Local Football Facility Plan Dorset

The Dorset Council area is in the South West region.

The current population of the Authority (ONS 2017 Mid-Year Estimate) is 373,989. This is expected to rise to 403,023 by 2039. This figure reflects the combined populations of the five former district authorities of East Dorset, Purbeck, North Dorset, West Dorset and Weymouth & Portland.

Of these, Weymouth & Portland has the higher level of deprivation, ranked 7th regionally (out of 37) and 101st nationally (out of 326). East Dorset has the lowest (37th regionally and 303rd nationally).

The ethnic composition of all five areas is primarily white; the percentage of persons classed as white accounts for 97-99% of the population in each area (compared to 85.4% nationally).

Local authority

The former five authorities that make up Dorset Council each have/had a wide ranging selection of strategies, together with individual local plans, committing them to protecting and enhancing sports facilities as well as encouraging residents to be more active. As part of the arrangement of forming a new unitary authority, Dorset Council now has a duty to prepare a Local Plan that covers the whole area by 2024.

Dorset Council is currently in the process of finalising its PPS (due for completion in August 2019). The key findings include a shortfall of youth 11v11 pitches within each of the five former authority areas and a shortfall of full size 3G pitches amounting to three in East Dorset, 1.25 in North Dorset, one in Purbeck, 0.5 in West Dorset and 1.5 in Weymouth & Portland.

County football association

The Dorset Council area is covered by the Dorset 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). There is no regularly active CCO covering the Dorset Council area, although some activity is delivered by the AFC Bournemouth Community Trust.

Local leisure operator

There is no main leisure operator for community football facilities in the Dorset Council area; the majority of facilities are managed in house by the Council.

Local consultation

Clubs, leagues and a variety of other interested parties as well as schools and parish councils were consulted as part of the PPS. To specifically inform the LFFP, additional agencies were interviewed further enhancing the depth and breadth of consultation. The 10 people and agencies spoken to (representing 12 local organisations) in the specific context of LFFP development include:

• AFC Bournemouth Community Trust
• Dorset Youth Association
• Dorset Race Equality Council

(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. The Dorset Council area has a total of 519 teams, a lower number than local areas of a similar size.

The FA is investing to support clubs both on and off the pitch which includes an aim to have a qualified FA coach with every youth team by 2020/21. In addition, it will support 1,000 clubs to create full player pathways from youth to adult teams and develop 150 community football hubs with male and female pathways, disability and recreational playing opportunities.

Over the last 10-years there has been a significant national increase in the number of large multi-team football clubs. In the Dorset Council area, 13 clubs have more than 10 registered teams. The largest of these (based upon 2018-19 affiliation data) are:

• Redlands FC (24 teams)
• Corfe Mullen United Juniors FC (20 teams)
• Dorchester Town Youth FC (20 teams)
• Blandford United Youth FC (19 teams)

Leagues

Seven leagues serve clubs and teams in the Dorset Council area. They offer competitive opportunities for many different players, including women and girls, disability, youth and adults. The largest local leagues (2018-19) include:

• Dorset Youth League - 183 teams - home and away
• Dorset League - 103 teams - home and away
• Dorset Girls' League - 42 teams - home and away.

The County FA reports some cross boundary migration to/from the Council area primarily due to teams migrating outwards to play in the Bournemouth leagues in Hampshire and the Devon and Yeovil (Somerset) leagues.

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 the Dorset Council area there are 17 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 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. The Dorset Council area has seven FA Wildcats girls football centres and the priority is to sustain this activity.

At 40, the Dorset Council area's number of female teams is comparable to local areas of a similar size. The County FA’s priority is to support existing clubs to grow and encourage more clubs to develop playing opportunities for females. The local girls’ league is the Dorset Girls' League in which matches are played on a home and away basis. It is expected to grow its provision in future years. The local adult female league is the Dorset Women's League in which are also 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 Southampton FC which is located in Hampshire. Higher level talent pathway opportunities are also provided regionally and nationally by the FA, culminating in the England Women’s national squads. There are no Women’s Super League team in the regions; however, Poole Town Ladies FC plays in the Women's National League and is the highest ranked women's team in the County. It provides player pathway opportunities for gifted and talented female players and a spectator interest for fans.

Small sided football

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

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

• Soccer Pitch - Claysmore School, Dorchester Stadium, Shaftesbury, Verwood and Wimborne.
• Power Play - Budmouth, Dorchester Sports Centre and Redlands Community Hub.
• Soccer Sixes - Beaminster.

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 19 futsal teams in the Dorset Council area that play in the FA affiliated competitions at key site locations. 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 the Dorset Council area. Walking football sessions are delivered by a range of community organisations such as Kixstart and Weymouth Wanderers Walking FC. Walking football and Just Play are County FA priorities for further growth and development. Other local recreational football programmes include casual bookings delivered by a range of organisations including local leisure centres.

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 is played across the Dorset Council area.

The key strengths of local football in the Dorset Council Area include adult female, adult male, youth male and adult disability provision and it is recommended that this is sustained and also encouraged to grow further. However, there are areas for improvement, including youth disability, small-sided, youth female, futsal and recreational football

It is therefore recommended that the development priorities for the Dorset Council area are:

1. Disability
2. Youth female
3. Recreational
4. Futsal
5. Small-sided

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 the Dorset Council area. 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 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.

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 are currently four full size 3G FTPs in the Dorset Council Area. These are located at:

• The Blandford School (North Dorset).
• Dorchester Sports Centre ( West Dorset).
• Dorchester Town Football Club (West Dorset).
• Redlands Community Sports Hub (Weymouth & Portland).

Planning permission has also been granted for the development of a full size 3G pitch at Wimborne Community Sports Hub (East Dorset), without Football Foundation funding. This will primarily service rugby activity but will be available for some football use as well.

Eight sites accommodate small-sided 3G FTPs:

• Potterne Park - 58 x 34 metres (East Dorset)
• Bovington Garrison - 38 x 28 metres (Purbeck)
• Lytchett Manor Sports Centre - 72 x 52 metres (Purbeck)
• Lytchett Matravers Primary School - 38 x 20 metres (Purbeck)
• Royal Armoured Corps Gunnery School - 40 x 28 metres (Purbeck)
• 1610 Beaminster Sport & Leiruse - 54 x 36 metres (West Dorset)
• Budmouth Community Sports Centre - 60 x 38 metres (West Dorset)
• HMP Portland - 46 x 25 metres (Weymouth & Portland).

All the full sized 3G FTPs are floodlit and available for community use. Two are on the FA Register for 3G FTPs (meaning they are quality checked and can be used for football match play). It is strongly recommended that the remaining two (at Redlands Community Sports Hub and Dorchester Sports Centre) are assessed and placed on the Register to enable more match play on 3G. To enable this, resurfacing is required at both. Resurfacing is already planned at Dorchester Sports Centre.

The emerging PPS identifies a current shortfall of 7.25 full size 3G FTPs (using the FA training ratio model; 1:38). This equates to three pitches in East Dorset, 1.25 in North Dorset, one in Purbeck, 0.5 in West Dorset and 1.5 in Weymouth & Portland.

Given the above, it is clear that the geographic spread of existing facilities is uneven, with no full size pitches in East Dorset despite there being substantial local demand. At present, West Dorset is best served. That said, there are provision gaps throughout the Dorset Council area and this LFFP makes recommendation intended to address this.

Local consultation confirms common issues with limited availability and long travel distances/times to play on 3G and it is recommended that these are addressed.

Nine priority projects for potential investment are identified based upon addressing existing shortfalls as well as providing good access, serving areas of greater population and achieving a reasonable geographic spread across the County.

Three full size 3G FTPs are proposed within East Dorset, one at Ferndown Leisure Centre and one at Potterne Park (in addition to the existing small-sided pitch on this site) as well as one within the Wimborne area. Although a pitch has planning permission at Wimborne Community Sports Hub, the timescales for delivery are unknown, so an additional potential project has been included. However, this should be subject to further investigative work on the deliverability of the 3G at Wimborne Community Sports Hub and in order to determine the level of football activity it would receive if provided. Wimborne FC has aspiration for its own 3G FTP (as part of a potential relocation) if there is still an identified shortfall.

For North Dorset, one full sized 3G FTP is proposed as well as a small-sided one. The full sized 3G FTP is earmarked for the Shaftesbury/Gillingham area as it can cater for existing demand in both towns, which is currently unprovided for. The small-sided pitch is to be provided in Sturminster as it is also without provision albeit insufficient demand exists to warrant a full size 3G pitch due to its rural nature. Suitable sites for both pitches are still to be determined.

Purbeck Sports Centre is identified as a site in Purbeck. It has been included as a full size pitch project; however, a 9v9 pitch could be considered instead, depending on strategic need when the delivery process begins.

In West Dorset, the Bridport Area has been identified. The FA model suggests that there is only need for a small-sided pitch in West Dorset; however, full size 3G FTP provision is considered to be required as Bridport is currently without a 3G facility despite high demand. Existing provision is located in Dorchester, which teams from this part of the area are unlikely to be able/willing to travel to. The recommended development should service the Bridport Football Partnership, which comprises of clubs and teams from Bridport, Lyme, Beaminster, Netherbury, Pymore and Charmouth.

A full size 3G FTP is identified as being required in Weymouth, with a small-sided 3G pitch identified for Portland as there is insufficient demand exists for a full sized 3G FTP. Sites are still to be determined for both areas.

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 28 grass pitch sites in the Dorset Council Area with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three pitches but deemed to be of strategic importance). These contain 118 grass pitches. Of these, three are considered to be pitches that are of good quality, 15 are standard quality and 10 poor quality.

Local consultation confirms common issues with poor quality and it is recommended that this is addressed. Furthermore, some key sites face security of tenure issues - these require resolution.

Of the 28 key pitch sites referenced above it was determined that 19 should be prioritised for improvements. This will result in quality improvements to 78 pitches. This equates to seven sites (29 pitches) in East Dorset, four sites (13 pitches) in North Dorset, three sites (eight pitches) in Purbeck, two sites (nine pitches) in West Dorset and three sites (19 pitches) in Weymouth & Portland.

19 priority projects for potential investment have been identified. Pitch quality rating was evidenced by the PPS and ratified by local partners. Prioritisation was based on a rationale of selecting sites in poor (and in some cases standard) condition, that have the most pitches and that are, or have the potential to be, best utilised.

One option that could be considered in the future at specific sites identified for improvement is the installation of hybrid pitches as a means to improve quality and reduce identified shortfalls. Nevertheless, it must be stated that hybrid pitch development is currently in pilot stage. It is, thus, not yet eligible for funding and a full assessment of surface quality, durability and the associated business model is to be undertaken.

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 29 key grass pitch sites in the Dorset Council area with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three but deemed to be of strategic importance), 19 have suitable changing rooms (or are without changing rooms but not considered to be in need), eight require improvement/replacement and two have no facilities and require new changing rooms.

Ten priority projects for potential investment are identified.; two in East Dorset, three in Purbeck, two in North Dorset and three in Weymouth & Portland.

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 one indoor facility that requires improvement to develop small-sided football. This is the Bridport Youth & Community Centre, which currently hosts sessions for walking football.

Local consultation reveals eight potential opportunities for MUGAs. In each case the rationale is based on the site being in an area of high urban population and relatively high demand despite a lack of formal facilities, or due to locally relatively high proportions of people from lower social economic groups.

Two MUGA opportunities are identified in Purbeck, three in West Dorset and three in Weymouth & Portland.

No locations are identified to support small sided informal football. It is considered that MUGA development is more appropriate.

A range of local agencies was invited to participate in the LFFP consultation. Those that contributed are listed below:

• Head of Community - AFC Bournemouth Community Trust
• Clubs and Groups Worker - Dorset Youth Association
• Equality and Diversity Manager - Dorset Health Care University
• Manager - Verwood Youth Club
• Dorset Mental Health Forum
• Blandford Youth & Community Centre
• Group Lead - Disability Action Group
• Project Leader - Bournemouth Church Housing Association
• CEO - Active Dorset
• Leisure Commissioning Manager - Dorset County Council
• Project Development Officer - Dorset County Council
• Leisure Services Partnership Manager - Dorset County Council

In addition, clubs and leagues, schools and parish councils were consulted as part of the emerging PPS.