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Local Football Facility Plan Harrogate

Full report

Introduction

01

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

  • Harrogate Borough Council
  • West Riding County Football Association
  • North Riding County Football Association
  • North Yorkshire Sport
  • Football Foundation
  • Sport England

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 Harrogate.

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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.

How should this plan be used?

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

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 & sustainable facility and demonstrate suitable match-funding.

When each 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 West Riding 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 up 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.

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Harrogate

02

Local area

Harrogate is in the Yorkshire and The Humber region. The current population of the Authority (ONS 2017 Mid-Year Estimate) is 160,044, which is expected to rise to 162,789 by 2039.

23.0% of the Harrogate population is within NS SEC classification 6-8 (lower socio-economic groups). This is below the national average (30.6%).

Harrogate’s ethnic composition is primarily classed as White (96.3%) which is much higher than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of Harrogate’s population represented by the BAME community is 3.7%. This is below the national average (14.6%).

Demographics

  • 160,044 Current population (2017)
  • 162,789 Projected population (2039)
  • 21st most deprived out of 21 local authorities in the region
  • 289th most deprived out of 326 local authorities in England

Ethnicity data

  • Asian (1.53%)
  • Black (0.73%)
  • Mixed (1.12%)
  • Other (0.29%)
  • White (96.33%)
19%
28%
26%

% of people that are inactive

  • Harrogate
  • Region
  • England

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Local partners

Local Authority

Harrogate’s Sport & Leisure Strategy (draft 2018-2023) has a set vision for ‘a healthier more active population living longer, more productive and happier lives’. Underpinning the strategic vision are four priority outcomes: to improve health and physical wellbeing; be inclusive and remove barriers to participation; improve mental wellbeing and community cohesion and deliver a positive customer experience. Some of the key principles of delivery for this strategy include: locally led and evidence based decision making; open transparent and inclusive to all; support the development of more active workplaces; empower, enable and support communities and individuals to be more active and create sustainable programmes that lead to long term health changes.

At the time of writing, the local authority is in the process of commissioning it’s Playing Pitch Strategy. A completed strategy is expected by spring 2019.

County Football Association

Harrogate is covered by West Riding County FA. They provide governance and development support to all aspects of local football including coaches, referees, volunteers, clubs and leagues; supporting football for all. The County FA has a designated facilities investment lead officer who works to ensure the right facilities are located in the right locations.

Football Foundation

The Regional Engagement Manager and Regional Technical Project Manager at the Football Foundation work collaboratively with the County FA to provide pre-application support to priority projects for potential investment.

Football Foundation Investment

14 Total grants
  • £1,885,790 Total project cost
  • £1,136,219 Total grant value
  • 10 Sites improved
  • 1 New 3G FTPs
  • 3 Changing rooms / pavilions
  • 18 Grass pitches improved

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

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). Harrogate Town Community Foundation runs a variety of health, education, engagement, football and sporting activities within the local area.

Local leisure operator

Harrogate Borough Council operates its leisure facilities in house. It currently operate nine key sites including swimming pools and leisure centres with gym facilities and sports halls.

Local consultation

This has taken place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in Harrogate. A total of 14 individuals (representing 13 local organisations) were consulted. These include:

  • Harrogate Borough Council
  • North Yorkshire City Council
  • North Yorkshire Sport
  • Harrogate Town AFC

(See Appendix B for full list of consultees)

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Local football

Clubs

There are over 91,000 community football teams in England, spread over an expansive network of clubs and leagues. Harrogate has a total of 245 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 ten years there has been a significant national increase in the number of large multi-team football clubs. In Harrogate, nine clubs have more than ten registered teams. The largest of these (based upon 2017-18 affiliation data) are:

  • Beckwithshaw Saints - 23 teams
  • Pannal Sports - 22 teams
  • Ripon City - 20 teams
  • Tockwith FC – 20 teams
  • Pannal Ash - 19 teams
  • Knaresborough Celtic - 17 teams
  • Harrogate Railway - 16 teams
  • Boroughbridge - 12 teams
  • Scotton Scorchers - 12 teams

Affiliated Teams

245 Teams
  • 49 Adult male teams
  • 6 Adult female teams
  • 89 Youth male teams
  • 19 Youth female teams
  • 6 Disability teams
  • 76 Mini-soccer teams

The FA Whole Game System- season 2017/18

Leagues

Five leagues operate in Harrogate. They offer competitive opportunities for many different players, including girls, boys and adult males. While there are no specific league opportunities for adult females and players with a disability within Harrogate, there is however suitable provision provided in neighbouring leagues.

Harrogate’s largest local leagues (2017-18) include:

  • Harrogate & District Junior League – 168 teams – fixtures played home and away
  • Harrogate & Wharfedale Friendly League – 39 teams – fixtures played home and away
  • Harrogate & District Girls League – 36 teams – fixtures played home and away
  • Harrogate & District League – 28 teams – fixtures played home and away

The County FA reports that there is significant cross boundary migration in Harrogate due to teams migrating both inwards and outwards to various leagues, including; the West Riding Women's League, North Riding Women's League, North East Regional Women's League, West Riding Ability Counts League and the West Yorkshire Association 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 Harrogate there are six football teams / sessions specifically for people with a disability. It is a priority of the County FA to grow this provision. For talented players the FA run Regional Centres and England national squads.

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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. Harrogate has four FA Wildcats girls football centres and the priority is to grow this activity.

At 25, Harrogate’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 Harrogate & District Girls League and matches are played on a home and away & central venue basis. The league is expected to grow its provision in future years. The local adult female league is the West Riding Women's League and matches are played on a home and away basis 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 which is located in York. Higher level talent pathway opportunities are also provided regionally and nationally by the FA, culminating in the England Women’s national squads. The most local Women’s Super League team is Manchester City which provides player pathway opportunities for gifted and talented female players and a spectator interest for fans.

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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.

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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

  • Football Mundial – CNG Stadium / St. John Fisher School
  • Rossett School

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 no futsal teams in Harrogate. It is a priority for the County FA to grow Futsal for youth and adult 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 is currently one FA Just Play Centres in Harrogate. Walking football sessions are delivered by a range of community organisation such as Active Wharfedale CiC. Walking football and Just Play are areas that the County FA has prioritised 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).

Currently, informal football in Harrogate is played in central parts of the Borough, with local parks in residential areas accommodating kick-about opportunities. The Stray and Killinghall Moor are key site locations that are heavily used.

Summary

The key strengths of local football in Harrogate include junior boys and girls, and adult male Saturday provision. It is recommended that this is sustained and also encouraged to grow further. However, gaps in provision do exist , these include adult male Sunday football and girls mini-soccer opportunities.

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

  • Women & Girls
  • Adult Male (Sunday affiliated game)
  • Small Sided & Futsal
  • Recreational offer (including Walking Football, Just Play Centres and flexible 11v11 opportunities)

The facilities required to assist this are now set out in the Assets and Opportunities section.

Additionally, each priority project that progresses to a funding application via the Football Foundation will produce a detailed ‘site development plan’ specifying all football development activity, usage and key partner engagement.

Assets and Opportunities

03

This section reviews existing football facility assets in [add 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 inline with four investment priorities:

  1. 3G FTPs
  2. Improved grass pitches
  3. Changing room pavilions / clubhouses
  4. Small-sided facilities

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

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

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3G Football Turf Pitches (FTPs)

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Improved grass pitches

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Changing room pavilions/ clubhouses

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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.

The national ‘Mini Pitch’ programme delivers small 3G FTPs at primary school sites to provide a high quality introduction to football and get children more physically active. While mini pitches are reviewed in this section, they are not included in the demand and supply analysis for 3G FTPs.

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Assets and opportunities

FA data states that there are currently five 3G FTPs in Harrogate; this is a shortfall of four pitches relative to assessed demand. There is currently no PPS in place, the identified shortfall is calculated using the FA’s training demand modelling.

Existing 3G FTPs in Harrogate include:

  • Harrogate Town AFC (CNG Stadium)
  • St John Fisher School
  • Rossett Sports Centre
  • Queen Ethelburgas College (x2)

Consultation identified that Harrogate Town AFC has community use, however, this is limited to Saturday and Sunday mornings. Rosset Sports Centre is not a full size 11v11 FTP although it is heavily utilised for affiliated junior football training. The FTP’s at Queen Ethelburgas College are private and there is no community use. Taking the above into consideration, the steering group took the decision that St John Fisher School and Rosset Sports Centre should be the only 3G FTPS listed as accessible to the community.

Additionally, there is currently no small-sided 3G FTP centres in Harrogate.


Two pitches are available for community use. One is on the FA Register for 3G FTPs (meaning it is quality checked and can be used for football match play).

The geographical spread of existing facilities is uneven. There are provision gaps in Harrogate Town, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge and Ripon. It is recommended that these are addressed.

Local consultation reveals common issues with a lack of availability in relation to training demand, with a number of the larger clubs within Harrogate unable to train on 3G FTPs or only able to train at undesirable times.

The following site is potentially being developed without funding from the Football Foundation, and includes the provision of a floodlit 11v11 3G FTP:

  • Ripon Grammar School

Potential community football usage at this site is still to be determined.

5 Current 3G FTPs
4 More 3G FTPs required
0 More small-sided 3G FTPs required

Priority projects

Five priority projects for potential investment have been identified. Undersupply was calculated using the FA 3G FTP demand and supply model. Each site was selected by local partners based on a rationale of good access, high population, geographical spread, success and quality of existing facilities. A number either/or alternative sites have also been selected by the steering group:

1 - Rossett Sports Centre – resurface of existing 11v11 (youth) 3G FTP

  • Existing facilities: one floodlit 11v11 (youth) 3G FTP, two adult and one junior grass pitch with standard quality changing facilities.
  • Existing users: FTP used for training by Pannal Ash FC, Pannal Sports FC; FTP and grass pitches used by 18 teams from Beckwithshaw Saints Juniors FC.
  • Rationale: participation growth in: junior football, senior football, BAME participation, women and girls, informal/recreational football, over 50s participation.

2 - Harrogate Railway FC – new floodlit 11v11 3G FTP

  • Existing facilities: two adult grass pitches with standard quality changing facilities.
  • Existing users: nine teams from Harrogate Railway FC
  • Rationale: participation growth in: junior football, senior football, BAME participation, women and girls, informal/recreational football, over 50s participation.

3 - King James School (Knaresborough) - new floodlit 11v11 3G FTP (resurface of existing sand based AGP)

  • Existing facilities: three adult grass pitches with standard quality changing facilities.
  • Existing users: current AGP utilised for affiliated club training and commercial pay and play.
  • Rationale: participation growth in: junior football, senior football, BAME participation, women and girls, informal/recreational football, over 50s participation.

4 - Ripon Leisure Centre– new floodlit 11v11 3G FTP (alternative option to Ripon Grammar School)

  • Existing facilities: one adult grass pitch (not in use), indoor football provision.
  • Existing users: used for recreational football. This project requires further feasibility and is subject to the community usage arrangements for the potential FTP at Ripon Grammar School.
  • Rationale: participation growth in: junior football, senior football, women and girls, informal/recreational football, over 50s participation.

5 - Boroughbridge School/Leisure Centre– new floodlit 11v11 3G FTP

  • Existing facilities: two adult and one junior grass pitch with standard quality changing facilities, indoor football provision, one small sized sand-filled AGP.
  • Existing users: two teams from Boroughbridge Juniors FC; also used for recreational football. *This potential opportunity will need to be reviewed once the 3G FTP at King James School becomes operational and usage and demand within the area are fully determined.
  • Rationale: participation growth in: junior football, senior football, women and girls, informal/recreational football, over 50s participation.

Current and proposed 3G FTP’s

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 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 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.

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Assets and opportunities

There are currently 21 grass pitch sites in Harrogate with three or more full-size pitch equivalents containing 76 grass pitches. Local consultation shows common issues with pitch quality, and it is recommended that these are addressed.

21 Key grass pitch sites
8 Sites prioritised for improving
28 Full-sized pitch equivalents at these sites

Priority projects

Seven priority projects for potential investment have been identified. Pitch quality rating was evidenced by PPS / FA data and qualified by local partners. Due to significant number of grass pitch sites in Harrogate local partners did not select all sites and prioritised only eight, containing 28 full-size pitch equivalents. Due to limited usage at some sites with three or more full-size pitch equivalents, the steering group also took the decision to include one strategically important site with less than three full-size pitch equivalents. The prioritisation was made by local partners with the rationale of selecting sites that were most well utilised and of strategic focus to improve Local Authority and club pitches:

3 - King James School (Knaresborourgh) - works to natural grass pitches

  • Existing facilities: three full size grass pitches with standard quality changing facilities.
  • Existing users: none. Potential site to be utilised by local teams including Knaresborough Celtic FC.
  • Rationale: participation growth in: junior football, senior football, women and girls.

6 - Almsford Playing Fields – works to natural grass pitches, equipment bank for club use

  • Existing facilities: four adult grass pitches with good quality changing facilities.
  • Existing users: 16 affiliated teams from Pannal Ash JFC.
  • Rationale: participation growth in: junior football, women and girls.

7 - Harrogate Grammar School – works to natural grass pitches

  • Existing facilities: three adult grass pitches with standard quality changing facilities.
  • Existing users: three affiliated teams from Pannal Sports FC.
  • Rationale: participation growth in: junior football, women’s and girls.

8 - Hell Wath Community Park (Ripon City Panthers) – works to natural grass pitches, equipment bank for club

  • Existing facilities: two junior and two mini grass pitches with good quality changing facilities.
  • Existing users: 16 affiliated teams from Ripon City Panthers FC.
  • Rationale: participation growth in: junior football, women’s and girls.

10 - Killinghall Moor – works to natural grass pitches

  • Existing facilities: four full size and two junior grass pitches with good changing facilities.
  • Existing users: nine affiliated teams from Killinghall Nomads FC.
  • Rationale: participation growth in: junior football, senior football, women and girls.

11 - Queen Ethelburgas Community Park– works to natural grass pitches

  • Existing facilities: three junior grass pitches with no changing facilities.
  • Existing users: used by Pannal Ash JFC and other junior affiliated teams.
  • Rationale: participation growth in: junior football, senior football, women and girls.

12 - The Stray – works to natural grass pitches

  • Existing facilities: seven adult grass pitches with poor changing facilities.
  • Existing users: six affiliated teams from Pannal Ash FC, Pannal Sports FC, Beckwithshaw Saints FC, New Park Bulldogs FC.
  • Rationale: participation growth in: junior football, senior football, women & girls.

Grass pitches

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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Assets and opportunities

Of the 21 key sites in Harrogate, 16 have suitable changing room pavilions/clubhouses. Two have facilities which require improvement. The other three sites have no changing facilities, however, due to limited usage at these sites it was decided that no new changing facilities were required.

16 key sites have suitable changing rooms/ pavilions/ clubhouses
3 require improvement/ replacement
2 have no facilities and require new builds

Priority projects

Five priority projects for potential investment have therefore been identified. Due to limited usage at some sites with three or more full-size pitch equivalents, the steering group took the decision to also include a number of strategically important sites with less than three full-size pitch equivalents. Each project has either no facilities or was assessed against a standard criteria to have an unsuitable pavilion:

11 - Queen Ethelburgas Community Park– new changing pavilion

  • Existing facilities: three junior grass pitches with no changing facilities.
  • Existing users: used by Pannal Ash JFC and other junior affiliated teams.
  • Rationale: participation growth in: junior football, senior football, women and girls.

13 - Darley Playing Fields – refurbish changing pavilion

  • Existing facilities: one adult grass pitch with poor changing facilities; informal football provision.
  • Existing users: three affiliated teams from Mowbray Community Church FC and Nidd United FC. Used for recreational football.
  • Rationale: participation growth in: junior football, senior football, women and girls.

14 - Mallorie Park (Ripon City AFC) – refurbish changing pavilion

  • Existing facilities: one adult grass pitch with poor changing facilities.
  • Existing users: four affiliated teams from Ripon City AFC, includes two women’s teams. Important site for women and girls’ football in Ripon.
  • Rationale: participation growth in: senior football, women and girls.

15 - Pannal Sports JFC (new site) – new changing pavilion

  • Existing facilities: none, site in development.
  • Existing users: site to become main home of Pannal Sports JFC.
  • Rationale: participation growth in: junior football, women and girls.

12 - The Stray– refurbished changing pavilion

  • Existing facilities: seven adult grass pitches with poor changing facilities.
  • Existing users: six affiliated teams from Pannal Ash FC, Pannal Sports FC, Beckwithshaw Saints FC, New Park Bulldogs FC.
  • Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, senior football, women and girls.

Changing room pavilions

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 & 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.

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Priority projects

1 Better Indoor spaces
0 MUGAs
9 Better parks/ open green spaces

Indoor

Local consultation reveals there is one indoor facility that requires improvement to develop small-sided football.

16 - St John Fisher Catholic High School – refurbish indoor facility (futsal line markings and equipment bank).

  • Existing facilities: indoor sports hall used for affiliated training and recreational play.
  • Existing users: used for junior affiliated training and recreational play.
  • Rationale: participation growth in; BAME participation, informal/recreational football, over 50s participation; potential important site for futsal.

Indoor

Pitchfinder

Multi-use Games Areas (MUGAs)

No potential opportunities for MUGA’s have been identified. Harrogate’s MUGA stock is well spread throughout the District and has received significant investment. Consultation identified no need to update or create new MUGAS.

Parks and open green spaces

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

17 - Bewerley Park (Nidderdale) – informal football provision

  • Existing facilities: one junior football pitch.
  • Existing users: used for recreational football.
  • Rationale: participation growth in: informal/recreational football, lower-socio economic groups.

18 - Boroughbridge Car Park (grassed area adjacent to car park) – informal football provision

  • Existing facilities: none.
  • Existing users: used for recreational football.
  • Rationale: participation growth in: informal/recreational football, lower-socio economic groups.

19 - Double Gates Park – informal football provision

  • Existing facilities: none.
  • Existing users: used for recreational football
  • Rationale: participation growth in: informal/recreational football, lower-socio economic groups.

20 - Fysche Hall – informal football provision

  • Existing facilities: none.
  • Existing users: used for recreational football.
  • Rationale: participation growth in: informal/recreational football, lower-socio economic groups.

21 - Harlow Hill – informal football provision

  • Existing facilities: none.
  • Existing users: used for recreational football.
  • Rationale: participation growth in: informal/recreational football, lower-socio economic groups.

22 - Knaresborough Community Hall – informal football provision

  • Existing facilities: none.
  • Existing users: used for recreational football.
  • Rationale: participation growth in: informal/recreational football, lower-socio economic groups.

23 - Paddies Park (Ripon) – informal football provision

  • Existing facilities: none.
  • Existing users: used for recreational football.
  • Rationale: participation growth in: informal/recreational football, lower-socio economic groups.

24 - Spa Gardens (Ripon) – informal football provision

  • Existing facilities: none.
  • Existing users: used for recreational football.
  • Rationale: participation growth in: informal/recreational football, lower-socio economic groups.

25 - Woodfield Park – informal football provision

  • Existing facilities: none.
  • Existing users: used for recreational football.
  • Rationale: participation growth in: informal/recreational football, lower-socio economic groups.

Small sided facilities

Pitchfinder

Appendix A: Priority Project List

08

This list compiles all of the priority projects for potential investment. Each project has been scored against two principle factors: deliverability and outcomes (quality, inclusivity, sustainability, engagement and usage).

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

3

3 - King James School (Knaresborough)

Location

KING JAMES'S SCHOOL KING JAMES ROAD, KNARESBOROUGH, North Yorkshire, HG5 8EB

Facilities
  • New 11v11 Floodlit 3G FTP (1)
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (3)
Owner

Education

Deliverability score

Very High (4/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.4/4

Overall score

90% (10.8/12)

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

1

1 - Rossett Sports Centre

Location

ROSSETT SPORTS CENTRE PANNAL ASH ROAD, HARROGATE, North Yorkshire, HG2 9PH

Facilities
  • Refurbish existing 11v11 3G FTP (1)
Owner

Education

Deliverability score

High (3/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.4/4

Overall score

82% (9.8/12)

Project Focus

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

15

15 - Pannal Sports JFC (new site)

Location

PANNAL SPORTS JFC (NEW SITE) LEEDS ROAD, PANNAL, NORTH YORKSHIRE, HG3 1EP

Facilities
  • New Changing Pavilion (1)
Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

High (3/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.1/4

Overall score

77% (9.2/12)

Project Focus

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

6

6 - Almsford Playing Fields

Location

ALMSFORD PLAYING FIELDS Almsford Close, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG2 8EJ

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (4)
Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

High (3/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.0/4

Overall score

75% (9.0/12)

Project Focus

Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

8

8 - Hell Wath Community Park (Ripon City Panthers)

Location

HELL WATH COMMUNITY PARK Hell Wath Lane, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 2SE

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (3)
Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

High (3/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.0/4

Overall score

75% (9.0/12)

Project Focus

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

2

2 - Harrogate Railway FC

Location

HARROGATE RAILWAY FC RAILWAY ATHLETIC FOOTBALL CLUB STATION VIEW, HARROGATE, North Yorkshire, HG2 7JA

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

Football club

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.1/4

Overall score

68% (8.1/12)

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Pro-club; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

14

14 - Mallorie Park (Ripon City AFC)

Location

RIPON CITY AFC Mallorie Park Drive, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 2QD

Facilities
  • Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)
Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.0/4

Overall score

67% (8.0/12)

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male

10

10 - Killinghall Moor

Location

KILLINGHALL MOOR Barbary Close, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 2NZ

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (5)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

High (3/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.4/4

Overall score

65% (7.8/12)

Project Focus

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

16

16 - St John Fisher Catholic HIgh School

Location

ST JOHN FISHER CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL HOOKSTONE DRIVE, HARROGATE, North Yorkshire, HG2 8PT

Facilities
  • Refurbish Indoor Football Facility (1)
Owner

Education

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.6/4

Overall score

61% (7.3/12)

Project Focus

Small-sided informal; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues

4

4 - Ripon Leisure Centre

Location

RIPON LEISURE CENTRE DALLAMIRES LANE, RIPON, North Yorkshire, HG4 1TT

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

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.6/4

Overall score

60% (7.2/12)

Project Focus

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

5

5 - Boroughbridge School/Leisure Centre

Location

BOROUGHBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL WETHERBY ROAD, BOROUGHBRIDGE, YORK, North Yorkshire, YO51 9JX

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

Education

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.6/4

Overall score

60% (7.2/12)

Project Focus

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

11

11- Queen Ethelburgas Community Park

Location

QUEEN ETHELBURGAS COMMUNITY PARK Youngs Drive, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 2GA

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

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.4/4

Overall score

57% (6.8/12)

Project Focus

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

17

17 - Bewerley Park (Nidderdale)

Location

BEWERLEY PARK Bewerly, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 5HW

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

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.3/4

Overall score

55% (6.6/12)

Project Focus

IMD / lower social economic groups; Small-sided informal

18

18 - Boroughbridge Car Park (grassed area adjacent to car park)

Location

BOROUGHBRIDGE CAR PARK (GRASSED AREA ADJACENT TO CAR PARK) BACK LANE, BOROUGHBRUIDGE, NORTH YORKSHIRE, YO51 9PQ

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

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.3/4

Overall score

55% (6.6/12)

Project Focus

IMD / lower social economic groups; Small-sided informal; Small-sided teams and leagues

19

19 - Double Gates Park

Location

DOUBLE GATES PARK DOUBLEGATES COURT, RIPON, NORTH YORKSHIRE, HG4 2TT

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

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.3/4

Overall score

55% (6.6/12)

Project Focus

IMD / lower social economic groups; Small-sided informal

20

20 - Fysche Hall

Location

FYSCHE HALL ILES LANE, KNARESBOROUGH, NORTH YORKSHIRE, HG5 8DY

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

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.3/4

Overall score

55% (6.6/12)

Project Focus

IMD / lower social economic groups; Small-sided informal

21

21 - Harlow Hill

Location

HARLOW HILL (OPEN SPACE) PLANTATION ROAD, HARLOW HILL, HARROGATE, , HG2 0DB

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

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.3/4

Overall score

55% (6.6/12)

Project Focus

IMD / lower social economic groups; Small-sided informal

22

22 - Knaresborough Community Centre

Location

KNARESBOROUGH COMMUNITY CENTRE STOCKWELL AVENUE, KNARESBOROUGH, North Yorkshire, HG5 0LG

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

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.3/4

Overall score

55% (6.6/12)

Project Focus

IMD / lower social economic groups; Small-sided informal

23

23 - Paddies Park

Location

PADDIES PARK STONEBRIDGEGATE, RIPON, NORTH YORKSHIRE, HG4 1LH

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

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.3/4

Overall score

55% (6.6/12)

Project Focus

IMD / lower social economic groups; Small-sided informal

24

24 - Spa Gardens

Location

RIPON SPA BATHS PARK STREET, RIPON, North Yorkshire, HG4 2BD

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

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.3/4

Overall score

55% (6.6/12)

Project Focus

IMD / lower social economic groups; Small-sided informal

25

25 - Woodfield Park

Location

WOODFIELD PARK WOODFIELD ROAD, HARROGATE, NORTH YORKSHIRE, HG1 4JB

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

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.3/4

Overall score

55% (6.6/12)

Project Focus

IMD / lower social economic groups; Small-sided informal

7

7 - Harrogate Grammar School

Location

HARROGATE GRAMMAR SCHOOL ARTHURS AVENUE, HARROGATE, North Yorkshire, HG2 0DZ

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (3)
Owner

Education

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.1/4

Overall score

51% (6.1/12)

Project Focus

Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

13

13 - Darley Playing Field

Location

DARLEY PLAYING FIELD STATION ROAD, DARLEY, HARROGATE, North Yorkshire, HG3 2QE

Facilities
  • Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.1/4

Overall score

51% (6.1/12)

Project Focus

Adult male; Youth male

12

12 - The Stray

Location

THE STRAY Oatlands Drive, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG2 8JT

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (7)
  • Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Low (1/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.5/4

Overall score

50% (6.0/12)

Project Focus

Mini-soccer; 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

  • Business Development Manager (Parks and Environmental Services) – Harrogate Borough Council
  • Chairman – Sport Nidderdale
  • Chairman – Pannal Ash JFC
  • Chairman – Pannal Sports
  • Chief Executive – Harrogate & Ripon Community & Voluntary Services
  • Development Officer – Knaresborough Celtic FC
  • Head Coach & Assistant Manager – Ripon City Panthers
  • Head of Development – North Yorkshire Sport
  • Manager – Fairfax Community Centre
  • Managing Director – Harrogate Town AFC
  • Mayor & Chairman (development plan committee) – Knaresborough Town Council
  • Sports & Project Officer – Harrogate Borough Council
  • Strategic Planning Officer – North Yorkshire County Council
  • Youth Development Officer – North Yorkshire Youth

Survey responses were received from the following affiliated clubs:

  • Boroughbridge Juniors Football Club
  • Burton Bullets Junior Football Club
  • Killinghall Nomads Junior
  • Kirkby Lions Junior Football Club
  • Knaresborough Celtic Football Club
  • Pannal Sports Junior Football Club
  • Ripon City AFC
  • Scotton Scorchers JFC

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