Local Football Facility Plan East Riding of Yorkshire

The East Riding of Yorkshire Council is located in the Yorkshire region. The current population of the Authority (ONS 2017 Mid-Year Estimate) is 338,061. This is expected to rise to 361,933 by 2039.

East Riding is ranked 15 out of 21 LAs in the region, and 216 out of 326 LAs nationally within the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (ONS)

East Riding’s ethnic composition is primarily White (98%) and this is significantly higher than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of East Riding’s population represented by the BAME community is 2%. This is significantly below the national average (14.6%).

Local Authority

East Riding’s Leisure, Sport and Physical activity strategy (2015-20) states that the Council will work with relevant partners to promote physical and mental well being through the provision and facilitation of Leisure Services.

The key objectives of the strategy are:

• Encourage the entire community to interact positively through participation in leisure, sport and physical activity.
• Use sport to facilitate community cohesion to improve health and quality of life and reduce crime rates.
• Continuous improvement in the efficient provision of leisure facilities and services.
• Promote access for all individuals to quality sport and physical activity.
• Maximise sport’s contribution to economic regeneration.

The local authority is currently undertaking a Playing Pitch Strategy which is due to be completed in summer 2019. Its overarching findings in relation to football are that there is an overall shortfall of seven 3G FTPs over the period to 2024, and that there are issues around poor grass pitch quality that should be addressed.

County Football Association

East Riding is covered by East 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.

The Institute of Groundsman are commissioned by the FA to provide support to the East Riding County FA, through the Regional Pitch Advisor. The IOG Advisor undertakes independent technical grass football pitch inspections and provides recommendations to improve the grass pitches. This could be recommendations of new machinery, maintenance schedules as well as other improvement works.

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.

County Sport Partnership

East Riding is covered by Active Humber, the Active Partnership for the County area, which has a remit to support people of all ages and backgrounds to improve their health & wellbeing by taking part in regular physical activity and sport; working to and supporting Sport England’s Towards an Active Nation strategy at a county level.

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)

These continue to expand and enhance their range of community delivery, offering a variety of programmes and services to support local communities (sporting and non-sporting). Tigers Sport & Education Trust (Hull City AFC) runs a variety of health, education, engagement, football and sporting activities within the local area.

The Trust is a registered charity linked to Hull City Football Club that endeavours to establish a sustainable impact in communities in which it works. The Trust is open to opportunities to partner with facility owners (schools, local football clubs and leisure providers) to maximise funding and deliver more activity. The Trust prioritises areas based on the outcomes that could be achieved i.e. progression in football and sport, improved health and wellbeing, improved academic attainment and employability skills, reduced crime and anti-social behaviour.

The Trust provides coaching services in primary schools to children of all abilities and encourages participation outside of school by placing holiday activities in clusters of partner schools. Within the clusters, the Trust will link with local grassroots clubs to provide further progression. Priority areas in the East Riding of Yorkshire for 2019/20 include: Beverley, Bridlington, Cottingham, Hornsea, South Holderness and Welton/Brough.

Local leisure operator

East Riding of Yorkshire Council operates its leisure facilities in-house, including ten indoor sports centres. East Riding Leisure (Haltemprice) has a small sided 3G FTP.

Local consultation

This has taken place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in East Riding of Yorkshire. Thirty five individuals (representing 27 local organisations) were consulted. These include:

• Bishop Burton College
• Tigers Sport & Education Trust
• Hull University
• Bridlington CYP
• The Snaith School

Clubs

There are over 91,000 community football teams in England, spread over an expansive network of clubs and leagues. The East Riding of Yorkshire has a total of 616 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 the East Riding of Yorkshire, 18 clubs have more than 10 registered teams. These (based upon 2017-18 affiliation data) are:

• Hessle Sporting Club - 41 teams
• Cottingham Rangers AFC - 28 teams
• AFC Tickton - 26 teams
• Hessle Rangers - 26 teams
• Beverley Town - 21 teams
• Hedon Rangers FC - 21 teams
• Bridlington Rangers Juniors - 20 teams
• North Ferriby United Amateurs - 18 teams
• Stamford Bridge Juniors - 17 teams
• East Riding Rangers - 17 teams
• Driffield Junior FC - 16 teams
• Westella & Willerby AFC - 16 teams
• Sproatley Juniors - 13 teams
• Withernsea AFC - 13 teams
• Howden AFC - 13 teams
• Gilberdyke Pheonix - 11 teams
• Holme Rovers - 10 teams
• Shiptonthorpe United - 10 teams

Fifteen leagues operate in East Riding County FA . They offer competitive opportunities for many different players, including women and girls, disability, youth and adults.

East Riding County FA largest local leagues (2017-18) include:

• Hull & District Youth League – 499 teams– home and away
• East Riding County League – 66 teams– home and away
• East Riding Girls League – 56 teams– home and away

The County FA reports that there is significant cross boundary migration in East Riding County FA due to teams migrating outwards from East Riding to use 3G FTPs in Kingston Upon Hull.

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 East Riding County FA there are 9 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. East Riding County FA has 11 FA Wildcats girls football centres and the priority is to grow and sustain this activity.

At 27, the number of female teams in East Riding of Yorkshire 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 East Riding Girls League and matches are played on a home and away basis. The league is expected to grow its provision in future years. The local adult female league is the East Riding 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 York City Foundation and Leeds United, Sheffield United and Doncaster Belles which is located in York, Leeds, Sheffield and Doncaster, respectively. 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 Hull City Ladies 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:

• Hull and East Riding Futsal League - organised by Hull and East Riding Futsal Club

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 4 football with reduced ball bounce. It is the FA’s aim to ensure Futsal is available across the country.

There are currently six futsal teams in East Riding County FA that play in the Hull and East Riding Youth Futsal League at key site locations including University of Hull and Warner’s Leisure. It is a priority for the County FA to grow Futsal for male, female youth 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 are currently five FA Just Play Centres in East Riding County FA. Walking football sessions are delivered by a range of community organisations such as local football clubs. East Riding CFA also has a new Walking football league. Walking football and Just Play are areas that the County FA has prioritised for further growth and development. Other local recreational football programmes include Flexible Floodlight Football League, Man vs Fat, pro-club community scheme activity, casual bookings which are delivered by a range of organisations including East Riding County FA, Tigers Sport and Education Trust, Hull Indoor Sports Centre, Soccer Sensations and Goals.

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 East Riding of Yorkshire is played throughout the Authority.

The key strengths of local football in the East Riding of Yorkshire include youth male and mini-soccer provision and it is recommend that this is sustained and also encouraged to grow further. However, gaps in provision do exist in respect of disability provision which is a priority for improvement in respect of football development.

It is therefore recommended that the future football development priorities for The East Riding are:

1. Male and female participation
2. Disability Football participation
3. Coaching Development
4. Referee Development
5. Improved Grass Pitches

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 the East Riding of Yorkshire. 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:

3G FTPs

Improved grass pitches

Changing room pavilions / clubhouses

Small-sided facilities

To ensure a consistent and high quality approach, each local area has been reviewed applying a standard approach, supplemented by input from consultation with local partners and stakeholder organisations.

While each investment priority is reviewed individually, it is understood that they can be inter-reliant; account is, thus, taken of these potential connections.

3G FTPs are a high quality and indispensable part of modern football facilities; their impact cannot be underestimated. In recent years the industry has seen major innovations and improvements to artificial surfaces (and sports lighting). This has created playing surfaces that replicate a good standard natural turf pitch whilst significantly increasing levels of use (x20). All FTPs must have sports lighting to achieve this.

The high quality, consistent playing surface is the ideal environment to play the game and for young people to learn. With regular maintenance programmes, FTPs can be heavily used all year round with no decline in quality. They almost completely negate annoying fixture cancellations during winter months, helping football to be a key part of a regular physical activity habit.

High capacity levels offer a great opportunity to embrace all formats and engage all participants. A full-sized 3G caters for an average of 1,200 participants per week and is suitable for various location types. That means being fully inclusive to all sections of the community, with a particular focus on under-represented groups such as women and girls, people with a disability, BAME communities and people from lower socio-economic groups.

The way 3G FTPs are used is rapidly changing; current line-marking systems allow for match play across all formats of football (5v5, 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11). This enables significant levels of match-play to be transferred from grass to 3G.

FA data states that there are currently eight full size 3G FTPs in East Riding; this is a shortfall of seven pitches relative to assessed demand when taking into account future population growth.

Existing 3G FTPs in East Riding:

• Bishop Burton Sports college
• Longcroft School & Sixth Form College
• South Holderness Technology College
• Hornsea School & Language College
• Wolfreton School and Sixth Form College
• South Hunsley Secondary School and Sixth Form College
• Withernsea High School
• Bridlington Sports Centre

All eight pitches are available for community use. Seven of the eight are on the FA Register for 3G FTPs (meaning they are quality checked and can be used for football match play). The 3G FTP at Bishop Burton College is not currently on the register, pending its resurface when it will be re-tested.

The geographical spread of existing facilities is uneven. The majority are located in Eastern (coastal) and Southern (periphery of Hull) parts of the East Riding. There are provision gaps in Goole, Beverley and Haltemprice despite there being large affiliated club demand, alongside significant planned housing growth. It is recommended that these shortfalls are addressed.

Local consultation reveals common issues with low availability and lack of match play on 3G and it is recommended that these are addressed.

Additionally, there are currently five small-sided 3G FTPs in East Riding:

• Driffield Rugby Union Football Club
• East Riding Leisure Haltemprice x 2 (33 x 23m, 46 x 33m)
• Howden School (60 x 40 m)
• North Ferriby United AFC (50 x 26 m)

East Riding is currently undertaking a PPS . The PPS (based on a 1:48 demand ratio) indicates a requirement for an additional five full sized 3G pitches to meet existing demand. The PPS also notes that population increase and club development will result in a further two full sized 3G pitches being required by 2024 to meet future demand. This aligns closely with a shortfall requirement of eight pitches based on a 1:38 ratio and 2017/18 FA affiliated total team numbers. There is also a significant export (134 hrs per week) of winter training demand onto 3G FTPs in neighbouring Kingston Upon Hull, and significant (60 hrs per week) use of small sided 3G FTPs.

The PPS notes the following sub areas as being priority locations for additional full size 3G FTPs.

• Beverley PPS sub area x 2.
• Haltemprice ( Anlaby, Cottingham, Hessle, Kirk Ella and Willerby) PPS sub area x 1.
• Driffield PPS sub area x 1
• Elloughton Cum Brough PPS sub area x 1.
• Goole / Pocklington PPS sub area x 2

Within the Beverley sub-area, Bishop Burton College intend to resurface their current full size 3G FTP which will be self funded and also provide an additional IRB compliant 3G FTP in the medium term.

As a result of the potential commercial development of the former BP Sports and Social Club site, there is also a proposed new full size 3G FTP planned at the current Eastside Community Trust facility, which would be fully funded.

It is also acknowledged that Longcroft School (Beverley) is coming to the end of its useful life and is in need of replacement.

Seven priority projects for potential investment have been identified which include six new-builds and the resurface at Longcroft school. When the additional scheme at Eastside Community Trust is taken into account, this results in seven new full size FTPs. Undersupply was calculated using the current PPS study. Each site was selected by local partners based on a rationale of good access, high population, geographical spread, quality of existing facilities.

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.

PitchFinder indicates that there are currently 45 grass pitch sites in East Riding with three or more full-size pitch equivalents containing 199 grass pitches.

Of the total stock of 331 pitches (where quality ratings are provided in the PPS), 67 are considered to have good quality pitches, 185 are of standard quality and 83 poor quality.

Club consultation via the PPS found that a lack of adequate pitch maintenance such as poor aeration and sand dressing was often the root cause of poor pitch quality.

Of the 45 key pitch sites referenced above it was determined that 12 of these should be prioritised for improvements. This will result in quality improvements to 48 pitches:

Twelve priority projects for potential investment have been identified. Each site has three or more full-size pitch equivalents of poor quality. Pitch quality rating was evidenced by PPS and qualified by local partners. Due to significant number of grass pitch sites in the East Riding of Yorkshire, local partners did not select all sites and prioritised only twelve , containing 48 full-size pitch equivalents. The prioritisation was informed by local partners with the rationale of selecting sites in the poorest condition and with a strategic focus to implement the findings of the Playing Pitch Strategy.

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 45 key grass pitch sites in the East Riding of Yorkshire with three or more full-size pitch equivalents, 39 sites have suitable changing rooms, four sites require improvement/replacement and three have no facilities and require new changing rooms.

There are also five new additional 3G FTP sites which will each require a new build pavilion.

Twelve priority projects for potential investment have therefore been identified. Each project has three or more full-size pitch equivalents and has either no facilities or was deemed to have an unsuitable pavilion:

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. Consultation did however find that there is a shortage of capacity in terms of available indoor hall space for futsal.

Four potential opportunities for MUGAs 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.

It was agreed by the steering group that rather than a site specific approach, four generic locations would be identified where the development of small sided facilities should be pursued (Goole, Bridlington, Beverley, Withernsea). The selection was based on areas that could form satellite venues for Tigers Trust activity, and known 'hot spots ' where wider social outcomes could be delivered such as Withernsea and the Swinemoor estate (Beverley).

Following local consultation, no locations have been identified to support small-sided informal football.

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:

• CEO - East Riding CFA
• Chairman - East Riding CFA
• Disability officer - East Riding CFA
• Partnership & Project Manager (Sport) - Hull University
• Club representative - Hall Rd Rangers
• Club representative - Driffield JFC
• Club representative - Hessle Rangers
• Club representative - Westella & Willerby FC
• Club representative - Snaith Juniors
• Club representative - Beverley Town FC
• Club representative - Hedon Rangers
• Club representative -A F C Tickton
• Club representative -South Cave Sporting Club
• Club representative - Cottingham Rangers AFC
• Club representative -Pocklington Town FC
• Club representative - Gilberdyke Phoenix FC
• Club representative -Hessle Sporting Club
• Club representative -East Riding Rangers
• Club representative- Sproatley Juniors FC
• Club representative - Stamford Bridge Juniors
• Club representative - Goole AFC
• Representative - Blackburn Sports & Social Club
• Business Manager - The Snaith School
• League representative - Humber Premier League
• League representative - Hull & District League
• Secretary - Hull & District Vets League
• League representative - East Riding County League
• League representative - East Riding Girls League
• Head of Sport - Bishop Burton College
• Various senior officers - East Riding of Yorkshire Council