Local Football Facility Plan Newcastle-under-Lyme

Newcastle-under-Lyme is in the West Midlands region.

The current population of the Authority (ONS 2017 Mid-Year Estimate) is 128,963, which is expected to rise to 140,100 by 2039.

33.6% of the Newcastle-under-Lyme population is within NS SEC classification 6-8 (lower socio-economic groups), which is slightly higher than the England average of 30.6%.

Newcastle-under-Lyme’s ethnic composition is primarily classed as White (95.0%) which is higher than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of Newcastle-under-Lyme’s population represented by the BAME community is 5.0%. This is below the national average (14.6%).

Local Authority

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has a playing pitch strategy in place, which was produced in 2015. Its overall headlines were that there was a prevalence of standard quality pitches and that pitch quality should be improved through increased maintenance or drainage improvements. It was recommended that future investment should be made in multipitch and hub sites.

County Football Association

Newcastle-under-Lyme is covered by Staffordshire 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). There is no active CCO in Newcastle Under Lyme.

Local leisure operator

There is no single leisure operator in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Facilities are instead managed by a variety of local organisations such as Newcastle Under Lyme Borough Council (grass pitches), Newcastle College (Gordon Banks Sports Centre 11 v 11 FTP) and Keele University (Keele Leisure Centre 11 V 11 FTP)

Local Consultation

This has taken place with several local organisations in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Seven individuals (representing seven local organisations) were consulted. These were:

• Newcastle-under-Lyme BC
• Newcastle Town FC
• Audley Parish Council
• Loggerheads Parish Council
• Kings School Kidsgrove
• Madeley White Star FC
• Whitmore Parish Council

(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. Newcastle-under-Lyme has a total of 168 teams, which is comparable to local areas of a similar size.

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

Over the last 10-years there has been a significant national increase in the number of large multi-team football clubs. In Newcastle under Lyme, 6 clubs have more than 10 registered teams. The largest of these (based upon 2017-18 affiliation data) are:

Audley FC - 13 teams

Betley FC - 15 teams

Bradwell FC - 26 teams

Kidsgrove Athletic FC - 28 teams

Kidsgrove FC - 11 teams

Newcastle Town FC - 25 teams

Eight leagues operate in Newcastle-under-Lyme. They offer competitive opportunities for many different players, including disability, women and girls, youth and adults.

Newcastle-under-Lyme's largest local leagues (2017-18) include:

Coors Sunday League

North Staffs Junior Youth League

North Staffs Youth League

Potteries Junior Youth League

Potteries & District Sunday League

Staffordshire Ability Counts League

Staffordshire County Senior League

Staffordshire Girls & Ladies League

The County FA reports that there is significant cross boundary migration in Newcastle-under-Lyme due to teams migrating inwards and outwards to the Stoke on Trent and Cheshire areas.

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 Newcastle under Lyme there are 3 football teams / sessions specifically for people with a disability. It is a priority of the County FA to grow this provision. For talented players the FA run Regional Centres and England national squads.

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. Newcastle-under-Lyme has two FA Wildcats girls football centres and the priority is to grow this activity.

At eight, Newcastle-under-Lyme’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 Staffordshire Girls & Ladies League and matches are played on a home and away and central venue] basis. The league is expected to grow its provision in future years. The local adult female league is the Staffordshire Girls & Ladies League and matches are played on a home and away basis and the league is expected to grow its provision in future years.

For talented players, the most local FA Regional Talent Club (RTC) is Stoke City Girls which is located in Stoke on Trent. 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 are Birmingham City, Manchester City, Everton and Liverpool who 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.

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 includes Leisure Leagues (Gordon Banks Sports Centre)

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 Newcastle-under-Lyme. It is a priority for the County FA to grow Futsal for male, female, youth and adult players .

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 Newcastle-under-Lyme. Walking football sessions are delivered by a range of community organisation such as Chesterton Crusaders. Walking football and Just Play are areas that the County FA has prioritised for further growth and development.

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 Newcastle-under-Lyme is played particularly in the central part of the Borough. Gordon Banks Sports Centre, Clayton High School and Keele University are key site locations that are heavily used.

The key strengths of local football in Newcastle-under-Lyme include Mini Soccer, Youth and Adult Male provision and it is recommend that this is sustained and also encouraged to grow further. However, gaps in provision do exist , these include Disability Football , Futsal and Girls and Womens Football

It is therefore recommended that the future football development priorities for Newcastle under Lyme are:

1. Grow Disability Football
2. Grow Youth Female Football
3. Grow Adult Female Football
4. Sustain Male Youth and Adult Football
5. Futsal provision

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 Newcastle-under-Lyme. 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 PitchFinder data states that there are currently six 3G FTPs in Newcastle-under-Lyme; this compares to a requirement of four based on the FA team training demand ratio. It should be noted however that the two pitches at Stoke City training ground straddle the border with Stoke on Trent and should in theory accommodate a large amount of demand from within the Stoke area. It is also acknowledged by the steering group that community use is currently limited at this site.

Existing 3G FTPs in Newcastle-under-Lyme are:

• Chesterton Community Sports College
• Keele University ( 2 pitches)
• Stoke City FC Training Ground (Clayton Wood - 2 pitches)
• The Gordon Banks Sports Centre (Newcastle-under-Lyme College)

Four of the six pitches are available for community use. It is recommend that community use opportunities are explored at Stoke City FC training ground double pitch site which has a community use agreement in place . Until such time as this have been resolved, this site will be regarded as part of the local 3G FTP supply and demand and no additional / replacement pitches will be identified in lieu of this. Two pitches (Keele University and Stoke City training ground) are on the FA Register for 3G FTPs (meaning they are quality checked and can be used for football match play). It is strongly recommend that the three remaining pitches are on the register to enable more match play on 3G.

The geographical spread of existing facilities reflects population density of the area; the majority are located in the east of the local area around the town of Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Based on the LFFP consultation, three priority projects for potential investment have been identified.

Each site was selected by local partners based on a rationale of good access, high population, geographical spread, success and quality of existing facilities, high levels of deprivation and high levels of lower social economic groups :

1- Kidsgrove Kings School- Conversion of sand based AGP to 3G 9 v 9 FTP / extension to 11 v 11 FTP

• Existing facilities - sand based AGP
• Current Users - n/a
• Rationale - Site identified in PPS as undersized (100m x 40m) and being in poor condition (installed 1999) EHA confirmed during consultation that there is no current hockey use. School confirmed during consultation their desire to resurface and if possible extend to full size FTP. Potential use by Kidsgrove athletic FC.

2- The Gordon Banks Sports Centre - Resurface and registration of 11 v 11 FTP

• Existing facilities - 4 x grass pitches, 1 x 11 v 11 3G FTP
• Current Users - Bradwell FC, Newcastle Town Juniors
• Rationale - Site identified by steering group as requiring re-surface in the short term (installed 2010) and FA registration. Investment required to sustain current junior team training and potential increased match-play demand.

3- Newcastle Town FC - Roe Lane playing fields - new build 11 v 11 FTP

• Existing facilities - 9 x grass pitches
• Current Users - Newcastle Town JFC
• Rationale - Club has intention to grow to 41 teams. Training currently dispersed across Gordon Banks / Clayton Hall sand- based pitch. Medium to long term potential for new 3G based on growth in team numbers being achieved by the club.

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 indicates that there are currently 13 grass pitch sites in Newcastle-under-Lyme with three or more full-size pitch equivalents containing 60 grass pitches.

Local consultation shows common issues with poor quality and it is recommended that these are addressed.

Four priority projects for potential investment have been identified. Three of the sites nominated for improvement have three or more full-size pitch equivalents, with two of the sites being standard quality. A further single pitch site (Redgate Clayton) has been nominated due to its strategic importance and potential for asset transfer. Pitch quality rating was evidenced by PPS data and qualified by local partners. Due to the significant number of grass pitch sites in the Authority not all sites have been prioritised. The four sites included in the Plan, have been endorsed by local partners and contain a minimum of 10 full-size pitch equivalents. The prioritisation was informed by local partners with the rationale of selecting sites in the poorest condition and with a strategic focus to improve Local Authority pitches :

4 - The Wammy - Improvements to natural grass pitches

• Existing facilities - 3 x grass pitches - standard quality
• Current Users - Silverdale Vine FC
• Rationale - Site identified in PPS and consultation as having no changing provision, standard quality pitches and requiring better linkage with the adjacent Lower Milehouse pitches. Potential participation growth in junior & senior football, women & girls, lower socio economic groups.

5 - Birchenwood Pavilion - Improvements to natural grass pitches

• Existing facilities - 6 x grass pitches - standard quality
• Current Users - Kidsgrove FC, Spitfires FC
• Rationale - Site identified in PPS as a strategic priority in respect of grass pitch improvement. A pitch improvement plan (PIP) has been produced for the site. Potential participation growth in junior & senior football, women & girls, lower socio economic groups.

6 - Loggerheads Village - new multi grass pitch site

• Existing facilities - n/a
• Current Users - potential for Loggerheads FC to relocate to new site.
• Rationale- Current village single pitch site (The Burntwood) is of poor quality and has no changing accommodation. New grass site identified in neighbourhood plan adjacent to village fire station. Potential participation growth in junior & senior football, women & girls, lower socio economic groups.

8 - Redgate Clayton FC - Improvements to natural grass pitches

• Existing facilities - 1 x grass pitch adjacent Clayton community centre
• Current Users - Redgate Clayton FC
• Rationale- Discussions with Staffs CFA highlighted the potential for the club to secure an asset transfer of the site including the adjacent community centre. Potential participation growth in junior & senior football, women & girls, lower socio economic groups.

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 13 key sites with three or more full-size pitch equivalents in Newcastle-under-Lyme, 10 have suitable changing room pavilions/clubhouses, one has facilities that need improvement/ replacement and three have no facilities and require a new changing pavilion. In addition, one single pitch facility (Wolstanton Utd) has been prioritised for investment due to its strategic importance.

Five priority projects for potential investment have therefore been identified. Each project has three or more full-size pitch equivalents and has either no facilities or was deemed to have an unsuitable pavilion:

4 -The Wammy - new build Pavilion

• Existing facilities - 3 x grass pitches - standard quality
• Current Users - Silverdale Vine FC
• Rationale - Site identified in PPS and consultation as having no changing provision, standard quality pitches and requiring better linkage with the adjacent Lower Milehouse pitches. Potential participation growth in junior & senior football, women & girls, lower socio economic groups.

5- Birchenwood Pavilion - pavilion refurbishment

• Existing facilities - 6 x grass pitches - standard quality
• Current Users - Kidsgrove FC, Spitfires FC
• Rationale - Site identified in PPS as a strategic priority in respect of grass pitch improvement.Potential participation growth in junior & senior football, women & girls, lower socio economic groups.

6- Loggerheads Village - new build pavilion

• Existing facilities - n/a
• Current Users - potential for Loggerheads FC to relocate to new site.
• Rationale- Current village single pitch site (The Burntwood) is of poor quality and has no changing accommodation. New grass site identified in neighbourhood plan adjacent to village fire station. Potential participation growth in junior & senior football, women & girls, lower socio economic groups.

7- Wolstanton Utd - new build pavilion

• Existing facilities - 1 x grass pitch adjacent to Bradwell community centre
• Current Users - Wolstanton Utd FC
• Rationale- Discussions with Staffs CFA highlighted a need to secure separate changing provision for the club due to the potential loss of access to Bradwell community centre. Potential participation growth in junior & senior football, women & girls, lower socio economic groups.

13 - Madeley White Star FC - new build pavilion

• Existing facilities - 4 x grass pitches
• Current Users - Madeley White Star FC (6 affiliated teams)
• Rationale - CFA consultation suggests that the club have aspirations to change their current container based changing accommodation to a single structure club house. Potential participation growth in junior & senior football, women & girls, lower socio economic groups.

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.

Local consultation reveals there are no indoor facilities that require improvement 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:

10 - Parkhouse Industrial Estate - Provision of 5v5 FTP or MUGA

• Existing facilities - n/a
• Existing users - n/a
• Rationale - Consultation with Newcastle-under-Lyme BC Council confirmed the potential to provide a small sided facility support an accessible and informal workforce football offer. Potential participation growth in informal football.

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:

11 - Lyme Valley Parkway

Consultation with Newcastle-under-Lyme BC confirmed the potential to provide small goals / informal football offer.

12 - Wolstanton Marsh

Consultation with Newcastle-under-Lyme BC confirmed the potential to provide small goals / informal football offer

• Sport & Active Lifestyles business manager - Newcastle Under Lyme BC
• Clerk - Loggerheads parish council
• Clerk - Whitmore parish council
• Clerk - Audley parish council
• Headteacher - Kidsgrove Kings School
• Club representative - Madeley White Star FC
• Club representative - Newcastle Town FC