Local Football Facility Plan Richmondshire

Richmondshire is in the Yorkshire Region.

The current population of the Authority (ONS 2017 Mid-Year Estimate) is 53,699. This is expected to rise to 56,993 by 2035 (based on bespoke Local Authority projections). However, there is potential for this to grow further with an increase of military personnel and dependants as a result of the Catterick Garrison Expansion. It is estimated this will be around and additional 5,092 people.

Richmondshire is ranked 16 out of 21 LAs in the region, and 224 out of 326 LAs nationally on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (ONS).

Richmondshire's ethnic composition is primarily white (95%). This is higher than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of Richmondshire’s population represented by the BAME community is 5%. This is below the national average (14.6%).

Local authority

The Richmondshire Local Plan 2012 – 2028 states that support will be given to proposals that help create, protect, retain or enhance community, cultural and recreational assets (including playing fields) that improve assets and/or provide additional assets.

Given the rural make up of the area, the Council is aware of the role that community halls and spaces play supporting and accommodating physical activity, sports participation and social cohesion. Its Village Hall and Community Spaces Study (June 2019) which was undertaken to support emerging policies in the new Richmondshore Local Plan (2018-2035) highlighted that the general condition of its community spaces is good but varies across the plan area. These venues are host to a wide mix of activities and are clearly well used by residents. Therefore, it is essential that their condition is monitored and that via development they are enhanced in order to enable them to accommodate anticipated local population growth and are able to adapt to meet the expectations of users.

Subject to further viability testing and the revised policies being found sound at the Local Plan examination the Council is proposing to seek developer contributions to go towards works requires to local village halls and community spaces.

The local authority does not have a current playing pitch strategy but is currently beginning the production of one for the part of the District outside of the Yorkshire Dales National Park to inform the preparation of the Richmondshire Local Plan (2018-2035).

County football association

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

Football Foundation

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

Sport England

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

Professional community club organisations (CCOs)

These offer a variety of programmes and services to support local communities (sporting and non-sporting). There is no active CCO in Richmondshire.

Local leisure operator

Richmondshire Leisure Trust is the key leisure operator in Richmondshire. It currently runs one key site which has a sports centre and two full size grass pitch equivalents.

Local consultation

This has taken place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in Richmondshire. 17 individuals (representing 16 local organisations) were spoken to. The agencies consulted include:

• Richmondshire Leisure Trust
• MOD (Catterick Garrison)
• Dementia Forward
• North Yorkshire Police

(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. Richmondshire has a total of 161 teams, which is higher than local areas of a similar size.

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

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

• Richmond Town - 18 teams
• Catterick Garrison Football Centre - 13 teams

Leagues

Two leagues cater for clubs and teams in Richmondshire. They offer competitive opportunities for many different players, including youth and adults. While there is no specific local league opportunity for women and girls football, suitable provision is made in the neighbouring areas of York and Teesside. The local leagues serving Richmondshire (2018-19) include:

• Wensleydale Creamery League – [11] teams– home and away
• Hambleton & Richmondshire Junior League – [21] teams– home and away & central venue Futsal League
  

The County FA reports that there is significant cross boundary migration to/from Richmondshire primarily due to teams playing in the Teesside Junior Alliance League.

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 Richmondshire there are no 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 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. Richmondshire has two FA Wildcats girls football centres and the priority is to both grow and sustain this activity.

At 12, Richmondshire’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 York Girls League & The North East Girls League in which matches are played on a home and away basis. It is expected to grow its provision in future years. The local adult female league is the North Riding Womens League; it too plays matches on a home and away basis and is also expected to grow provision in future years.

For talented players, the most local FA regional talent clubs (RTCs) are Teesside RTC and York RTC; located in the north & south of the County respectively. 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 Middlesbrough Ladies which provides player pathway opportunities for gifted and talented female players and a spectator interest for fans.

Small sided football

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

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 four football with reduced ball bounce. It is the FA’s aim to ensure that futsal is available across the country.

Currently 20 futsal teams in Richmondshire play in the Hambleton & Richmondshire Junior League at key site locations including Richmond School. It is a priority for the County FA to grow 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 is currently no FA Just Play centre in Richmondshire. Walking football sessions do take place across the district typically organised by the individuals taking part. Walking football and Just Play are County FA priorities for further growth and development.

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 Richmondshire is played particularly in the east of the local authority. Colburn Community Centre is a key heavily used site location.

The key strengths of local football in Richmondshire include strong club based activity, good community/school links and a proactive local authority and it is recommended that this is sustained and also encouraged to grow further. However, gaps do exist and these include: women & girls football, disability football and the recreational offer in rurally isolated locations. It is therefore recommended that the future football development priorities for Richmondshire are:

1. Women & girls football
2. To sustain & grow the affiliated game
3. Disability football
4. To improve the recreational offer for rurally isolated communities
   

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 Richmondshire. 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 is 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 is no full sized 3G FTP in Richmondshire. The one small sized 3G FTP is located at Vimy Barracks; part of Catterick Garrison Barracks. Therefore it does not offer any community access.

There is no current PPS and, therefore, demand has been calculated using the FA training ratio model 1:38. On the basis that there are 161 teams in Richmondshire, there is a requirement for four full sized 3G FTPs. There is, thus, a shortfall of four. A high number of the teams cited are army teams and, as a consequence, it has been agreed that the target shortfall position to address with regard to full sized 3G FTPs should be one along with a further small sided venue.

It is strongly recommended that any 3G pitches developed going forward are assessed and placed on the FA Register.

Local consultation confirms the absence of provision and that teams must travel substantial distances to play on 3G. The ambition of this plan is to start to address this.

A full size 3G FTP is due to be developed imminently at Richmond School; supported by the Football Foundation. It does not, thus, feature as a project in this plan. It will; however, reduce the aforementioned shortfall to one small sided 3G FTP.

One priority projects for potential investment is identified. It was selected based upon a rationale of serving a key local settlement.

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

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

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

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

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

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

For more information click here.

PitchPower

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

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

Learn more by clicking here.

There are currently nine grass pitch sites in Richmondshire with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three pitches but deemed to be of strategic importance). These contain 27 grass pitches. Local consultation highlighted the need to improve grass pitch quality and it is recommended that this is addressed.

Of the nine key pitch sites referenced above it was determined that five should be prioritised. This will result in quality improvements to 15 pitches:

Five priority projects for potential investment are identified. This was based on a rationale of selecting sites that are, or have the potential to be, well-utilised and/or which reflect the strategic focus on improving club pitches. One of the six is an either/or option as it is considered that it could be delivered at either Hipswell Playing Fields or Risedale Sports & Community College (The Jaffa Playing Fields).

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

Six priority projects for potential investment are identified. In parallel with the grass pitch priorities, one changing room project is an either/or options and should be pursued at either Hipswell Playing Fields or Risedale Sports & Community College (The Jaffa Playing Fields).

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

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

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

Informal players require facilities that are open and free to access as this enables play opportunities that are often spontaneous. In these circumstances multi-use games areas (MUGAs) can be effective in areas of high urban population and limited green space. Such facilities can be modern, bright, creative and engaging. While this plan will identify suitable locations for such facilities, the design and specifics of the facility type can be agreed at a later stage with Football Foundation staff when projects are ready to progress to pre-application stage.

Parks and open green spaces are also important to informal play and require goalposts and zones that are free from litter and dog fouling.

Local consultation indicates that, at present, no indoor facilities require improvement to develop small sided football.

Two potential opportunities for MUGAs are identified. Both locations are designed to serve areas where rural isolation can be an issue.

1. Layburn Area - following open access to Wensleydale School ceasing, local young people do not have anywhere to play informal football. As such, there is a need to explore options to provide a MUGA or another form of informal provision in the local area.
   
2. Middleham Area - identified through consultation as a rural community that requires more provision for informal football participation. There may be potential to provide a MUGA next to the skate park; however, the feasibility/suitability of this site and other potential locations needs to be evaluated.

Following local consultation, no locations in addition to those above have been identified to support small sided informal football. This said, it should be noted that a number of community halls did not respond to the consultation process. Given the Council's focus on ensuring that facilities service (in particular its) rural communities and support physical activity and social cohesion, further exploration of potential investment options may be required. Community facilities noted to be providing football activity and health and wellbeing initiatives include:

• Eppleby Village Hall – outreach work is taking place at this site.
• Brompton on Swale – caters for men's, children's and women's football activity (Unicorn Football).
• Catterick Village Hall – has football activity taking place on site.
• Colburn St Cuthberts – Mencap runs activities at this site.
• Colburn Village Hall – a rural isolation group is located at this site.

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:

• Catterick Garrison Football Centre - Chairperson
• Catterick Garrison Village Juniors - Secretary
• Dementia Forward - CEO
• Football Foundation - Engagement Manager
• Hawes United Junior FC - Secretary
• Leyburn United Juniors - Secretary
• MOD - Catterick Garrison Acting Chief of Staff
• North Yorkshire County Council - Health & Adult Services
• North Riding County FA - Football Development Manager
• North Yorkshire County Council - Strategic Planning Team
• North Yorkshire Sport - Head of Development
• North Yorkshire Police
• Sport England - Planning Manager
• Richmondshire District Council - Culture and Wellbeing Delivery Manager
• Richmondshire Leisure Trust - CEO
• Richmondshire Leisure Trust - Chairman
• Richmond Town Juniors - Coach