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Local Football Facility Plan Daventry

Full report

Introduction

01

This is the Local Football Facility Plan (LFFP) for Daventry. It was prepared by Knight, Kavanagh and Page (KKP) with support from local partners, including:

  • Northamptonshire FA
  • Daventry DC
  • Sport England
  • Football Foundation

What is the goal?

Every local area in the Country will have a LFFP to enable investment in football facilities to be accurately targeted.

Who is behind this?

The Football Association, the Premier League and Sport England (on behalf of Government). This partnership finances the National Football Facility Strategy (NFFS) and commissions the Football Foundation to deliver it.

What is the purpose of this plan?

The national funding partners have significantly increased investment to accelerate efforts to deliver more and better football facilities for the grassroots game. The purpose of this plan is to identify the priority projects for potential investment in Daventry.

2019 Introduction
2019 Introduction 2

Why invest in football facilities?

As the nation’s most popular team sport, football has the power to contribute positively to vital social outcomes and health priorities. To maximise this power, facilities have to be welcoming environments to attract first-time users and repeat visits, whether for informal, recreational or competitive football.

Research clearly and continually demonstrates the positive impact high-quality football facilities, in the right locations, can have on participation and enjoyment. Latent demand exists, but facility quantity and quality has to ‘step up’ if football is to reach out to everyone.

How are we going to do it?

£1.3billion has been spent by football and Government since 2000 to enhance existing football facilities and build new ones. However, more is needed if football and Government’s shared objectives for participation, individual well-being and community cohesion are to be achieved.

Nationally, direct investment will be increased – initially to £69 million per annum from football and Government (a 15% increase on recent years). Locally, the work has already started - this LFFP will guide the allocation of 90% of national funds and forge stronger partnerships with local stakeholders to develop key sites. This, together with local match-funding will deliver over one billion pounds of investment into football facilities over the next 10-years.

What are the priorities for investment?

This LFFP, with guidance from local partners, has developed a list of high level projects for potential investment. Each is aligned to the investment priorities set out in the National Football Facilities Strategy, which include:

  • 1,000 new 3G football turf pitches (FTPs): in a mix of sizes and settings, dependent upon local needs. All aimed at enhancing the quality of the playing experience.
  • 20,000 improved natural-turf pitches: to help address drop-off due to a poor playing experience.
  • 1,000 new changing pavilions / clubhouses: all linked to priority sites.
  • Small-sided facilities: to grow the small-sided game for teams & leagues, recreational and informal play.

What outcomes will be achieved?

The priority projects for potential investment identified in this plan will help develop a sustainable network of quality facilities to drive participation across all parts of the game. Central to this are five key success factors: quality, inclusivity, sustainability, engagement and usage. Each identified project takes account of these factors.

The project list sets out all priority projects for potential investment. Each is scored against two principal factors: deliverability and the five key outcomes (as stated above).

The list will be used flexibly; project ‘rating’ does not determine the exact order in which it will progress to a funding application to the Football Foundation, as many factors influence this. The process for moving a project from this list and into the ‘pre-application stage’ will be managed by the Football Foundation.

How should this plan be used?

This LFFP will, in effect, be the go-to document for football facility investment in Daventry.

Whilst it identifies priority projects for potential investment, it does not guarantee the success of future funding applications. Each project must still follow an application process to show how it will deliver key participation outcomes, become a quality and sustainable facility and demonstrate suitable match-funding.

When a project is in a position to proceed, the Football Foundation will determine a suitable timeframe to submit a grant application and pre-application support will be provided by Northamptonshire County FA and the Football Foundation.

Set a 10-Year vision to transform local football facilities
Identify priority projects to be delivered
Act as an investment portfolio for projects that require funding
Be updated on a regular basis

How should this plan NOT be used?

A LFFP is an investment portfolio of priority projects for potential investment - it is not a detailed demand and supply analysis of all pitch provision in a local area. It cannot be used as a replacement for a playing pitch strategy (PPS) and it will not be accepted as an evidence base for site change of use or disposal.

A LFFP will however build on available/existing local evidence and strategic plans and may adopt relevant actions from a PPS and/or complement these with additional investment priorities.

2019 Introduction 3
2019 Introduction 4

Daventry

02

Local area

Daventry is in the East Midlands Region.

The current population of the Authority (ONS 2017 Mid-Year Estimate) is 84,484. This is expected to rise to 90,317 by 2039.

Daventry is ranked 31st out of 40 LAs in the region, and 238th out of 326 LAs nationally on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (ONS).

Daventry's ethnic composition is primarily white (97%). This is higher than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of Daventry’s population represented by the BAME community is 3%. This is significantly below the national average (14.6%)

Demographics

  • 84,484 Current population (2018)
  • 90,317 Projected population (2039)
  • 31st most deprived out of 40 local authorities in the region
  • 238th most deprived out of 326 local authorities in England

Ethnicity data

  • Asian (1.52%)
  • Black (0.62%)
  • Mixed (1.25%)
  • Other (0.11%)
  • White (96.51%)
23%
26%
25%

% of people that are inactive

  • Daventry
  • Region
  • England

*ONS data and Sport England Active Lives Survey 2016/17

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Local partners

Local authority

The Daventry Council 2019-23 Sports Facilities Investment Strategy sets out its overall vision and priority projects in respect of built sports facilities, including the intention to provide a new leisure centre in the East of the district. Its Playing Pitch Strategy was adopted in 2018. Its key findings are that:

  • The Council should retain and improve the stock of grass pitches and their ancillary facilities.
  • There is sufficient secure and accessible football playing field space to meet all future demand, so long as “surplus” senior pitches are re-marked to provide for the smaller pitch sizes.
  • There will be a shortfall of training space according to the Football Association’s target of around 68 training slots by 2029. This is the equivalent of 1.6 full size 3G FTPs.

It should be noted that , as part of a reorganisation of current Northamptonshire Local Authority boundaries, Daventry District Council will be subsumed into a larger West Northamptonshire unitary authority alongside Northampton and South Northamptonshire with a 'go live' date of April 2021. Future versions of the LFFP should therefore reflect the revised Local Authority boundaries.

County football association

Daventry is covered by the Northamptonshire 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.

Football Foundation Investment

13 Total grants
  • £2,597,464 Total project cost
  • £1,742,620 Total grant value
  • 7 Sites improved
  • 1 New 3G FTPs
  • 5 Changing rooms / pavilions
  • 10 Grass pitches improved

See Football Foundation website for more info (http://www.footballfoundation.org.uk/impact/where-our-money-goes)

Grant data above represents Football Foundation investment during the period 2000 - 2018.

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). The Northampton Town FC community trust runs a variety of health, education, engagement, football and sporting activities in the local area.

Local leisure operator

Everyone Active is the key leisure operator in Daventry. It runs Daventry Leisure Centre and the accompanying full size 3G FTP.

Local consultation

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

  • Everyone Active
  • Active Northamptonshire
  • Northampton Town FC.

(See Appendix B for full list of consultees)

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2019 Local consultation 2

Local football

Clubs

There are over 91,000 community football teams in England, spread over an expansive network of clubs and leagues. Daventry has a total of 213 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 Daventry, seven clubs have more than ten registered teams. These (based upon 2019-20 affiliation data) are:

  • Moulton Football Club – 32 teams
  • Crick Athletic & Colts – 23 teams
  • Brixworth – 22 teams
  • Daventry Town & Youth – 21 teams
  • West Haddon – 14 teams
  • Drayton Grange – 10 teams
  • Weedon FC – 10 teams

Affiliated Teams

213 Teams
  • 40 Adult male teams
  • 5 Adult female teams
  • 75 Youth male teams
  • 11 Youth female teams
  • 0 Disability teams
  • 82 Mini-soccer teams

The FA Whole Game System- season 2019/20

Leagues

Several leagues cater for clubs and teams in Daventry. They offer competitive opportunities for many different players, including mini soccer, youth male, youth female, adult male and adult female. The main local leagues (2019-20) include:

  • Northamptonshire Combination League (step 7) – 63 teams – home and away
  • Northamptonshire Sunday Combination veterans – 18 teams – home and away
  • Nene Sunday League – 53 teams – home and away
  • Northamptonshire Women & Girls League – 81 teams – home and away

The County FA reports some cross-boundary migration to/from Daventry primarily due to teams playing in neighbouring boroughs; Northampton and South Northamptonshire.

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Disability 2

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 Daventry there is currently no football team / session specifically for people with a disability. However Northampton Town MultiDisabled FC uses Moulton College as its base for 13 teams. 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. Daventry has one FA Wildcats girls football centre at Crick Football Club. The priority is to grow and sustain this activity.

At 16, Daventry’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’ and adult women's league is the Macron Northamptonshire Women and Girls Football League in which matches are played on a home and away basis. It is expected to grow and sustain its provision for both girls and women in future years.

For talented players, the most local FA Regional Talent Club (RTC) is Leicester City FC. Higher level talent pathway opportunities are also provided regionally and nationally by the FA, culminating in the England Women’s national squads. The most local Women’s Super League team is Birmingham City (WSL) while Leicester City Women (WC) also provides player pathway opportunities for gifted and talented female players and a spectator interest for fans.

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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. A key local provider is Power Play.

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

There is currently no futsal team in Daventry. However, Moulton College’s Holcot Centre is an excellent venue for national level futsal and regularly hosts league matches for Kettering Futsal Club and Northampton Lions Futsal Club.

It is a priority for the County FA to initiate, grow and sustain futsal for male, female, youth and adult players.

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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 Everyone Active at both Hart and Frogmore leisure centres.

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

There are currently seven affiliated futsal teams in Hart. It is a priority for the County FA to grow Futsal for all players.

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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 three FA Just Play centres in Daventry. Walking football sessions are delivered by a range of community organisation such as Everyone Active and local grassroots football clubs. Walking football and Just Play are County FA priorities for further growth and development. Other local recreational football programmes include casual bookings on 3G and sand-based artificial turf pitches throughout the district.

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 Daventry is played particularly in the central and north part of the local authority.

Summary

The key strengths of local football in Daventry include large numbers of affiliated mini soccer, youth and adult football teams playing in large Charter Standard clubs. It is recommended that this is sustained and encouraged to grow further. However, there are aspects of football provision that do not compare favourably with local authorities of a similar size, these include the number of female teams and the absence of disability teams. It is therefore recommended that the future football development priorities for Daventry are:

  1. High quality introduction to football – male, female, disability, futsal
  2. Develop clubs and leagues – charter standard, safeguarding and respect
  3. Embrace all formats, engage all participants
  4. Recruit, develop and support the workforce
  5. Develop sustainable football facilities

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.

Assets and opportunities

03

This section reviews existing football facility assets in Daventry. It identifies current issues and presents opportunities for improvement, 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 is 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.

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3G football turf pitches (FTPs)

2019 assets and ops 2

Improved grass pitches

2019 assets and ops 3

Changing room pavilions/ clubhouses

2019 assets and ops 4

Small sided facilities

3G football turf pitches (FTPs)

04

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.

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Assets and opportunities

The three full-sized (11 v 11) 3G FTPs in Daventry are located at

  • Moulton Magpies
  • Moulton College
  • Daventry Sports Park

There is also a small sided 3G FTP at Communications Park (Daventry Town FC).

Each of the three pitches is available for community use and all are on the FA 3G Pitch Register.

The Daventry PPS was adopted in 2018 based on 2017/8 affiliation data. The PPS indicates a shortfall of 1.6 full size 3G FTPs based on future population growth to 2029.

The geographic spread of existing facilities is uneven; existing pitches are located close to the borders with Rugby (Daventry Sports Park) and Northampton (Moulton College & Moulton Magpies) where there are concentrations of population. Local consultation nevertheless reveals common issues with limited availability of 3G provision given that Northampton Town in the Community has the majority of access to the Moulton College FTP, meanwhile Moulton Magpies, due to its size, occupies the majority of the programme at its own FTP.

3 Current full sized 3G FTPs
1 Full sized 3G FTP project
0 Small sided 3G FTP project

Priority projects

One priority project for potential investment is identified; for an additional full size 3G FTP in the central area of Daventry district. This is a response to consultation findings confirming that several larger community clubs e.g Crick Athletic, Brixworth Juniors do not have sufficient access to 3G for training and matchplay. A site location has yet to be identified and further feasibility work is required to take the project forward. Due to the wide geographical spread of district, there is potential for 2 x 9 v 9 3G pitches instead of 1 x full size 3G to be provided.

11

Central Daventry district 3G FTP

Location

Central Daventry district 3G FTP , NN6 8QE

Facilities
  • New 11v11 Floodlit 3G FTP (1)
Owner

Not known

Deliverability score

Low (1/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.9/4

Overall score

56% (6.8/12)

Notes

Current facilities - n/a

Existing users - n/a

Rationale - Consultation identified a lack of training / matchplay access to 3G amongst clubs in the Central / Northern area of the district such as West Haddon and Brixworth Juniors (c 40 teams in total combined).

Project Focus

Adult male; Mini-soccer; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

A project's overall score provides an indication of its potential outcomes and deliverability only (weighted twice as much towards the outcomes score). It does not impact the likelihood or level of any potential investment.

Priority 3G projects

Pitchfinder

Improved grass pitches

05

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.

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2019 grass pitch 2

Assets and opportunities

There are currently 12 grass pitch sites in Daventry with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three pitches but deemed to be of strategic importance). These contain 35 grass pitches. Local consultation confirms the common issues with poor quality and it is recommended that this is addressed. Of the key pitch sites referenced above it was determined that seven should be prioritised. This will result in quality improvements to eighteen pitches:

Priority projects

12 Key grass pitch sites
7 Sites prioritised for improvement
18 Full size pitch equivalents at these sites

Seven 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 improving sites that are in poor condition and with a strategic focus to improve pitches. catering for club play.

1

Jubilee Sports Field

Location

JUBILEE SPORTS FIELD JUBILEE FIELD RECREATION GROUND BRIDGE STREET, WEEDON, Northamptonshire, NN7 4PW

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (1)
  • New Changing Pavilion (1)
Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.2/4

Overall score

54% (6.4/12)

Notes

Current facilities - 1 full size grass pitch equivalent


Existing Users - Weedon FC (13 teams)


Rationale - Current single pitch is over marked, overplayed and of poor quality as are the changing facilities. Unless a suitable alternative site can be found to accommodate the club (Weedon FC) , the current facility retains strategic value given its level of usage and should be prioritised for improvement.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

2

Crick Athletic Sports Field

Location

CRICK PLAYING FIELD MAIN ROAD, CRICK, NORTHAMPTON, Northamptonshire, NN6 7TX

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (2)
Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

High (3/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.6/4

Overall score

68% (8.1/12)

Notes

Current facilities - 3 full size grass pitch equivalents

Existing users - Crick Athletic

Rationale - Site identified during consultation / PPS as suffering from poor drainage and requiring improvement.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

4

West Haddon Playing Fields

Location

WEST HADDON PLAYING FIELDS 51 OLD FORGE DRIVE, WEST HADDON, NORTHAMPTON, Northamptonshire, NN6 7ET

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch maintenance (2)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.0/4

Overall score

50% (6.0/12)

Notes

Current facilities - 2 full size grass pitch equivalents

Existing Users -West Haddon Albion (17 teams)

Rationale - Multi - sport site identified during consultation as requiring improved grounds maintenance and pavilion refurbishment.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

5

Long Buckby RFC

Location

LONG BUCKBY RFC 25 WATSON ROAD, LONG BUCKBY, NORTHAMPTON, Northamptonshire, NN6 7PS

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (3)
  • Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)
Owner

Other

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.2/4

Overall score

54% (6.4/12)

Notes

Current facilities - 3 full sized grass pitch equivalents

Existing Users- Long Buckby FC (15 affiliated teams)

Rationale- Site identified in PPS as requiring improvements to grass pitches and changing provision

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

6

Brunting Rd (Moulton FC)

Location

BRUNTING ROAD (MOULTON FC) BRUNTING ROAD, MOULTON, NORTHAMPTON, Northamptonshire, NN3 7QF

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (6)
Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.5/4

Overall score

59% (7.0/12)

Notes

Current facilities 1 full size grass pitch equivalent, 1 x 3G FTP

Existing Users - Moulton Magpies

Rationale - Consultation confirmed the potential for the club to acquire an additional 6 ha of land capable of forming playing field provision.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

7

St Davids Playing Field

Location

ST DAVIDS PLAYING FIELDS ST DAVIDS RECREATION GROUND ST DAVIDS CLOSE, BRIXWORTH, Northamptonshire, NN6 9EA

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (2)
  • Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.0/4

Overall score

50% (6.0/12)

Notes

Current facilities - 2 full sized grass pitch equivalents

Existing Users- Brixworth Juniors (30 teams)

Rationale- Site identified in consultation / PPS as requiring improvements to grass pitches.

Site also has current concrete MUGA / tennis court in poor condition and with potential for upgrade to a modern small sided facility.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

8

Ashway Playing field

Location

ASHWAY PLAYING FIELD The Ashway, Brixworth, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN6 9UZ

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (2)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.2/4

Overall score

54% (6.4/12)

Notes

Current facilities - 2 full sized grass pitch equivalents

Existing users - Brixworth Juniors (30 teams)

Rationale - Site identified in consultation with club / CFA as having potential to deliver a small sided 3G FTP

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

A project's overall score provides an indication of its potential outcomes and deliverability only (weighted twice as much towards the outcomes score). It does not impact the likelihood or level of any potential investment.

Priority grass pitch sites

Pitchfinder

Changing room pavilions / clubhouses

06

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.

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Changing room 2.png

Assets and opportunities

Of the 13 key grass pitch sites in Daventry with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three but deemed to be of strategic importance), ten have suitable changing rooms , one requires improvement/replacement and one facility requires new build.

10 Key sites have suitable changing rooms / pavilions / clubhouses
1 Require improvement / replacement
1 Have no facilities and require new builds

Priority projects

Two priority projects for investment are identified:

1

Jubilee Sports Field

Location

JUBILEE SPORTS FIELD JUBILEE FIELD RECREATION GROUND BRIDGE STREET, WEEDON, Northamptonshire, NN7 4PW

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (1)
  • New Changing Pavilion (1)
Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.2/4

Overall score

54% (6.4/12)

Notes

Current facilities - 1 full size grass pitch equivalent


Existing Users - Weedon FC (13 teams)


Rationale - Current single pitch is over marked, overplayed and of poor quality as are the changing facilities. Unless a suitable alternative site can be found to accommodate the club (Weedon FC) , the current facility retains strategic value given its level of usage and should be prioritised for improvement.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

5

Long Buckby RFC

Location

LONG BUCKBY RFC 25 WATSON ROAD, LONG BUCKBY, NORTHAMPTON, Northamptonshire, NN6 7PS

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (3)
  • Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)
Owner

Other

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.2/4

Overall score

54% (6.4/12)

Notes

Current facilities - 3 full sized grass pitch equivalents

Existing Users- Long Buckby FC (15 affiliated teams)

Rationale- Site identified in PPS as requiring improvements to grass pitches and changing provision

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

A project's overall score provides an indication of its potential outcomes and deliverability only (weighted twice as much towards the outcomes score). It does not impact the likelihood or level of any potential investment.

Priority changing room projects

Pitchfinder

Small sided facilities

07

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.

2019 small sided 4
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Priority projects

1 Improved indoor spaces
3 MUGAs
0 Better parks / open green spaces

Indoor

Local consultation indicates one indoor facility with the potential to further develop small-sided football; the indoor hall at Daventry Leisure Centre needs improvements to its floor and line markings to enable a better environment for small sided football.

Priority indoor project

Pitchfinder

Multi use games areas

In terms of small sided football , consultation with Northants Active Partnership confirmed the following areas in Daventry as ‘hotspot’ areas for increasing participation amongst low socio – economic groups and people with disabilities.

  • Abbey Nth / South ward
  • Town Centre
  • Daventry Country Park

Exact location / facility requirements are to be confirmed following further local feasibility work.

In addition, a further potential project has been identified at St Davids playing field, involving conversion of an existing concrete MUGA.

Priority small sided projects

Pitchfinder
7

St Davids Playing Field

Location

ST DAVIDS PLAYING FIELDS ST DAVIDS RECREATION GROUND ST DAVIDS CLOSE, BRIXWORTH, Northamptonshire, NN6 9EA

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (2)
  • Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.0/4

Overall score

50% (6.0/12)

Notes

Current facilities - 2 full sized grass pitch equivalents

Existing Users- Brixworth Juniors (30 teams)

Rationale- Site identified in consultation / PPS as requiring improvements to grass pitches.

Site also has current concrete MUGA / tennis court in poor condition and with potential for upgrade to a modern small sided facility.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

9

Daventry small sided / recreational facility

Location

, NN11 4FP

Facilities
  • Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Owner

Not known

Deliverability score

Low (1/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.5/4

Overall score

50% (5.9/12)

Notes

Consultation with Active Northamptonshire identified the following locations in Daventry that have been agreed by the steering group as having potential to deliver strong outcomes in relation to social / recreational football.

Abbey Nth / South ward
Town Centre
Daventry Country Park

It is recommended that further feasibility work is undertaken to identify precise locations and possible facility improvements.

Project Focus

IMD / lower social economic groups; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Youth female; Youth male

10

Daventry Leisure Centre indoor hall

Location

DAVENTRY LEISURE CENTRE LODGE ROAD, DAVENTRY, Northamptonshire, NN11 4GP

Facilities
  • Refurbish Indoor Football Facility (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.6/4

Overall score

59% (7.1/12)

Notes

Current facilities - 6 court sports hall

Existing users - Casual / recreational small sided football bookings.

Rationale - Consultation with Everyone Active confirmed that the sports hall floor / markings are in need of improvement in order to offer a better standard of facility for futsal.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; IMD / lower social economic groups; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

A project's overall score provides an indication of its potential outcomes and deliverability only (weighted twice as much towards the outcomes score). It does not impact the likelihood or level of any potential investment.

Appendix A: Priority project list

08

This list sets out all priority projects for potential investment. Each is scored against two principal factors: deliverability and outcomes (quality, inclusivity, sustainability, engagement and usage).

The list will be used flexibly; project ‘rating’ does not determine the exact order in which it will progress to a funding application to the Football Foundation as many factors influence this. The process for moving a project from this list and into the ‘pre-application stage’ will be managed by the Football Foundation.

2

Crick Athletic Sports Field

Location

CRICK PLAYING FIELD MAIN ROAD, CRICK, NORTHAMPTON, Northamptonshire, NN6 7TX

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (2)
Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

High (3/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.6/4

Overall score

68% (8.1/12)

Notes

Current facilities - 3 full size grass pitch equivalents

Existing users - Crick Athletic

Rationale - Site identified during consultation / PPS as suffering from poor drainage and requiring improvement.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

10

Daventry Leisure Centre indoor hall

Location

DAVENTRY LEISURE CENTRE LODGE ROAD, DAVENTRY, Northamptonshire, NN11 4GP

Facilities
  • Refurbish Indoor Football Facility (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.6/4

Overall score

59% (7.1/12)

Notes

Current facilities - 6 court sports hall

Existing users - Casual / recreational small sided football bookings.

Rationale - Consultation with Everyone Active confirmed that the sports hall floor / markings are in need of improvement in order to offer a better standard of facility for futsal.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; IMD / lower social economic groups; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

6

Brunting Rd (Moulton FC)

Location

BRUNTING ROAD (MOULTON FC) BRUNTING ROAD, MOULTON, NORTHAMPTON, Northamptonshire, NN3 7QF

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (6)
Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.5/4

Overall score

59% (7.0/12)

Notes

Current facilities 1 full size grass pitch equivalent, 1 x 3G FTP

Existing Users - Moulton Magpies

Rationale - Consultation confirmed the potential for the club to acquire an additional 6 ha of land capable of forming playing field provision.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

11

Central Daventry district 3G FTP

Location

Central Daventry district 3G FTP , NN6 8QE

Facilities
  • New 11v11 Floodlit 3G FTP (1)
Owner

Not known

Deliverability score

Low (1/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.9/4

Overall score

56% (6.8/12)

Notes

Current facilities - n/a

Existing users - n/a

Rationale - Consultation identified a lack of training / matchplay access to 3G amongst clubs in the Central / Northern area of the district such as West Haddon and Brixworth Juniors (c 40 teams in total combined).

Project Focus

Adult male; Mini-soccer; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

1

Jubilee Sports Field

Location

JUBILEE SPORTS FIELD JUBILEE FIELD RECREATION GROUND BRIDGE STREET, WEEDON, Northamptonshire, NN7 4PW

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (1)
  • New Changing Pavilion (1)
Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.2/4

Overall score

54% (6.4/12)

Notes

Current facilities - 1 full size grass pitch equivalent


Existing Users - Weedon FC (13 teams)


Rationale - Current single pitch is over marked, overplayed and of poor quality as are the changing facilities. Unless a suitable alternative site can be found to accommodate the club (Weedon FC) , the current facility retains strategic value given its level of usage and should be prioritised for improvement.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

5

Long Buckby RFC

Location

LONG BUCKBY RFC 25 WATSON ROAD, LONG BUCKBY, NORTHAMPTON, Northamptonshire, NN6 7PS

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (3)
  • Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)
Owner

Other

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.2/4

Overall score

54% (6.4/12)

Notes

Current facilities - 3 full sized grass pitch equivalents

Existing Users- Long Buckby FC (15 affiliated teams)

Rationale- Site identified in PPS as requiring improvements to grass pitches and changing provision

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

8

Ashway Playing field

Location

ASHWAY PLAYING FIELD The Ashway, Brixworth, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN6 9UZ

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (2)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.2/4

Overall score

54% (6.4/12)

Notes

Current facilities - 2 full sized grass pitch equivalents

Existing users - Brixworth Juniors (30 teams)

Rationale - Site identified in consultation with club / CFA as having potential to deliver a small sided 3G FTP

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

4

West Haddon Playing Fields

Location

WEST HADDON PLAYING FIELDS 51 OLD FORGE DRIVE, WEST HADDON, NORTHAMPTON, Northamptonshire, NN6 7ET

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch maintenance (2)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.0/4

Overall score

50% (6.0/12)

Notes

Current facilities - 2 full size grass pitch equivalents

Existing Users -West Haddon Albion (17 teams)

Rationale - Multi - sport site identified during consultation as requiring improved grounds maintenance and pavilion refurbishment.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

7

St Davids Playing Field

Location

ST DAVIDS PLAYING FIELDS ST DAVIDS RECREATION GROUND ST DAVIDS CLOSE, BRIXWORTH, Northamptonshire, NN6 9EA

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (2)
  • Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.0/4

Overall score

50% (6.0/12)

Notes

Current facilities - 2 full sized grass pitch equivalents

Existing Users- Brixworth Juniors (30 teams)

Rationale- Site identified in consultation / PPS as requiring improvements to grass pitches.

Site also has current concrete MUGA / tennis court in poor condition and with potential for upgrade to a modern small sided facility.

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

9

Daventry small sided / recreational facility

Location

, NN11 4FP

Facilities
  • Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Owner

Not known

Deliverability score

Low (1/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.5/4

Overall score

50% (5.9/12)

Notes

Consultation with Active Northamptonshire identified the following locations in Daventry that have been agreed by the steering group as having potential to deliver strong outcomes in relation to social / recreational football.

Abbey Nth / South ward
Town Centre
Daventry Country Park

It is recommended that further feasibility work is undertaken to identify precise locations and possible facility improvements.

Project Focus

IMD / lower social economic groups; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Youth female; Youth male

A project's overall score provides an indication of its potential outcomes and deliverability only (weighted twice as much towards the outcomes score). It does not impact the likelihood or level of any potential investment.

Appendix B: Consultation list

09

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:

  • Representative -Crick Athletic
  • Representative - Moulton Magpies
  • Representative - Brixworth Juniors
  • Representative - Weedon FC
  • Representative - West Haddon Albion FC
  • Partnership Director - Active Northamptonshire
  • Chief Executive - Northampton Town FC
  • General Manager - Everyone Active Daventry

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