Local Football Facility Plan Peterborough

Peterborough is in the East region.

The current population of the authority (ONS 2017 Mid-Year Estimate) is 197,095. This is expected to rise to 224,543 by 2039.

Peterborough is ranked 6 out of 47 LAs in the region, and 56 out of 326 LAs nationally on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (ONS).

Peterborough's ethnic composition is primarily white (82.4%). This is slightly lower than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of Peterborough’s population represented by the BAME community is 17.6%. This is above the national average (14.6%)

Local authority

The Peterborough Council Active Lifestyles and Sport Strategy 2019-23 stated mission is "For Peterborough to become more active, healthier and more successful by creating opportunities and overcoming barriers to take part in physical activity and sport”. Focusing on the four themes of Active Living, Active Recreation, Active Education and Active Sport, the strategy sets out the clear challenge of addressing the City's 29% rate of inactivity which equates to 43,000 residents.

The Authority Playing Pitch Strategy was adopted in 2017. This highlighted a current shortfall of four full size 3G FTPs and a future shortfall (2036) of six. In terms of grass pitches, the PPS assessed 95 pitches as standard quality and 48 pitches as poor quality. None were assessed as being of good quality.

County football association

Peterborough is covered by the Huntingdonshire and Northamptonshire FAs. 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 have a designated facilities investment lead officer who works to ensure the right facilities are located in the right locations.

Football Foundation

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

Sport England

Has a network of planning managers who have a statutory role in the planning system to protect playing fields and provide consultation responses to planning applications relating to sporting facilities . They also play a key role in strategic planning for sports facilities, providing advice and support to local authorities to assess need for facilities in their local area.

Professional community club organisations (CCOs)

These offer a variety of programmes and services to support local communities (sporting and non-sporting). Peterborough Utd FC runs a variety of health, education, engagement, football and sporting activities within the local area.

Local leisure operator

Vivacity is the leisure operator in Peterborough. It currently runs several key sites including a full size 3G FTP at Bushfield & and sand-based artificial grass pitches (AGP) at Embankment Sports Centre (which caters for heavy informal / recreational football usage) and Werrington leisure centre. Vivacity also handles grass pitch bookings across the City, and manages the contract for grass pitch maintenance.

Local consultation

This has taken place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in Peterborough. Twenty three individuals (representing 22 local organisations) were spoken to. The agencies consulted include:

• Nene Park Community Trust
• Community First Peterborough
• Friends of Central Park

(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. Peterborough has a total of 353 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 Peterborough, 12 clubs have more than 10 registered teams, five of these affiliate to Huntingdonshire FA and seven to Northamptonshire FA. These (based upon 2018-19 affiliation data) are:

• City of Peterborough Futsal - 13 teams
• Hampton - 15 teams
• ICA Sports Youth - 14 teams
• Park Farm Pumas - 19 teams
• Stanground Sports Youth - 13 teams
• FC Peterborough - 10 teams
• Glinton & Northborough United - 26 teams
• Netherton United - 32 teams
• Orton Rangers - 10 teams
• Peterborough Northern Star - 19 teams
• Peterborough United - 33 teams
• Werrington Athletic - 11 teams

Leagues

Four leagues operate in Peterborough. They offer competitive opportunities for many different players, including mini soccer, youth and adults. While there is no specific league opportunity for women and girls and disability football in Peterborough, suitable provision is made in neighbouring Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. The key Peterborough leagues (2018-19) are:

• Peterborough & District Junior Alliance League – 355 teams – home and away
• Peterborough & District Football League – 105 teams – home and away
• Peterborough & District Youth League – 67 teams – home and away
• Peterborough Sunday Morning League – 24 teams – home and away

The County FA reports some cross boundary migration to/from Peterborough; outwards due to teams playing in the S-Tech County Girls’ and Womens Football League in Cambridgeshire and inwards from Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Norfolk.

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 Peterborough there are four football teams / sessions specifically for people with a disability. It is a priority of the County FA to grow and sustain 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. Peterborough has eight FA Wildcats girls football centres (six with Huntingdonshire FA and two with Northamptonshire FA) and the priority is to grow and sustain this activity.

At 30, Peterborough’s number of female teams is comparable to local areas of a similar size. The County FA’s priority is to support existing clubs to grow and encourage more clubs to develop playing opportunities for females. The local girls’ league is the S-Tech County Girls’ Football League in Cambridgeshire in which matches are played on a home and away basis. it is expected to grow and sustain its provision in future years. The local adult female league is the S-Tech County Womens Football League. It too plays matches on a home and away and is expected to grow and sustain provision in future years.

For talented players, the most local FA Regional Talent Club (RTC) is Leicester City FC which is located in Leicestershire. There is also an Advanced Coaching Centre (ACC) run by Northamptonshire FA which is located in Northampton. 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 Birmingham City which provides player pathway opportunities for gifted and talented female players and a spectator interest for fans. The nearest FA Women's Championship team to Peterborough is Leicester City FC.

Small sided football

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

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

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

There are currently 13 futsal teams affiliated to Huntingdonshire FA in Peterborough. These play in the FA National Futsal League and City of Peterborough Futsal League at key site locations including Hampton Gardens and Borderville Sports Centre in Stamford, Lincolnshire.

There are also 12 futsal teams presently affiliated to Northamptonshire FA in Peterborough. These play in the EFL Trust Futsal League, FA National Futsal League and FA Youth Futsal Cup at key site locations including Nene Park Academy and central venues provided by the League.

It is a priority for the County FA to further grow and sustain futsal for male, female, youth and adult 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 five FA Just Play centres in Peterborough (three with Huntingdonshire FA and 2 with Northamptonshire FA). Walking football sessions are delivered by a range of community organisation such as the Peterborough United Foundation and local grassroots football organisations. Walking football and Just Play are areas that the County FA has prioritised for further growth and development. Other local recreational football programmes include Man v Fat Football, Premier League Primary Stars, National Citizen Service and large numbers of casual bookings on 3G FTPs and sand-based AGPs throughout the City; these are delivered by a range of organisations including the Peterborough United Foundation and Vivacity - which manages Peterborough’s main culture and leisure facilities.

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 Peterborough is played particularly in the north, south, east and central part of the local authority. Bretton Park, Bushfield Leisure Centre, Werrington Leisure Centre and Westwood Grange Recreation Ground are key heavily used site locations.

The key strengths of local football in Peterborough include the large numbers of affiliated mini soccer, youth and adult football teams, a very proactive professional club (which plays a key role in community provision) and a growing number of non-traditional delivery partners such as charities & sports associations. It is recommended that this is sustained and also encouraged to grow further. However, there are aspects of football provision that do not fully reflect levels achieved in local authorities of a similar size, these include female and disability teams.

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

1. High quality introduction to football - male, female, disability, futsal
2. Develop clubs & leagues - Charter Standard, safeguarding & respect
3. Futsal - develop new adult & youth teams
4. Recruit, develop and support the workforce
5. Develop sustainable football facilities

This section reviews existing football facility assets in Peterborough. It identifies current issues and presents opportunities for improvements, including a list of priority projects for potential investment.

Local assets and opportunities have been reviewed in line with four investment priorities:

• 3G FTPs
• Improved grass pitches
• Changing room pavilions / clubhouses
• Small sided facilities

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

While investment priorities are 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.

There are four full-sized (11 v 11) 3G FTPs in Peterborough located at:

• The Grange
• Bushfield Leisure Centre
• Peterborough FC Academy.
• Hampton Gardens School.

In addition, there are small-sided 3G FTPs located at:

• City Of Peterborough Academy
• Peterborough Regional College
• Gladstone Park Community Centre
• Nene Park Academy
• Powerleague Peterborough
• Hampton Hargate Playing Fields
• Fulbridge Academy

Peterborough's PPS was undertaken in 2017.It indicated a shortfall of six full size 3G FTPs based on 278 teams and a future (2036) requirement for nine based on 344 teams. Current 2018/19 affiliation data calculates a total of 353 teams in Peterborough suggesting that team numbers have grown much quicker than anticipated. Priority locations were noted in the PPS as the Central North analysis area (shortfall of four) and Central South analysis area (shortfall of three). Since the PPS, two new full size 3G FTPs have been delivered in the Central South area at Hampton Gardens School and the Peterborough FC Academy leaving a remaining shortfall of four.

The geographic spread is uneven; 3G FTPs at Hampton Gardens , Bushfield and Peterborough FC Academy are all located in the south of the City. Gaps remain in north and central areas despite these being highly populated and ethnically diverse. Local consultation reveals common issues with low availability and lack of match play on 3G and it is recommended that these are addressed .

In addition to the shortfall of full size 3G FTPs, two of the three current 3G FTPs at Bushfield Leisure Centre (noted in the PPS as showing signs of wear and tear) and the Grange will require replacement within the life of this plan.

All pitches are available for community use and three (Bushfield , Hampton Gardens and The Grange) are on the FA Register for 3G FTPs (meaning they are quality checked and can be used for football match play). It is strongly recommended that the remaining full size and small-sided FTPs are assessed and placed on the Register to enable more match play on 3G. This includes, in particular, the small sided FTP at Gladstone Park - to enable 9 v 9 matchplay to take place.

Five priority projects for potential investment are identified. One (South Central 3G FTP) is located in the Central South PPS analysis area and four (Werrington, Bretton Park, Fulbridge Road, Embankment) are located in the Central (North) analysis area, addressing the remaining PPS identified area shortfalls. Sites were selected on the basis that they will address provision gaps and cater effectively for affiliated football demand.

Consultation also identified potential to convert one of the two school-based full sized sand based AGPs (St John Fisher Catholic High School and Kings School Playing Fields) to 3G. Both are referenced in the PPS as being options for conversion, with the caveat that any existing community hockey use is relocated elsewhere. These sites offer alternative locations for new 3G FTP should the other potential projects prove unfeasible due, for example, to potential site constraints (i.e. Fulbridge Rd)

In addition, Ormiston Bushfield academy expressed a desire during consultation to develop an additional 3G FTP adjacent the Bushfield Leisure Centre pitch . This proposal would not be considered as high priority by the steering group at present but could be considered as part of future revisions of the LFFP.

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

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

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

The key challenge is to create a sustainable approach to provide good quality football pitches for the long term. Most local authorities (78%) intend to increase pitch hire fees in the future. However, 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.

There are currently 16 grass pitch sites in Peterborough with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than 3 pitches but deemed to be of strategic importance). These contain 61 grass pitches.

Of the 16 key pitch sites referenced above, it has been agreed that seven should be prioritised for improvements (of these, four were rated poor quality and four - standard). The quality improvements will affect a total of 34 pitches.

Local consultation confirms the issues with poor pitch quality. In addition, it identified a willingness amongst larger clubs to take on more responsibility for grass pitch maintenance. It was considered that the provision of shared grounds maintenance equipment, possibly held/supervised by the City Council could be a way of improving pitch quality at number of the larger strategic sites in Peterborough.

Seven priority projects for potential investment are identified. Pitch quality rating was evidenced by the PPS and qualified by local partners. 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 and club pitches.

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 16 key grass pitch sites in Peterborough with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three pitches but deemed to be of strategic importance) 10 have suitable changing rooms, two require improvement/replacement and four have no facilities and require a new changing room.

Six priority projects for potential investment are, therefore, identified:

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

Research suggests that small-sided players in teams and leagues, and in recreational sessions, prefer a 3G surface type because it replicates a good standard natural turf pitch. These facilities have already been covered in the 3G FTP section of this LFFP.

Indoor environments currently accommodate 20% of football participation and are also popular with players in teams and leagues and recreational sessions . Indoor sports halls are most popular, along with some community halls and indoor 3G centres. Environments need to be engaging, have clear line-marking and the correct size goalposts.

Informal players require facilities that are open and free to access as this enables play opportunities that are often spontaneous. In these circumstances 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 that, in common with neighbouring local areas such as Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire there is a growing demand for futsal in Peterborough including a successful futsal league based at Hampton Gardens School.

Two indoor projects have been identified for Peterborough, one of which is centred around the Peterborough FC academy and with potential to support the futsal demand identified above. A further opportunity (location TBC - not mapped) for indoor informal football has been identified in the central Peterborough linked to the relative lack of indoor facility capacity to serve the high density BAME population in that part of the City .

Two potential opportunities for MUGAs are identified based at sites in area of significant urban population and with corresponding high local demand for informal football:

No locations are presently identified to support small sided informal football.

A range of local agencies and larger (usually 10 plus team) local football clubs were invited to participate in the LFFP consultation. Those that contributed are listed below:

• Culture and Leisure Development Manager - Peterborough City Council
• Head of Community Resilience and Integration - Peterborough City Council
• Academy & Community Manager - Peterborough Utd FC
• Secretary - Peterborough Junior Alliance League
• Streetcare Manager - Amey
• Head of Development -Nene Park Trust
• Headteacher - St John Fisher Catholic High School
• Chairman / Owner - RWT leagues
• Secretary - Peterborough & District football league
• Director of Sport & Healthy Living - Vivacity Peterborough
• Representative - Friends of Itter Park
• Chair - Friends of Central Park
• Representative -Community First
• Representative - Park Farm Pumas
• Representative - Orton Rangers
• Representative - FC Peterborough
• Representative - Glinton & Northbrough FC
• Representative -Peterborough ICA
• Representative - Werrington Youth
• Representative -Parkside Athletic
• Representative - Gunthorpe Harriers
• Representative - Peterborough Northern Star
• Representative -Riverside FC
• Representative - Netherton Utd