Local Football Facility Plan Gravesham

Gravesham is in the South East Region.

The current population of the Authority (ONS 2018 Mid-Year Estimate) is 106,385. This is expected to rise to 122,904 by 2039.

Gravesham is ranked 13 out of 67 LAs in the region, and 122 out of 326 LAs nationally on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (ONS).

Gravesham's ethnic composition is primarily white (83%). This is comparable to the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of its population represented by the BAME community is 17%. This is similar to the national average (14.6%)

Local authority

Gravesham's Local Plan Core Strategy, adopted in 2014 includes the vision that 'By 2028, Gravesham will have reinvented and regenerated itself from an area with predominantly heavy riverside industry to one that offers a more diverse range of employment and housing which respects its unique built, historic and natural environment'. The strategy also includes the objective to 'improve opportunities for recreation, sport, walking and cycling in the Borough'

Gravesham falls within the boundary of the Ebsfleet Garden City development , with over 1,500 new homes due to be built within the borough boundary.

The Authority Playing Pitch Strategy was adopted in 2016. The key findings and stated overarching priorities are that the Council's existing stock of football pitches should be protected as shortfalls are identified for most formats of the game in the future.

The PPS notes that in order to satisfy current (training) and future demand by analysis area, there is a need for at least four full sized 3G FTPs (on the basis of 42 teams per pitch) across Gravesham.

County football association

Gravesham is covered by the Kent 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 active CCO in Gravesham .

Local leisure operator

Gravesham Community Leisure is the key leisure operator in Gravesham. It currently runs Cascades Leisure Centre and Cygnet Leisure Centre, the main indoor sports venues in the borough.

Local consultation

This has taken place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in Gravesham. 12 individuals (representing 11 local organisations) were spoken to. The agencies consulted include:

• Gravesham Borough Youth FC
• Ebsfleet Development Co.
• North Kent Youth League

(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. Gravesham has a total of 150 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 Gravesham, 6 clubs have more than 10 registered teams. These (based upon 2018-19 affiliation data) are:

• Cobham Colts - 10 teams
• Gravesham Borough Youth - 11 teams
• Greenways Aces - 15 teams
• Guru Nanak Youth - 14 teams
• Meopham Colts - 15 teams
• Northfleet Eagles – 11 teams

Leagues

Two main leagues service clubs and teams in Gravesham. While there is no specific league opportunity for disability or women and girls football suitable provision is made in neighbouring areas including Swale and Medway. The two main local leagues are:

• North Kent Sunday League – 48 teams – home & away
• North Kent Youth League – 91 teams – home & away

The County FA reports significant cross boundary migration to/from Gravesham due to teams migrating outwards to play in the:

• Isthmian Football League
• Kent County Football League
• Kent Disability Football League
• Kent Girls/Ladies Football League
• Kent Youth League
• London & Kent Suburban Football League
• Maidstone Minor Football League
• Medway Messenger Youth League
• National League U19 Alliance
• Rochester & District Football League
• South East Counties Womens League
• South East London & Kent Youth League
• Southern Counties East Football League
• Southern Veterans League
• The National League

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 Gravesham there is, at present, no football team / session specifically for people with a disability. It is a priority of the County FA to initiate and then sustain this provision. For talented disabled 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. Gravesham has one FA Wildcats girls football centre and the priority is to grow this activity.

At nine, the number of female teams in Gravesham is lower than is to be found in local areas of a similar size. The County FA’s priority is to support existing clubs to grow and encourage more of them to develop playing opportunities for females. The local girls’ league is the Kent Girls/Ladies Football 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 leagues are the Kent Girls/Ladies Football League and South East Counties Women's League. Matches in both are played on a home and away basis and they are expected to grow provision in future years.

For talented players, the most local FA Regional Talent Club (RTC) is Gillingham FC located in Medway. 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 Brighton & Hove Albion Women FC 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.

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.

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 no futsal teams in Gravesham.

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 one FA Just Play centre in Gravesham. Walking football sessions are delivered by a range of community organisations such as Cygnet Leisure Centre and Legends Sports. Walking football and Just Play are County FA priorities for further growth and development.

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).

The key strengths of local football in Gravesham include youth and mini soccer and it is recommended that this is sustained and also encouraged to grow further. However, gaps in provision do exist; these include recreational and informal football sessions.

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

1. Support the transition of youth teams and players to progress to adult male 11v11 leagues.
2. Deliver diverse and inclusive coach education programme to support BAME coach workforce.
3. Ensure club structures are in place to grow in line with the housing growth.
4. Develop comprehensive support to volunteers to allow clubs to retain, grow and provide opportunity to all.
5. Increase women and girls provision through informal ladies sessions and FA Wildcats programme.

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 Gravesham. 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 investment priorities are reviewed individually, it is understood that they can be inter-reliant; account is, thus, taken of these potential connections.

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

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

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

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

There is no full-sized (11 v 11) 3G FTP in Gravesham and its only small sided 3G FTPs are located at Legends Sports Club (two 24m x 54m).

The PPS suggests that there is a shortfall of four full sized 3G FTPs and, self-evidently, provision gaps across the borough - whilst acknowledging the lack of available land for development in Gravesham. Local consultation confirms the limited options clubs have to play on 3G and it is acknowledged that this needs to be addressed.

It is likely that new full sized 3G FTP will be developed in Dartford close to the Gravehsam boundary, as a result of the new Ebsfleet Garden City which will serve the West Gravesham catchment. The Cascades Leisure Centre site is also a future option for 3G provision in the event that it is re-provided as a result of the Lower Thames Crossing development. A proposal for the former Fleet Leisure Centre site includes one full-sized 3G FTP and a range of small sided commercially operated 3G sites. This is considered unlikely to necessitate Football Foundation funding.

Whilst only two full sized 3G FTPs are proposed in the LFFP, local consultation suggests that the additional provision engendered would meet the current shortfall expressed in Gravesham.

Two priority projects for potential investment are identified at Guru Nanak FC and Northfleet School for Girls. Both will serve both affiliated football and community demand in their local 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 by 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 nine grass pitch sites in Gravesham with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three but deemed to be of strategic importance). These contain 31 grass pitches.

Local consultation confirms issues related to poor grass pitch quality and, in particular, the limited amount of junior football that can be played in Gravesham, as a consequence of the quality, availability and layout of existing pitches. It it is recommended that these are addressed.

Of the nine key pitch sites referenced five are prioritised. This will result in quality improvements to seventeen pitches:

Four priority projects for potential investment are identified. Pitch quality rating was evidenced by PPS and ratified by local partners. Prioritisation was based on a rationale of selecting sites in the poorest condition which offer potential to cater for, in particular junior football but also the adult game..

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 nine key grass pitch sites in Gravesham with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three but deemed to be of strategic importance) seven have suitable changing rooms and two require improvement/replacement. In addition, the new 3G FTP venue at Guru Nanak FC will need new changing provision.

Three priority projects for potential investment are identified:

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

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

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

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

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

Local consultation indicates that, at present, no indoor facilities require improvement to develop small sided football.

Gravesham Council has identified 11 locations across the borough that could be considered for conversion of existing tarmac small sided courts to a more modern / attractive surface / facility for small sided football.

It is proposed that work is undertaken to narrow down this long-list and identify three or four priority locations capable of delivering the best outcomes - at which to make initial investment in MUGA development.

A range of local agencies and larger (usually 10 plus team) local football clubs was invited to participate in the LFFP consultation. Those that contributed are listed below:

• Leisure & Resilience Manager - Gravesham Borough Council
• Sport & Recreation Officer - Gravesham Borough Council
• Secretary - North Kent Youth League
• Secretary - North Kent Sunday League
• Representative - Ebbsfleet Development co.
• Representative - Gravesham Borough Youth
• Representative - Greenways Aces
• Representative - Meopham Colts
• Representative -Punjab United
• Representative - Halls AFC
• Representative - Guru Nanak FC