Local Football Facility Plan Lancaster

Lancaster is in the North West Region.

The current population of the Authority (ONS 2018 Mid-Year Estimate) is 144,246. This is expected to rise to 146,076 by 2039.

Lancaster is ranked 25 out of 39 LAs in the region, and 125 out of 326 LAs nationally on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (ONS).

Lancaster's ethnic composition is primarily white 95.64%. This is higher than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of Lancaster’s population represented by the BAME community is 4.36%. This is below the national average (14.6%)

Local authority

The Lancaster District Local Plan (2016 - 2031) Policy DM24; Open Space, Sports and Recreational Facilities supports the development facilities for the benefit of sport and recreation if they are deemed to be suitable for the local area and beneficial to the local community. Policy DM54 outlines that; The Council will expect development in the district to promote health and well-being. Measures to ensure that this expectation is achieved are as follows:

• Ensuring that development is designed to promote physical activity, through the appropriate arrangement of buildings and uses, access, open space and landscaping and the provision of facilities to support walking and cycling;
• Integrating development with public realm and public transport and in particular ensuring that local facilities and services are easily accessible by foot or bicycle;
• Ensuring that support infrastructure is in place to support development, such as providing or contributing to open space, children’s play facilities, indoor and outdoor leisure provision and healthcare facilities;
• Development should not have an adverse impact on the environment such as air, noise and water pollution and remediation of contaminated land prior to development must be undertaken.

The Authority Playing Pitch Strategy was finalised in 2018. The key findings and stated overarching priorities are to improve the quality of football pitches at key strategic sites throughout the City and to increase the stock of full size 3G FTP provision.

County football association

Lancaster is covered by Lancashire 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). Morecambe FC Community Sports runs a variety of health, education, engagement, football and sporting activities within the local area.

Local leisure operator

There is no external leisure operator for community football facilities in Lancaster. Salt Ayre Leisure Centre is the key leisure facility within the City, this is managed in-house by Lancaster City Council. It provides three full size adult grass football pitches for local football teams.

Local consultation

This has taken place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in Lancaster. 18 individuals (representing 16 local organisations) were spoken to. The agencies consulted include:

• Lancaster City Council
• Lancashire County FA
• The Football Foundation

(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. Lancaster has a total of 221 teams, which is higher than local areas of a similar size.

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

Over the last 10-years there has been a significant national increase in the number of large multi-team football clubs. In Lancaster, six clubs have more than 10 registered teams. These (based upon 2018-19 affiliation data) are:

• Lancaster University – 38 teams
• Carnforth Rangers - 17 teams
• Morecambe FC - 13 teams
• Morecambe Hawk - 13 teams
• Trimpell and Bare Rangers - 12 teams
• Westgate Wanderers – 10 teams

Leagues

Several leagues cater for clubs and teams in Lancaster. This offers competitive opportunities for many different players, including women and girls. While there is no specific league opportunity for disability football in the Authority suitable provision is made via Lancashire FA`s Community Ability Counts Inclusion League. The largest local league is the Lancaster and Morecambe Service To Youth which has 113 teams. Adult teams in the area are aligned to either the North Lancashire Football League or the West Lancashire Football League.

The County FA reports low levels of cross boundary migration to/from Lancaster mainly due to teams participating in the West Lancashire Football League.

Disability football

There are 9.4 million people in England with a long-standing limiting disability, illness or condition which equates to 18% of the population – almost one in five. Football playing opportunities should be flexible, inclusive and accessible for everyone, whatever their level of ability. This could entail inclusion in mainstream activity or teams / sessions specifically for people with a disability.

In Lancaster there are two football teams / sessions specifically for people with a disability. It is a County FA priority 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. Lancaster has one FA Wildcats girls football centre and the priority is to grow this activity.

With 14 teams, the number of female teams is higher than local areas of a similar size. The County FA’s priority is to support existing clubs to grow and encourage more clubs to develop playing opportunities for females. The local girls’ league is the Lancaster and Morecambe Service To Youth for mixed football or the West Lancs Girls League. League matches are played on a home and away / central venue basis. It is expected to sustain its provision in future years. The local adult female league is the North West Womens League League in which matches are also played on a home and away / central venue; it is expected to grow its provision in future years.

For talented players, the most local FA Regional Talent Club (RTC) is at Blackburn Rovers FC. Higher level talent pathway opportunities are also provided regionally and nationally by the FA, culminating in the England Women’s national squads. The most local Women’s Super League teams are Manchester City FC and Manchester United FC with Blackburn Rovers FC also competing in the FA Womens Championship. Collectively, these clubs provide player pathway opportunities for gifted and talented female players and a spectator interest for fans.

Small sided football

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

Small-sided teams and leagues are organised and competitive activities; typically with players registered to clubs and affiliated to leagues and their county FAs. Examples include futsal and local small-sided leagues running at venues such as sports halls, 3G FTPs or small-sided 3G centres. A key provider locally of this activity locally is; Soccer Sixes, Heysham High School.

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

There is one futsal team in Lancaster; this plays at Lancaster University. It is a priority for the County FA to grow futsal for all potential players in Lancaster.

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 Lancaster. Walking football sessions are delivered by a range of community organisations such as Morcambe Community Sports Trust. Walking football and Just Play are County FA priorities for further growth. Other local recreational football programmes include Kicks sessions delivered by Morecambe FC Community Sports.

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 Lancaster is played particularly in parks and open spaces such as Rylands Park. Some parish council locations are also heavily used.

The key strengths of local football in Lancaster include adult and junior provision and it is recommended that this is sustained and also encouraged to grow further. However, gaps do exist; these include girls football despite having dedicated women and girls clubs and access to suitable facilities for midweek training and match play. It is therefore recommended that the future football development priorities for Lancaster are:

1. To sustain adult and junior football, supplementing it with available 3G pitches
2. To invest and develop grass pitch improvement programmes as a key targeted area.
3. Support clubs to develop their facilities
4. Enhance and develop open spaces and small sided recreational areas for the benefit of increasing participation.

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

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

This section reviews existing football facility assets in Lancaster. 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, local areas are 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.

The full-sized (11 v 11) 3G FTPs in Lancaster are located at:

• Bay Leadership Academy (former Heysham High School)
• Lancaster University Sports Centre
• LMC Sport and Fitness
• Morecambe Community High School
• Globe Arena (disused)
• Heysham Mossgate Sport & Community Centre

The Lancaster PPS was undertaken in 2018. It indicates that there is a shortfall of two full size 3G FTPs to meet both current and future demand, with one pitch needed in Lancaster and one to serve the rural areas of the Authority. Since the PPS was completed, the 3G FTP at LMC Sport and Fitness has closed to the community thus, increasing the overall shortfall across the Authority to three full size 3G FTPs.

Three of the six identified full size pitches are available for community use. Provision located at The Globe Arena, LMC Sport and Fitness and Lancaster University Sport Centre are unavailable to local football clubs. It is noted that the pitch at Lancaster University Sports Centre does allow for ad hoc community use, but not on a consistent basis and for the purposes of the LFFP (and PPS) is considered to be unavailable.

Five of the six listed 11v11 3G FTPs are on the FA Register for 3G FTPs (meaning they are quality checked and could, if available, be used for football match play). It is strongly recommended that the remaining pitch at Globe Arena is certified to enable match play on 3G (on the basis it can be brought back into use). Despite five currently being certified, it is noted that the 3G FTP at Heysham Mossgate Community & Sport Centre and the one at Morecambe Bay Academy are likely to drop off the register in coming years unless quality improvements are undertaken at each site.

The geographic spread of existing facilities is uneven; the majority are in and around the Morecambe area. There are facility gaps in Lancaster and rural areas of the Authority, with no existing (available) 3G FTPs available to service club demand.

Local consultation reveals common issues with high pricing and low peak time availability and it is recommended that these are addressed.

Five priority projects for potential investment are identified. Each was selected based upon a rationale of good access, high population, geographic spread, existing facility quality and high levels of deprivation, high proportions of people from lower social economic groups. Note that of these five projects, two relate to the resurfacing of existing provision to ensure that they remain fit for purpose.

Further to the five identified projects, it was agreed by the LFFP steering group that Salt Ayre Leisure Centre is a key strategic facility for sport and leisure in the Lancaster and thus future consideration will be given to the delivery of a full size 3G FTP an the site, if pre-identified projects are unable to be delivered.

Playing fields are one of the most important resources for sport in England. All football players should have the opportunity to play on good quality grass pitches. However, FA data shows that 63% of pitches in England are poor / low quality and one in six games is cancelled. As such, poor pitch quality is consistently cited as the number one issue for players.

The priority is, therefore, to sustainably improve grass pitch quality across all main pitch owners (local authorities, education establishments and clubs). However, the level of maintenance required to obtain good quality standards is regularly affected by restricted budgets and limited knowledge/ training. Compaction and grass coverage are two key causes of poor quality pitches. Both are commonly treated via a maintenance driven solution (and do not necessarily require costly drainage schemes).

Playing fields are also a valuable resources for informal play and open-access sites are encouraged but, for many, problems such as dog fouling and vandalism mean that they need to be protected with mitigation measures such as fencing.

The key challenge is to create a sustainable approach to provide good quality football pitches for the long term. Most local authorities (78%) intend to increase pitch hire fees in the future. However, the majority of players (63%) believe facilities are already expensive and some (16%) believe prices are prohibitive. A sustainable solution should, therefore, carefully balance pitch quality and affordability.

While the education sector (37%) and local authorities (32%) are still the principal asset owners of grass pitches, clubs / leagues own or maintain an increasing share (currently 25%). Assets and opportunities have been considered across each sector.

Although large (3+ pitch) strategic sites are important and make up much of the project list within the LFFPs, this does not mean that other club, league and community/voluntary sites are not important or eligible for funding. These sites are key to the Football Foundation's Grass Pitch Programme to deliver 20,000 good quality pitches.

For more information click here.

PitchPower

The PitchPower app is the gateway to any grass pitch improvement funding. It is the tool that will allow clubs and organisations to complete pitch inspections and access funds.

If you haven't signed up and completed a PitchPower pitch inspection, you will need to do this before you can apply for the Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund.

Learn more by clicking here.

There are currently 18 grass pitch sites in Lancaster with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three pitches but deemed to be of strategic importance). These contain 43 grass pitches. Local consultation confirms the issues faced in respect of poor pitch quality and related limited availability (particularly in Heysham/ Morecambe) and it is recommended that these are addressed.

Of the 18 key pitch sites referenced above it was determined that eight of these should be prioritised. This will result in quality improvements to 21 pitches:

Eight 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 with pitches that are in the poorest condition and that have the potential to be best utilised.

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 takes 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 18 key grass pitch sites in Lancaster with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three but deemed to be of strategic importance) nine have suitable changing rooms, five require improvement/replacement and four have no facilities and require new pavilions.

Nine 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.

Three potential opportunities for MUGAs are identified. In each case the rationale is based on them being able to service an area of significant population and high proportions of people from lower social economic groups.

Local consultation does not highlight any current potential projects to improve existing parks and open spaces.

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:

• Head of Sport -Lancaster University
• Chairman - Halton JFC
• Engagement Manager - Football Foundation
• Head of Facilities & Investment - Lancashire County FA
• Football Development Officer - Lancashire County FA
• Relationship Manager - Active Lancashire
• Sports Development & Facilities Manager - Lancaster City Council
• Community Manager - Morecambe Community Sports
• Assistant School Business Manager - Morecambe Bay Academy
• Chairman - Caton FC
• Secretary - Morecambe Hawks Youth FC
• Chairman - Carnforth Rangers FC
• Planning Manager - Lancaster City Council
• Chairman - Morecambe Ladies & Girls FC
• Head of PE - Carnforth High School
• Secretary - Lancaster City FC
• Secretary - Storeys of Lancaster FC
• Secretary - Bowerham Juniors FC