Local Football Facility Plan Maldon

Maldon is located in the Eastern region. The current population of the Authority (ONS 2017 Mid-Year Estimate) is 63,975. This is expected to rise to 70,661 by 2039.

26.2 % of the Maldon population is within NS SEC classification 6-8 (lower socio-economic groups), this is below the national average (30.6%).

Maldon’s ethnic composition is primarily classed as White (98.1%) which is higher than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of Maldon’s population represented by the BAME community is 1.9%. This is below the national average of 14.6%.

Local Authority

The Maldon District Council Local Development Plan (2014-2019) states that access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and recreation can make an important contribution to the health and wellbeing of communities and as such, the Council is committed to protecting and maintaining existing formal and informal open spaces, sports pitches, children’s play areas, leisure and recreation facilities, while ensuring all new development contributes towards any identified local needs.

The Council’s policy is to enable, support and empower communities to be safe, active and healthy, as a corporate priority as well as part of the sustainable community’s objectives.

Maldon District is home to many high quality leisure facilities with a regional importance. To improve health, well-being and active lifestyles through the provision of high quality leisure activities, the Council commits to supporting developments which improve the accessibility, attractiveness and recreational value of these facilities. A Leisure Quarter is identified as part of the Maldon and Heybridge Central Area Masterplan Policy S5. This Leisure Quarter is an ideal location and good opportunity to improve leisure provision, or meet identified deficiencies, for residents of the Maldon and Heybridge area.

The local authority has no Playing Pitch Strategy in place.

County Football Association

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

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 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). Colchester United Football in the Community runs a variety of football activities within the local area.

Local leisure operator

Places for People Leisure is the key leisure operator in Maldon. It currently operates two leisure centres; Blackwater and Dengie Hundred leisure centres. Neither of these sites; however, have football facilities.

County Sports Partnership (CSP)

Active Essex is a publicly funded organisation supported by Essex County Council and Sport England. It aims to make sport accessible for all Essex residents by:

• providing up-to-date information on sports, activities, events and programmes available in and around our county;
• running training courses for those who are seeking a more structured involvement in sport and physical activity, for example as a coach or referee;
• funding clubs, community sport initiatives and individuals through small grants;
• partnering with other organisations and trusted third parties to increase the number and range of opportunities available;
• advocating for improved and enhanced sport facilities, funding and engagement for the communities we serve.

As the strategic lead for physical activity across the county, in its 2017 - 2021 strategy it focuses on getting one million more people active by 2021.

Local consultation

This has taken place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in Maldon. Eight individuals (representing seven local organisations) were consulted. These include:

• Burnham Town Council
• Ormiston Rivers Academy
• Colchester United Football in the Community

(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. Maldon has a total of 98 teams, which is lower 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 Maldon, four clubs have more than 10 registered teams. The largest of these (based upon 2017-18 affiliation data) are:

• Beacon Hill Rovers FC / Youth / Veterans/ Girls - 13 teams
• Heybridge Swifts FC / Youth - 18 teams
• Maldon & Tiptree FC / Youth - 16 teams
• Maldon Saints FC / Youth / Disability / Girls - 15 teams

Three leagues have coverage in Maldon. They offer competitive opportunities for many different players, including youth and adults. Note: the Essex County Girls League, Womens League and the Essex Soccability League is county wide.

Leagues with the largest team coverage in Maldon (2017-18) include:

• Blackwater & Dengie Youth League – 404 teams– home and away
• Braintree and North Essex Sunday League –26 teams– home and away
• County Motor Works Vauxhall Mid Essex Football League – 55 teams– home and away

The County FA reports that there is some cross boundary migration in Maldon due to teams migrating inwards and outwards to the Blackwater & Dengie Youth League and the Brentwood Community Football Alliance.

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 Maldon there is one football team / session specifically for people with a disability. It is a priority of the County FA to grow this provision. For talented players the FA runs regional centres and England national squads.

Women and girls

The FA has big ambitions for the female game and aims to double levels of participation by 2020. To achieve this requires a combined effort across four pathways: education, recreation, competition and talent.

Education environments have a huge impact on the first experience of football for young girls. This pathway can offer many opportunities for females of all ages to develop and grow a lifelong interest in football.

FA Wildcats girls football centres provide the first step on the recreational pathway, the programme provides girls aged 5-11 with regular opportunities to play football in a fun and engaging environment. Maldon has no FA Wildcats girls football centres and the priority is to grow this activity.

At five, Maldon’s number of female teams is lower 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 Essex County Girls League and matches are played on a home and away basis. The league is expected to grow its provision in future years. The local adult female league is the Essex County Womens 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 the Essex County Regional Talent Centre which is located in Colchester. 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 West Ham United Ladies which provides player pathway opportunities for gifted and talented female players and a spectator interest for fans.

Small-sided football

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

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

Key local providers include:

• Soccer Sixes – Plume 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 Maldon. It is a priority for the County FA to grow Futsal for for youth inclusive of boys and girls players.

Recreational football

Recreational football is played where facilities are typically booked and there might be someone to help organise. Examples include FA Just Play sessions, walking football and casual pitch hire for small-sided match play.

There are currently two FA Just Play Centres in Maldon. Walking football sessions are delivered by a range of community organisation such as Maldon District Council. Walking football and Just Play are formats that the County FA has prioritised for further growth and development. Other local recreational football programmes include pro-club community scheme activity / casual bookings which are delivered by a range of organisations including Colchester United in the Community.

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 Maldon is played particularly in the central part and south of the District. Promenade Park, Riverside Park and West Maldon Community Centre are key site locations that are heavily used.

The key strengths of local football in Maldon include youth provision and it is recommend that this is sustained and also encouraged to grow further. However, gaps in provision do exist, these include disability, women and girls, and futsal.

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

1. Develop a girls football offer for 5-11 years old.
2. Develop local opportunities for youth & adult disability football.
3. Develop a recreational offer for futsal for youth & adult players.
4. Support the retention of adult male teams

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 Maldon. 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.

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.

FA data states that there is currently one 3G FTP in Maldon; this is a shortfall of one pitch relative to assessed demand.

The existing 3G FTP in Maldon is at Plume School

The pitch at Plume School is available for community use, as well as being on the FA Register for 3G FTPs (meaning it is quality checked and can be used for football match play). It is strongly recommend that any pitches developed in the future are on the register to enable more match play on 3G.

The only pitch in the area is located in the centre of the district, the area of highest population. However, there is a provision gap in the south of the authority, where there is the densely populated area of Burnham. It is recommended that this gap is addressed.

Local consultation reveals common issues with lack of provision and having to travel long distances from certain areas to access existing provision. It is recommended that this is also addressed.

Two 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, higher levels of deprivation and higher levels of lower social economic groups.

The steering group identified a need for one small sized 3G FTP project at Orimston Rivers Academy. This is due to high population and club activity, as well as being a 25 minute drive from provision in the centre of Maldon. The number of club teams; however, does not warrent a full size 3G FTP.

1 - Heybridge Swifts Football Club - Provide full size, floodlit 3G FTP.

• Existing facilities: four full size equivalent pitches. Site also has a clubhouse and an additional poor quality changing block.
• Current users: currently used by Heybridge Swifts FC, Heybridge Swifts Youth FC.
• Rationale: support participation growth in; junior football, senior football, women’s and girls football, disability football, lower socioeconomic communities, BAME communities, recreational football and football for the over 50s.

2 - Ormiston Rivers Academy - Provide small size, floodlit 3G FTP (60x40m).

• Existing facilities - one poor quality sand based AGP and five full size equivalent pitches.
• Current users: currently used by Burnham Ramblers FC and school pupils.
• Rationale: support participation growth in; junior football, senior football, women’s and girls football, disability football, lower socioeconomic communities, BAME communities, recreational football and football for the over 50s.

Playing fields are one of the most important resources for sport in England. All football players should have the opportunity to play on good quality grass pitches. However, FA data shows that 63% of pitches in England are poor / low standard and 1 in 6 games are cancelled. As such, poor pitch quality is consistently cited as the number one issue for players.

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

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

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

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

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

For more information click here.

PitchPower

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

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

Learn more by clicking here.

PitchFinder data and consultation with clubs indicates that there are currently six grass pitch sites in Maldon with three or more full-size pitch equivalents containing 23 grass pitches.

Of these, one is considered to have good quality pitches, two are of standard quality and three poor quality. Due to no PPS currently being in place, pitch quality has been decided based on consultation with the steering group and local clubs.

Local consultation shows common issues with poor quality, particularity as a result of drainage issues.

Four priority projects for potential investment have been identified. Each site has three or more full-size pitch equivalents of poor or standard quality. Pitch quality ratings were qualified by local partners. The four identified sites, contain 15 full-size pitch equivalents. The prioritisation was informed by local partners with the rationale of selecting sites in the poorest condition:

1 - Heybridge Swifts Football Club - Works to natural grass pitches.

• Existing facilities: four full size equivalent pitches. Site also has a clubhouse and an additional poor quality changing block.
• Current users: currently used by Heybridge Swifts FC, Heybridge Swifts Youth FC.
• Rationale: support participation growth in; junior football, senior football, women’s and girls football, lower socioeconomic communities, BAME communities and football for the over 50s.

4 - Promenade Park - Works to natural grass pitches.

• Existing facilities: four full size equivalent pitches and clubhouse.
• Current users: currently used by 16 teams from five clubs; Maldon & Tiptree Athletic FC, Maldon Saints Girls FC, Maldon Saints FC, Maldon Saints Soccability and Maldon Saints Youth FC.
• Rationale: support participation growth in; junior football, girls football, disability football, lower socioeconomic communities, BAME communities and football for the over 50s.

5 - Beacon Hill Sports Association- Works to natural grass pitches, in particular to address drainage issues.

• Existing facilities: three full size equivalent pitches. One of the pitches needs to be able to accommodate Beacon Hill Rovers Ladies FC, which plays at Step 5 of the women's football pyramid.
• Current users: currently used by 14 teams from Beacon Hill Rovers FC (including a vets team), Beacon Hill Rovers Ladies FC, Beacon Hill Rovers Girls FC and Beacon Hill Rovers Youth FC.
• Rationale: support participation growth in; junior football, senior football, women’s and girls football, lower socioeconomic communities, BAME communities and football for the over 50s.

3 - Leslie Field Stadium (Burnham Ramblers Football Club) - Works to natural grass pitches.

• Existing facilities: four full size equivalent pitches.
• Current users: currently used by eight teams from Burnham Ramblers FC (including a vets team) and Burnham Ramblers Juniors FC.
• Rationale: support participation growth in; junior football, senior football, women’s and girls football, lower socioeconomic communities, BAME communities and football for the over 50s.

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 six key sites with three or more full-size pitch equivalents in Maldon, four have suitable changing room pavilions/clubhouses, two have facilities that need improvement/ replacement.

Two priority projects for potential investment have therefore been identified. Both projects have three or more full-size pitch equivalents and are deemed to have an unsuitable pavilion:

1 - Heybridge Swifts Football Club - Improve changing facilities.

• Existing facilities: four full size equivalent pitches. Site also has a clubhouse and an additional poor quality changing block.
• Current users: currently used by Heybridge Swifts FC, Heybridge Swifts Youth FC.
• Rationale: support participation growth in; junior football, senior football, women’s and girls football, disability football, lower socioeconomic communities, BAME communities and football for the over 50s.

4 - Promenade Park - Improve and extend clubhouse (which has planning permission).

• Existing facilities - four full size equivalent pitches and a clubhouse.
• Current users: currently used by 16 teams from five clubs; Maldon & Tiptree Athletic FC, Maldon Saints Girls FC, Maldon Saints FC, Maldon Saints Soccability and Maldon Saints Youth FC.
• Rationale: support participation growth in; junior football, girls football, disability football, lower socioeconomic communities, BAME communities and football for the over 50s.

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.

Indoor football is played at both Blackwater and Dengie Hundred leisure centres; however, local consultation reveals they do not require improvement in order to develop small-sided football.

Two potential opportunities for MUGAs have been identified. In each case the rationale is based on the site being in an area of high urban population , limited green space , high levels of deprivation, high levels of lower social economic groups and corresponding high local demand for informal football:

7 - Riverside Park - Refurbish MUGA.

• Existing facilities: one poor quality MUGA and a small sided goal.
• Current users: currently for informal play.
• Rationale: support participation growth in; junior football, girls football, lower socioeconomic communities and BAME communities.

6 - West Maldon Community Centre - Provide colour coded (dementia friendly) MUGA.

• Existing facilities: open space site with well used community centre. Play provision already exists on site.
• Current users: currently for informal play - in particular from groups using community centre, including a dementia group.
• Rationale: support participation growth in junior football, girls football, lower socioeconomic communities and BAME communities.

Following local consultation, two 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:

4 - Promenade Park - Improve quality of courts (currently tennis courts) and provide Futsal markings and goals. Also look at providing a dome on one so that Futsal sessions/league can run through the winter months. Courts are already floodlit.

• Existing facilities: five full size equivalent pitches and a clubhouse.
• Current users: currently used by 16 teams from five clubs; Maldon & Tiptree Athletic FC, Maldon Saints Girls FC, Maldon Saints FC, Maldon Saints Soccability and Maldon Saints Youth FC. Also used by individuals participating in Futsal sessions.
• Rationale: support participation growth in; senior football, junior football, women's and girls football, disability football, lower socioeconomic communities, BAME communities and football for the over 50's.

7 -Riverside Park - Provide second small sided goal post to provide opportunity for informal match play.

• Existing facilities: one poor quality MUGA and a small sided goal.
• Current users: currently for informal play.
• Rationale: support participation growth in; senior football, junior football, women's and girls football, disability football, lower socioeconomic communities, BAME communities and football for the over 50's.

• Chairman - Beacon Hill FC
• Chairman - Heybridge Swifts FC
• Representative - Maldon Saints FC
• Town Mayor - Burnham Town Council
• Health and Safety Manager - Ormiston Rivers Academy
• Leisure and Sport Development Officer - Maldon District Council
• Leisure Management - Maldon District Council
• Head of Community - Colchester United Football in the Community