Local Football Facility Plan Rochdale

Rochdale is in the North West Region.

The current population of the Authority (ONS 2019 Mid-Year Estimate) is 216,165. This is expected to rise to 229,423 by 2039.

Rochdale is ranked seven out of 39 LAs in the region, and 17 out of 317 LAs nationally on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (ONS).

Its ethnic composition is primarily white (81.66%). This is lower than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of Rochdale’s population represented by the BAME community is 18.34%. This is above the national average (14.6%)

Local authority

The Rochdale Borough Council Core Strategy was adopted in 2016. It sets out the vision and framework for development in the District until 2031. With a predicted growing population the Local Plan seeks to ensure that important infrastructure is in place to support future need such as new homes, employment, healthcare, transport and leisure; while protecting its important and valued green spaces and heritage assets.

The Authority Playing Pitch Strategy is currently being refreshed (draft PPS strategy developed March 2020). The key findings and stated overarching priorities identify that there is a strong network of 3G FTPs and overall limited evidence that more are required. Further to this, the PPS highlights that while the grass pitch stock of adult pitches is sufficient, there are pressures on junior and 9v9 pitches and evidence of overplay.

County football association

Rochdale is covered by both Lancashire and Manchester County 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. 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). The Rochdale AFC Community Trust runs a variety of health, education, engagement, football and sporting activities in the local area.

Local leisure operator

Link4Life is the leisure operator in Rochdale. The stock managed includes sports halls at Bowlee Sports Centre, Littleborough Sports Centre, and Rochdale Sports Centre which are regularly used for small sided recreational football. In addition, Link4life also manages the 3G FTPS and grass pitches at Heywood Sports Village along with the grass pitches at Littleborough Sports Centre.

Local consultation

This has taken place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in Rochdale. 23 individuals (representing 19 local organisations) were spoken to. The agencies consulted include:

• Littleborough Juniors FC
• Roach Dynamos FC
• Rochdale Borough Housing

(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. Rochdale has a total of 435 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 ten-years there has been a significant national increase in the number of large multi-team football clubs. In Rochdale, 16 clubs have more than ten registered teams. These (based upon 2019-20 affiliation data) are:

• Pennine Juniors FC – 30 teams
• Roach Dynamos FC - 29 teams
• Middleton Lads & Girls FC - 26 teams
• Milnrow Juniors FC - 25 teams
• Bridge Juniors FC – 23 teams
• PFA Allstars FC - 23 teams
• Littleborough Juniors FC – 23 teams
• Middleton Colts - 21 teams
• Shawside Juniors FC - 15 teams
• Rochdale AFC – 14 teams
• Rochdale AFC Elite Development Centre – 13 teams
• Miam Miam Celtic - 12 teams
• Shawclough FC – 12 teams
• Springfield Park JFC - 12 teams
• Wardle FC – 12 teams
• Crompton FC - 11 teams

Leagues

Three main leagues cater for clubs and teams in Rochdale. They offer competitive opportunity for many different players, including women and girls, youth and adults. While there is no specific league opportunity for disability football within Rochdale, suitable provision is made in the wider Lancashire county area (specifically in Preston). The primary leagues serving Rochdale based teams (2019-20) include:

• Heywood Sports Village Mini Soccer League – 112 Teams - central venue
• North Bury Junior Football League – 402 Teams – home and away / central venue
• Rochdale and District Sunday League – 42 Teams – home and away

The County FAs report significant cross boundary migration to/from Rochdale primarily due to teams playing in the North Bury Junior Football League. In addition, teams migrate inwards from Oldham and Manchester to play in the Heywood Sports Village Mini Soccer League.

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 Rochdale there are 19 football teams / sessions specifically for people with a disability. It is a priority of the County FA to sustain and 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. Rochdale has three FA Wildcats girls football centres and the priority is to grow this activity. MFA have 3 in Rochdale (Springfield Park, Minrow, Crompton) and in addition, Middleton Lads & Girls and Shawside Juniors host Wildcats Centres in other boroughs.

At 16, Rochdale’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. Local girl's leagues are incorporated within the Heywood Mini Soccer League and the North Bury Junior Football League in which matches are played on a central venue basis. These leagues expect to grow provision in future years. The local adult female league is the Womens County League in which matches are played on a home and away basis. It is expected to grow its provision in future years.

For talented players, the most local FA Regional Talent Club (RTC) is Blackburn Rovers which is located in Blackburn. 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 teams are Manchester City and Manchester United both of which 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.

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. Key local providers include Power Play - The Soccer Factory

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.

Currently the three affiliated futsal teams in Rochdale play in the EFL Trust Futsal League and The Manchester Youth Futsal League at key site locations including Cardinal Langley High School and The Sport Arena @ Hopwood . It is a priority for the two County FAs to grow futsal for all players.

Recreational football

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

There are currently two FA Just Play centres in Rochdale. Walking football sessions are delivered by a range of community organisations such as Link4Life. Walking football and Just Play are priorities for both County FAs for further growth and development. Other local recreational football programmes include PL Kicks which is delivered by Rochdale AFC Community Trust.

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 Rochdale is played across the Borough. Meadowfield Community Centre, Moorhouse Primary School (Recreation Area), Kingsway Park, Woodland Primary School and Heywood Sports Village are key, well-used, site locations.

The key strengths of local football in Rochdale include league provision and it is recommended that this is sustained and also encouraged to grow further. However, there are provision gaps; these include futsal, women and girls and recreational football. It is therefore recommended that the future football development priorities for Rochdale are to:

1. Develop hub facilities to benefit clubs and create clear participation pathways, particularly the female pathway.
2. Develop and enhance small sided facilities including those that will enable recreational activity in areas of high deprivation.
3. Develop new and enhance existing changing/flexible space facilities at the highest priority sites.
4. Ensure that access to training facilities is maintained across the authority. Support and ensure existing 3G facilities are maintained and on the FA 3G register as a key priority.
5. Invest in and develop grass pitch improvement programmes, fully in line with the FA Pitch Improvement Programme.

The facilities required to assist this are now set out in the Assets and opportunities section.

Projects that progresses to funding applications 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 Rochdale. 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 are nine full-sized (11v11) 3G FTPs in Rochdale, located at:

• Cardinal Langley High School
• Heywood Sports Village
• Holy Family College
• Kingsway Park Sports Centre & Athletics Arena
• Matthew Moss High School
• St Anne's Academy
• St Cuthbert's Roman Catholic High School
• St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School and Nursery (St Mary's 3G)
• The Sports Arena @ Hopwood

In addition, there are currently 19 small-sided 3G FTPs in Rochdale:

• Falinge Park High School (one 5v5)
• Heywood Sports Village (one 7v7)
• Hollingworth Academy (one 7v7)
• The Soccer Factory (nine 5v5)
• The Soccer Village (six 5v5)
• Wardle Academy (one 7v7)

Rochdale AFC has keen aspirations re the development of a training hub and continues to search for options, working with the wider community. It currently uses a range of facilities including 3G stock outside of Rochdale. Aspirations for any potential development include community accessible provision. Rochdale AFC Community Sports Trust now has a fully operational football foundation funded small sided kick pitch (32m x 19m). This is located at Spotland Stadium and is used extensively by the trust for delivery of community programmes.

A potential project is also being considered, that may not involve seeking funding from the football foundation at Rochdale Sacred Hart FC.
Eight of the existing full-sized 3G FTPs are available for community use. Whilst there is no current community use at St Cuthbert's Roman Catholic High School, it is recommended that options are explored in respect of opening up the site to community users. Community use at Wardle Academy is severely restricted due to the fact that the FTP has no floodlights. It is recommended that the feasibility of installing floodlights is explored further. Those at Cardinal Langley High School, Heywood Sports Village (both FTPs) are on the FA Register for 3G FTPs (meaning they are quality checked and can be used for football match play). It is recommended that the remaining existing venues and any future 3G FTP developments (full and/or small sided) are assessed and placed on the Register to ensure quality and enable more match play on 3G.

As noted earlier, the Rochdale PPS (draft) indicates no current shortfall in Rochdale, based on 2018/9 team data (339 teams). The potential exception noted is in the Pennines PPS analysis area (the North East of the Borough), where it is clear that clubs are more nomadic, travelling further and more likely to use small venues. Consultation with Manchester and Lancashire FAs confirms that based on 2019/20 affiliation data (435 teams) and associated further team growth meanwhile , a shortfall of at least one full size FTP exists.

Local consultation confirms common concerns in respect of facility hire costs and the current poor quality of the 3G FTP facilities at St Mary's 3G and St Anne's Academy. It is recommended that further investigation is undertaken on behalf of the steering group in respect of current school based 3G FTPs to identify whether levels of community access can be improved, and whether sinking funds are in place to implement the required facility improvements.

One priority project for investment is identified, for a generic location aligned with the PPS Pennine sub area. This proposal should be further tested via a scenario within the PPS.

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 22 grass pitch sites in Rochdale with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three pitches but deemed to be of strategic importance). These contain 66 grass pitches.

PPS pitch assessments and local consultation confirms common concerns in respect of poor grass pitch quality and the recommendations made in this plan reflect the high priority attached to this issue.

Rutherford Park is already being developed without funding from the Football Foundation. It is used by nine teams from Wardle FC. Section 106 has been allocated to improve two full size pitch equivalents.

NB consultation also highlighted that Mossway (listed as lapsed/disused site in PPS) is a site at which Middelton Colts have an ambition to bring back in to use with potential for a multi-pitch site and use as a base for the club.

Of the 22 key pitch sites referenced above it was determined that eleven of these should be prioritised. This will result in quality improvements to 47 pitches:

Eleven priority projects for potential investment are identified. Pitch quality rating was evidenced by PPS and ratified by local partners and pitch improvement plans. In general, prioritisation was based on a rationale of selecting sites with grass pitches in need of improvement and of strategic importance. These are, or have the potential to be, well utilised venues.

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 22 key grass pitch sites in Rochdale with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three but deemed to be of strategic importance) 15 have suitable changing rooms, and six require improvement/replacement. In addition one venue has no changing facilities and requires a new build pavilion.

Seven priority projects for potential investment are 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 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 no indoor facilities presently require improvement to develop small-sided football.

Three potential opportunities to improve MUGAs are identified. These serve areas of relatively high population density in which there is corresponding high local demand for informal football.

Following local consultation, and assisted by the Sport England green spaces mapping tool no locations have been 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:

• Associate Director - WYG
• CEO - Rochdale AFC
• Club representative - Littleborough Juniors FC
• Club representative - Milnrow Juniors FC
• Club representative - Middleton Lads & Girls FC
• Club representative - Pennine Juniors FC
• Club representative - Roach Dynamos FC
• Club representative - Rochdalians FC
• Club representative - Rochdale Sacred Heart FC
• Club representative - Rochdale St Clements FC
• Club representative - Shawclough FC
• Club representative - Springfield Park FC
• Club representative - Wardle FC
• Club Secretary (Associate Director) - Rochdale AFC
• Engagement Manager - Football Foundation
• Environmental Manager - Rochdale Borough Housing
• Football Development Officer (Rochdale) - Lancashire Football Association
• Football Development Manager - Manchester Football Association
• Head of Community - Rochdale AFC Community Trust
• Head of Facilities & Investment - Lancashire Football Association
• Housing Manager - Rochdale Borough Housing
• Project Manager (Playing Pitch Strategy Implementation) - Rochdale Borough Council
• Strategic Project Manager (Public Health & Wellbeing) - Rochdale Borough Council