire Sport
• Sports Coordinator - Ingleton Primary School
• Representative - Skipton Junior FC & Skipton Ladies FC
• Representative - Friends of Embsay with Eastby Recreation Ground