Local Football Facility Plan Manchester

Demographics for the area can be seen below:

Local authority

The Manchester City Council Our Manchester Strategy 2016-2025 describes the vision that in 2025 Manchester will be in the top flight of world-class cities that is:

• Thriving and sustainable – with great jobs and the businesses to create them.
• Highly skilled – full of talent both home grown and from around the world.
• Progressive and equitable – a fair city where everyone has an equal chance to contribute and to benefit.
• Liveable and low carbon – a great place to live with a good quality of life: a clean, green and safe city.
• Connected - both physically, with world class transport, and digitally, with brilliant broadband.

This provides a framework for actions by the City Council and its partners working across Manchester public sector organisations, businesses, the voluntary sector and the City's communities.

Manchester Sport & Physical Activity Strategy (2023-2028)

MCRactive is a not for profit organisation established and overseen by Manchester City Council, responsible for driving sport and physical activity across Manchester. It has produced the Manchester Sport and Physical Activity Strategy, underpinned by one of the most extensive public consultation exercises the city has ever undertaken, to develop a long-term vision for the City informed by residents. Key findings were:

• Biggest barriers were lack of time (43%), lack of money (23%) and availability/timing of sessions (22%).
• Two out of three respondents wanted to be more physically active - across all inactive and active respondents.
• Provision needs to be local, accessible and easy to find.
• Most common request for more local, regular park based running and walking activities.

The strategy vision is ‘to establish Manchester in the top-flight of sport cities, with all residents active across the life course, helping to transform their health and wellbeing’. Its eight themes are:

• Encourage residents to move more
• Positive experiences for children and young people
• Active adults increasing and sustaining activity levels
• World class sport that inspires positive change
• Active places and neighbourhoods
• Communicating with and connecting communities
• Realising the potential of the workforce
• Contributing to a Zero Carbon future

Manchester has a Playing Pitch & Outdoor Sport Strategy (PPOSS) which was completed in 2022 and published in February in 2023. The PPOSS evidences that the existing position across all pitch sports is either that demand is currently being met or there is a shortfall, including capacity shortfalls for football pitches. As such, there is a current need to protect all existing playing pitch provision.

Manchester Housing Strategy (2022)

A new Manchester Housing Strategy has been adopted, which will deliver 10,000 new social and affordable homes over the next 10 years while increasing the number of zero and low carbon homes in the City. The Strategy covers the decade up to 2032 and will oversee the creation of 36,000 new homes to meet continuing population growth and demand across all housing types and in every part of Manchester. More than a quarter of these new homes (approximately 10,000) will be social and affordable homes, with some 3,000 in the City Centre. At least 80% of new homes will be on brownfield sites, close to public transport links.

Places for Everyone

Places for Everyone is a draft long-term plan of nine Greater Manchester districts (Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan) for jobs, new homes, and sustainable growth. It has been prepared by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) on behalf of the nine districts, which together will deliver around 175,000 net additional dwellings over the period 2022-2039. Though there are no strategic housing allocation sites proposed within Manchester as part of Places for Everyone, it is to provide the most housing units of the nine local authorities over the course of the plan, with around 60,000 units expected to be delivered in Manchester. Adoption of the plan is anticipated in Spring 2024.

County Football Association

Manchester is covered by Manchester FA, Cheshire FA and Lancashire FA. They provide governance for, and development support to, all aspects of local football including coaches, referees, volunteers, clubs and leagues; supporting football for all. The County FAs each have a designated facilities investment lead officer who work to ensure the right facilities are located in the right locations.

Football Foundation

The Regional Delivery Manager and Regional Technical Project Manager at the Football Foundation work collaboratively with the County FA to provide pre-application support and lead on the delivery of priority projects for potential investment. The Regional Facility Planning Manager (FPM) will lead and be responsible for all aspects of strategic planning and will lead on refreshing of LFFPs.

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). Manchester United Foundation and City in the Community (CITC) run a variety of health, education, engagement, football and sporting activities in the local area.

Local leisure operator

The City has a single governance vehicle for Sport and Leisure in Manchester: Manchester Active – a not-for-profit organisation established and overseen by Manchester City Council. Contracted on the 1st April 2019 for an initial ten year term, Manchester Active is responsible for implementing the City's adopted Sport and Physical Activity Strategy. Manchester Active will also develop plans which underpin the Strategy while brokering and facilitating the relationships which will deliver it.

Manchester Council Leisure service delivery contract arrangements are in place with GLL for management and operation of the suite of Elite and Community facilities and the Wythenshawe Forum Trust for Forum Leisure and Facilities Management arrangements. The Trust also manages and maintains Wythenshawe Sports Ground which is a key strategic multi-pitch site for football.

The Leisure Contract Arrangements have been in place with the Council since 2014 and will continue until 2028. GLL is the principle operator in Manchester and operates the following indoor and outdoor leisure sites under its contract with the City Council.

• Abraham Moss Leisure Centre
• Active Lifestyles Centre
• Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre
• Ardwick Sports Hall
• Belle Vue Sports Village
• Broadway Leisure Centre
• Debdale Outdoor Centre
• East Manchester Leisure Centre
• Hough End Leisure Centre
• Manchester Aquatics Centre
• Manchester Regional Arena
• Manchester Regional Gymnastics Centre
• Manchester Tennis and Football Centre
• Moss Side Leisure Centre
• National Cycling Centre
• Clayton Vale Mountain Bike Trail & Phillips Park Skills Zone
• Platt Fields Park BMX Track
• National Squash Centre
• North City Family & Fitness Centre
• Ten Acres Lane Sports Complex

GLL also manages Sugden Sports Centre which is university owned and not within the MCC/Manchester Active portfolio.

Local consultation

Local consultation took place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in the original LFFP (2019). As part of the update process, a survey was sent via the respective County FA to key football clubs in the area (see Appendix B for full list of consultees). A full consultation exercise which invited all affiliated football clubs was undertaken in 2021/22 to inform the Manchester PPOSS, the findings of which have helped to inform the development of the LFFP.

Clubs

There are over 91,000 community football teams in England, spread over an expansive network of clubs and leagues. Manchester has a total of 998 teams (2022/23 season).

Survive. Revive. Thrive is the FA Grassroots Football Strategy 2020-2024. To deliver the goals for male and female football, there must be a vibrant, best-in-class club network around the country. The FA will work to encourage as many clubs as possible to achieve FA-Accredited status, assuring quality in everything they offer, including ever-safer and stronger player pathways. This will be coupled with a commitment to improve the quality of thousands of pitches up and down the country, with a particular focus on grass pitches.

Over the last 10-years there has been a significant national increase in the number of large multi-team football clubs. In Manchester, 13 clubs have more than 10 registered teams. These are (based upon 2022/23) affiliation data:

• Wythenshawe Amateurs - 57 teams
• FC Bluestar - 54 teams
• Cheetham Hill Juniors - 35 teams
• West Didsbury & Chorlton - 35 teams
• Fletcher Moss Rangers - 30 teams
• Manchester Corinthians - 26 teams
• Hough End Griffins Juniors - 21 teams
• West Gorton JFC - 20 teams
• Collyhurst Youth JFC - 19 teamsv
• St Johns (Chorlton) - 18 teams
• Moston Brook - 17 teams
• Wythenshawe Celtic - 17 teams
• Moston Juniors - 13 teams

Leagues

Thirteen leagues operate in Manchester. They offer competitive opportunities for many different players, including youth and adults. While there is no specific league opportunity for women & girls and disability within Manchester, suitable provision is made in neighbouring Oldham, Trafford and Salford.

Manchester's largest local leagues (2022/23) include:

• East Manchester Junior Football League: 1,140 teams– central venue at multiple sites, mostly across Manchester and Tameside
• Manchester Respect Football League: 117 teams– central venue at multiple sites
• Manchester Amateur Sunday Football League: 27 teams– home and away
• Cheshire & Manchester Sunday Football League: 23 teams – home and away
• Manchester Saturday Morning Football League: 15 teams– home and away

The County FA reports significant cross boundary migration to/from Manchester due to teams playing in the North & South Manchester Girls leagues (Oldham & Trafford), Greater Manchester Ability Counts League in Salford and the Manchester Youth and Mini Soccer League in Oldham. In addition, there is significant inward migration from teams based in other Greater Manchester districts to play in the Manchester Respect Football League and East Manchester JFL.

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 Manchester there are eight football teams 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’s strategy, titled Inspiring Positive Change, pledges to create a sustainable future for women’s and girls’ football in England. One key target set out was for 75% of schools to be delivering equal access to football in PE lessons by 2024. This target was achieved a whole year ahead of schedule. The strategy outlines eight transformational objectives, the following across grassroots football:-

• Early Participation – Every primary school-aged girl to have equal access to football in school and in clubs.
• Development Participation – Every girl to have equal access to participate for fun, for competition and for excellence.
• Club Player Pathway – Collaborate with clubs to develop an effective high-performance, inclusive player-centred pathway.
• Football For All – Recruit and support a motivated, diverse range of local leaders organising football for their communities.
• Coaching – Support the development of exceptional coaches at every level of the game who are representative of our society.
• Refereeing – Ensure that every female referee afforded high-quality bespoke learning and development opportunities from grassroots through to the elite game.

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.

In addition to the affiliated team data, The FA also has ambitious plans to roll out 4000 ‘casual’ football pathway programmes under the ‘Just Play’ banner including initiatives such as Wildcats, Squad Girls’ Football and walking football for women. 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. FA Squad Girls' football sessions provide girls aged 12-14 with a fun, non-competitive way to play football locally with friends, whether completely new to football, transitioning from Wildcats, or simply wanting to play.

For talented players, the Girls' Emerging Talent Centres (ETCs) across the nation are provided to increase and diversify the talent pool and give more girls than ever the chance to take their first steps on the pathway towards playing professional football. Higher level talent pathway opportunities are also provided regionally and nationally by the FA, culminating in the England Women’s national squads. Women’s Super League and Women's Championship teams provide player pathway opportunities for gifted and talented female players and a spectator interest for fans.

One catalyst for growth was the victory by the Lionesses in the 2022 EUROs finals. Female football is now growing at a rate of 13% year on year and it is imperative that there is sufficient supply and quality of facilities (both on and off the pitch) to meet this demand. By 2030 it is estimated that 21% of all teams will be women and girls' teams.

The Greater Manchester Women’s Football Board (GMWFB) has been established to develop women’s and girls’ football at all levels, from increasing participation at grassroots level to supporting teams in the FA Women’s Football Pyramid. It plays an active role in supporting the game and developing players, identifying partnership and funding opportunities and making recommendations on future facility plans across Greater Manchester. The GMWFB has identified a shortlist of projects across the ten Greater Manchester authorities which it considers as being priorities to meet and grow demand for female participation.

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 AGPs or small-sided 3G centres. Key local providers include

• Ultim8
• GLL
• Powerleague (Central)
• Goals Soccer Centre (North)
• Manchester Futsal League
• University of Manchester
• Manchester Metropolitan University (Soccer Gods)
• Soccer in the City

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 Manchester at Denmark Road. Walking football sessions are delivered by a range of community organisation such as Manchester Community Walking Football Club and FC United of Manchester. Walking football and Just Play are County FA priorities for further growth and development. Other local recreational football programmes include pro club community scheme activity and casual bookings delivered by a range of organisations including City in the Community, Manchester United Foundation and Footy Addicts.

The key strengths of local football in Manchester include recreational and small-sided football (including FA Wildcats and Just Play), the work of the City in the Community and Manchester United Foundation across the City, and the Manchester Metropolitan University and University of Manchester football hub sites. However, there are aspects of football provision in which the offer does not match that in other local authorities of a similar size, such as youth to adult transition age groups (U18s and U21s).

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

1. Growth of women and girls participation (especially in the North of the City) - transition from and further growth of FA Wildcats and FA Squad Girls to affiliated football
2. Further growth of disability football - outside of City in the Community
3. Development of U18-21 provision
4. Growth of Vets participation and transition from mainstream adult teams - recreational and small sided options
5. Growth of participation within diverse ethnic and low socio-economic groups (LSEG)

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. 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 AGPs
• Improved grass pitches
• Off pitch and ancillary facilities (e.g. toilets, changing rooms, catering)
• 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 pitches 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. All 3G pitches must have sports lighting and offer a broad programme of community use 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, 3G pitches 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. An 11v11 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 women and girls, low socio-economic groups, people with disabilities and culturally diverse communities. The way 3G pitches are used allows for match play across all formats of football (5v5, 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11). This enables match play to be transferred from grass to 3G as well as being a fantastic asset for training. Only pitches on The FA 3G Register can accommodate affiliated match play (meaning they are quality checked). It is strongly recommended that all pitches are registered.

Although Football Foundation investment will always be football led, 3G pitches offer a fantastic opportunity to support other sports, particularly traditional grass pitch sports. Where appropriate, and through engagement with other NGBs, projects below will include potential multisport opportunities.

There are 34 full-sized (11 v 11) 3G AGPs in Manchester, of which 30 are available for community use. There are seven available pitches which meet FA recommended full size pitch dimensions (100x64m). Pitches available for community use are located at located at:

• Abraham Moss High School (90x45m)
• Belle Vue Sports Village - x2 pitches (100x60m and 91x55m)
• Broadhurst Park Stadium (FC United of Manchester, 100x60m)
• Cedar Mount Academy (95x55m)
• Chorlton High School (100x60m)
• Co-op Academy North Manchester (100x60m)
• Dean Trust Ardwick Academy (106x70m)
• Manchester Academy (100x60)
• Manchester Communications Academy - x2 pitches (108x70m, 90x45m)
• Manchester Enterprise Academy (100x60m)
• Manchester Health Academy (105x70m)
• Manchester Metropolitan University (Platt Lane Sports Complex) - x2 pitches (106x64m, 100x60m)
• St Matthews Roman Catholic High School (100x60m)
• St Pauls Catholic High School (91x55m)
• Ten Acres Lane Sports Complex (100x62m)
• The Co-Operative Academy of Manchester (91x55m)
• The East Manchester Academy (100x60m)
• The Manchester College (Nicholls Community Football Centre, 92x55m)
• The Manchester College (Openshaw Campus, 100x60m)
• Trinity Sports Centre (105x60m)
• University Of Manchester (Armitage Sports Centre) - x3 pitches (130x80m, 105x70m, 91x55m)
• Wright Robinson Leisure - x3 pitches (100x60m)

Pitches unavailable for community use are located at:

• Etihad Campus - x3 pitches (110x74m)
• Higher Blackley Education Village (Our Lady's RC High School, 90x50m)

A previous sand based AGP was converted to 3G at University Of Manchester (Armitage Sports Centre) in 2022, to create a third 3G AGP at the site. The project was not supported by Football Foundation funding and the programme of use is focussed mainly on meeting student sport demand, with little capacity for external community use for midweek training. It is considered that the pitch does not represent broadly available supply for community team training but may offer opportunity for weekend match play.

Further to the operational pitches, a full size 3G AGP lies disused at Newall Green High School (Wythenshawe) which is condemned for use since the School closed in August 2021. There are new proposals for the School to be brought back into use as new secondary free school Dixons Newall Green Academy which will open in September 2024 to Year 7 students and will grow year by year until it has students aged 11 to 16 by 2027. An application for planning consent to refurbish the 3G pitch and redevelop part of the existing building, including new sports hall and changing facilities, is pending awaiting decision.

The Manchester Playing Pitch & Outdoor Sport Strategy (PPOSS) identifies Manchester Academy High School (Moss Side) as being unavailable for community use due to quality issues. Football Foundation investment in 2022 has since supported the resurface of this pitch meaning it is now again accessible for community access.

Football Foundation funding has in 2022 been awarded to support the development of two new full size 3G AGPs at Hough End Playing Field, as well as for new associated ancillary provision within a new leisure centre build and improvements to surrounding infrastructure.

The Manchester College has developed a new campus in Openshaw with a full size 3G AGP, relocating from it's Nicholls Campus (Nicholls Community Football Centre). There are proposals for the existing pitch at the latter to be retained and sub-divided to form 3x 5v5 and 3x 7v7 small sided 3G pitches. Existing community users have been relocated within the programme at Openshaw Campus with a Community Use Agreement, therefore there will be no net loss of provision.

There are a further 78 smaller size 3G AGPs servicing Manchester, of which 67 are available for community use. Eight are 60m x 40m sized or larger, including the substantially sized pitch at MEA Central which is 80x44m:

• Benchill Community Centre
• Broughton Park FC
• Burnage Academy for Boys
• Eden Boys Leadership Academy - no floodlighting, not available
• Manchester Metropolitan University (Platt Lane Sports Complex) - indoor dome covered
• MEA Central
• Park View Community School -no floodlighting, not available
• Stanley Grove Primary Academy - no available for community use

Manchester has a PPOSS produced in 2022 and published in 2023. The PPOSS indicates that there is a shortfall of two full size 3G AGPs in the South area of the City to meet current demand and future demand reported by clubs. This demand will be met by the two new full size 3G AGPs at Hough End Playing Fields once built and operational. However, there may be a requirement for additional 3G AGPs in future in line with population growth and new housing delivery. There are also eight full size 3G AGPs that require replacement.

There are 30 of 34 full size 3G AGPs available for community use, increasing to 32 available pitches once the two pitches at Hough End Playing Fields are operational. It is recommended that community use opportunities are explored at Higher Blackley Education Village which previously had community use which has since been withdrawn in response to complaints from local residents. Until such time as this has been resolved, this site will be regarded as part of the local 3G AGP supply and demand and no additional/replacement pitch will be identified in lieu of this. There are 28 on the FA Register for 3G AGPs in total (meaning they are quality checked and can be used for football match play). It is strongly recommended that the six remaining pitches (plus the two new 3G AGPs at Hough End Playing Fields once built) are assessed and placed on the 3G Pitch Register to enable more match play on 3G.

The geographic spread of existing facilities is fairly even. The North Area has the most provision with 13 pitches in total, however five are unavailable for community use. The Central Area has the greatest proportion of available pitches (ten pitches), whilst the Wythenshawe Area has the fewest pitches with just three. Local consultation reveals common issues with low availability in the Wythenshawe area where existing 3G AGPs are known to be significantly used by Trafford based clubs importing demand for training. It is recommended that these are addressed and considered alongside proposals for the development of new 3G AGPs required on the North Trafford border with Wythenshawe. There are provision gaps in the Wythenshawe area with capacity/access issues and high levels of deprivation in this area and it is recommended that these are addressed.

Wythenshawe Park has been identified as a potential location to provide new 3G AGP provision due to its physical size, existing facility mix, and location. The Park has the potential to become a wider multi-sport hub that can support to address local demand for 3G and grass pitches in Wythenshawe area to meet local needs. Cross boundary imported demand contributes to local shortfalls for 3G pitches in particular. On this basis a joint Manchester and Trafford plan for 3G development is recommended to address cross boundary issues in Wythenshawe area. A new Trafford PPS is required to evidence the current demand position in Trafford, particularly the north area, to determine the strategic case for this potential collaborative project.

The FA has seen unprecedented growth over the last five years, particularly in the youth and women & girls game. Overall participation is estimated to grow year on year, equating to an additional 382 teams in the local authority by 2030, of which 109 will come from women and girls. This could represent the equivalent of at least ten additional 11v11 3G FTPs.

Allowances will be made for in the LFFP for ancillary provision for each pitch if needed, however this is subject to the final agreed location of any additional future provision and an assessment as to whether there are existing suitable facilities available. This is displayed as a future participation growth project below.

The following priority projects for potential investment are identified:

The Football Foundation is on a mission to transform the quality of grass football pitches across England, because great facilities enhance physical and mental wellbeing, strengthen communities and empower people. The quality of football pitches is a huge issue for community football; 150,000 matches were postponed due to poor pitches during the last full football season. We are therefore on a mission to improve 20,000 grass pitches across England.

The Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund is a £21m fund that provides eligible organisations with a tapered six-year grant to help them sustain pitches already at a 'good' level and enhance pitches that are either considered 'poor' or 'basic'. In order to be eligible, organisations must use the PitchPower app to assess their pitches. This provides a detailed assessment report with recommendations on improving the quality of grass pitches. The PitchPower app is available to all pitch owners as a way to assess grass pitch quality and gain access to grass pitch improvement recommendations. See PitchPower.

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.

Through the use of PitchPower we are able to identify the demand for investment into new or additional machinery and equipment and see this as an important step towards sustainability for the voluntary sector. Ensuring clubs and leagues can maintain their own sites, supplemented by contracted out major works (e.g. aeration) is potentially a more cost effective approach in the long term.

While the education sector (23.8%) and local authorities (51.8%) are still the principal asset owners of grass pitches and have the heaviest reliance for affiliated matches, clubs/leagues own or maintain an increasing share and we will continue to prioritise investment into sites that are maintained by clubs or leagues.

From the time of the original 2019 LFFP, the introduction of PitchPower has allowed all Club owned and leased sites to apply for funding to improve grass pitch maintenance. The following sites were amongst those previously highlighted as priority projects for pitch improvement and have since been awarded Football Foundation investment:

• Broadhurst Park Stadium
• Cringle Playing Fields
• Hollyhedge Park
• Merseybank Playing Fields
• West Didsbury & Chorlton AFC (including machinery grant)
  

Some clubs/sites have since been awarded Football Foundation investment through the Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund (GPMF), which should result in pitch quality improving over the next couple of seasons. The aim now should be to get the pitches up to the 'good' standard and work to sustain them. Organisations that have accessed the funding to improve pitches are:

• Boggart Hole Clough (Moston Juniors)
• Broadhurst Park Stadium (Moston Juniors)
• Cheetham Hill Cricket Club
• Cringle Playing Fields (Kingsway Athletic JFC)
• Didsbury Sports Ground (Didsbury FC)
• Hewlett Johnson Playing Fields (Urban Soccer)
• Hollyhedge Park (Wythenshawe Amateurs FC)
• Merseybank Playing Fields (Fletcher Moss Rangers)
• Old Bedians Sports Centre (Bedians AFC)
• West Didsbury & Chorlton AFC
• Whalley Range AFC

There are currently 18 key grass pitch sites in the local area that have been identified as either currently maintained, in part or whole, by grassroots clubs or leagues. Of these, 13 have been assessed via PitchPower and have a total of 19 good or better (advanced or high) quality pitches, ten basic quality pitches and 11 poor.

The following club owned or maintained sites remain a priority for grass pitch investment and are eligible for the Football Foundation's Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund:

• West Gorton Playing Field (West Gorton JFC)
• King George V Park (Gorton - West Gorton JFC)
• Orford Road Community Park (Newton Heath Locos)

There are a number of other sites which are presently under Council management but which are priorities for Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund, on the basis that the Council would look to improve facilities onsite to support a transition to club-led maintenance models:

• Boggart Hole Clough (additional pitch for Moston Juniors)
• Alderman Rogers Park (Baguley Athletic)
• Plant Hill Park (Blackley FC)

The priority now is to concentrate on local authority owned sites that require improvements and agree sustainable solutions for pitch maintenance going forward. The first step is to ensure that all pitches have a baseline quality assessment done via PitchPower. All local authority managed pitches have been assessed using PitchPower and across 30 sites assessed by the City Council are known to have a total of three good quality pitches (all at Wythenshawe Sports Ground), 27 basic quality pitches and 60 poor quality pitches.

As part of the Football Foundation investment into new 3G AGPs and off-field provision at Hough End Playing Fields, funds will be ringfenced through the operating model to improve the quality of grass football pitches across the site. The Council has set aside an upfront maintenance budget to begin grass pitch improvements in 2022, to provide 12 months enhanced maintenance works in advance of the new development opening in August 2023. Conditional to Football Foundation funding, the Council is committed to undertaking annual enhanced maintenance to grass pitches onsite. This should see improvements to grass pitch quality through the site model, rather than requiring additional Football Foundation grass pitch maintenance funding.

Capital improvements to playing field and new pitches are to be developed without funding via the Football Foundation at Wythenshawe Park.

Of the 18 key club/league/community maintained pitch sites referenced above it was determined that seven of these should be prioritised for improvements, along with three education sites, one Trust managed site and one managed by a local youth charity. A further eight local authority managed sites should be prioritised for improvements, some of which may hold opportunity for future transfer to club or league led management and maintenance models. In total this will result in quality improvements to 88 full size pitch equivalents.

Twenty priority projects for potential investment have been identified. Pitch quality rating was evidenced by PitchPower. Prioritisation was based on a rationale of selecting sites that had the most pitches and/or quality issues. Also a strategic focus to improve local authority pitches, with a view to greater club-led management and maintenance at some of these sites in future.

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. The process of community engagement once a project has been identified means the facility will properly service the local area and it's people, not just for football but potentially for other sports as well. It is essential to speak to female players as part of this process, as the game continues to grow at significant rates, suitable off pitch and ancillary provision for females is essential. It also means, creating environments that are welcoming to players, spectators, volunteers and officials from all sections of the community. See Football Foundation website for design considerations: Changing Pavilion Design Key Considerations | Football Foundation

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 11v11 pitch equivalents. However, as pitch quality is the number one priority for players this is prioritised before investment in changing room pavilions and 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. Where larger scale investment, such as those identified in this section, is not appropriate, small grants are also available to support upgrades and improvements to changing rooms, toilets and clubhouses. See Changing pavilions and clubhouses | Football Foundation

Of the key grass pitch sites that support and deliver grassroots football, as referenced through the steering group, seven sites require improvement/refurbishment and seven require new builds/replacement. Projects are included in this section where it is expected that new or refurbished facilities will contribute to strong sport and community outcomes, such as:

• Large multi-pitch sites (often three or more pitches) with significant football usage and poor off pitch facilities;
• A priority site for women and girls;
• Club and community sites;
• Sites with new 3G pitches.

Football Foundation investment has been secured to develop new changing and toilet provision at the new leisure centre development at Hough End Playing Fields, to service two new 3G AGPs and improved grass pitches.

The large pavilion building at Wythenshawe Sports Ground can suitably meet the needs of sporting users but requires improvement to the operational systems within. A replacement building management system and improvement to utilities are required. The issues mean that the building cannot be heated in part, only all rooms together or not at all. Consequently it is costly to operate, potentially unviable to run and may have to be closed unless addressed.

The FA has seen unprecedented growth over the last five years, particularly in the youth and women & girls game. Overall participation is estimated to grow year on year, equating to an additional 382 teams in the local authority by 2030, of which 109 will come from women and girls. This could represent the equivalent of at least ten additional 11v11 3G FTPs.

Allowances will be made for in the LFFP for ancillary provision for each pitch if needed, however this is subject to the final agreed location of any additional future provision and an assessment as to whether there are existing suitable facilities available. This is displayed as a future participation growth project below.

The list below identifies priority projects for potential investment:

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

Research suggests that small-sided players in teams and leagues, and in organised 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 AGP 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.

Whilst our priorities will always be football led, we believe Small sided facilities provide a good opportunity to collaborate with other sports to deliver high quality spaces for people to play recreational sport. This will be achieved via our PlayZones Programme:

Football Foundation PlayZone Programme

PlayZones are modern, safe, and engaging facilities that are designed for recreational football and at least one other sport. There are a range of facility types to meet the needs of different sports.

Through this programme we want to address stubborn inequalities in activity levels and access to sports facilities within four priority groups:

• Lower socio-economic groups
• Women and girls
• Disabled people and people with long-term health conditions
• Ethnically diverse communities

Our research also shows us that when it comes to small sided facilities one size does not fit all and localised design and ownership will yield the greatest engagement from under represented groups. Activation is also as important as the facility itself for these groups. This section of the LFFP will concentrate on suitable places for PlayZones.

Suitable places will be identified through a combination of mapping, to include identification of our priority groups and crossover with other multi-sport priorities. Further community engagement will be required for design and delivery. Where some engagement has already been carried out projects will appear in the project list.

All projects will then need to be developed by a cross sector consortium where partners who understand and represent the people and the place come together to drive the project forward and create access and opportunities for priority groups.

Our research shows us that community engagement is the key to developing great small sided facilities and that we shouldn't try and identify sites without first identifying two key things:

• Key priority places within the local authority
• Key priority groups within the local authority

Manchester City Council with partners has submitted a successful expression of interest to be part of the Football Foundation PlayZone programme. The Council has established a new Football Consortia which will be a strategic vehicle to drive football and multi-sport participation in the Manchester local authority area. The Consortia includes representation from the Football Foundation, Manchester County FA, other National Governing Bodies of Sport, Sport England, Manchester City Council, GreaterSport, MCR Active, and community groups. The Consortia is responsible for leading the development and implementation of the Manchester PlayZone Programme and has agreed the project management approach, priority audiences and places, a well as the approach to community engagement.

The four priority groups that face the greatest inequalities in Manchester and reflect those identified by the Football Foundation are as follows:

• Lower socio-economic groups
• Women and girls
• Disabled people, people with limited mobility and people with long-term health conditions
• Ethnically diverse communities

All projects are being developed by four Area Consortiums (North, Central, South, and Wythenshawe areas) where partners and local stakeholders who understand and represent the communities and the place, come together to drive the project forward and create access and opportunities for priority groups.

The priority areas have been identified through extensive partner, stakeholder and community engagement and consultation, local insight and intelligence, mapping and crossover with other multi-sport priorities. This work has identified fifteen priority areas which face the greatest social, health and economic challenges and where there is the highest prevalence of residents who correspond to the socio-economic characteristics of those priority groups.

The fifteen key priority areas are as follows:

• North - Moston, Clayton & Openshaw, Cheetham/Crumpsall, Harpurhey
• Central - Hulme, Longsight/Ardwick, Gorton & Abbey Hey, Levenshulme, Moss Side
• South - Burnage, Fallowfield, Whalley Range/Chorlton Park
• Wythenshawe - Woodhouse Park, Brooklands, Sharston 

Citywide community consultation has confirmed there is strong support for PlayZone facilities across all priority groups within all priority areas. The consultation has identified seventeen preferred option sites for investment and further targeted community consultation and stakeholder engagement will be undertaken to establish the preferred sports, design, usage plan, access system, charging and management model for each site.

New small sided football facilities at Scotland Hall Road and Ladybarn Park are under construction and to be opened in 2023, jointly funded by the Council in partnership with City in the Community and the Football Foundation.

A range of local agencies and key (mainly 10+ teams) local football clubs were invited to participate in the LFFP consultation. Those that contributed are listed below:

• Facility Strategy & Capital Projects Lead - Manchester Active
• Capital Programme Manager - Manchester Active
• Principal Policy Officer - Manchester City Council
• Chief Operating Officer - Manchester FA
• Facilities & Investment Manager - Cheshire FA
• Head of Facilities & Investment - Lancashire FA
• Planning Manager - Sport England
• Strategic Lead (Partnerships) - GreaterSport
• Football Partnerships Manager - CITC
• Facilities Development Manager (North) – Rugby Football Union
• Facilities Planning Manager (Recreational Game) - England & Wales Cricket Board
• Cricket Development Manager - Lancashire Cricket Foundation
• Facilities Relationship Manager - England Hockey
• National Clubs Manager - Rugby Football League
• Wythenshawe Amateurs Juniors - Chairman