Local Football Facility Plan Rushcliffe

Rushcliffe is in the East Midlands region.

The current population of the authority (ONS 2017 Mid-Year Estimate) is 115,996. This is expected to rise to 130,858 by 2039.

Rushcliffe is the least deprived of the 40 LAs in the region, and 318 out of 326 LAs nationally within the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (ONS).

Rushcliffe's ethnic composition is primarily classed as white (93%). This is higher than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of Rushcliffe’s population represented by the BAME community is 7%. This is below the national average (14.6%)

Local authority

Rushcliffe Council’s Leisure Facilities Strategy (2017-2027) identifies five main strategic objectives. They are to:

• Retain five indoor leisure facilities and ensure they are fit for the future
• Support partners/parishes to deliver the priority projects within the Playing Pitch Strategy
• Address inequalities in participation
• Work with local health services to support ‘the inactive’ into regular activity
• Maintain the existing local standards for provision of open space, children’s play

The LFFP can support the achievement of these strategic objectives through the improvement of natural turf, artificial turf and built facility provision, facilitating and growing the delivery and partnerships making use of provision.

The local authority has a Playing Pitch Strategy in place; this was adopted in 2018. The key findings and stated overarching priorities are to increase the level of 11v11 3G FTP provision in the Borough (especially around the West Bridgford area) and to improve the quality of changing facilities and grass pitches at key sites through improved maintenance regimes.

County football association

Rushcliffe is covered by the Nottinghamshire 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 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). Both Nottingham Forest Community Trust and Notts County Football in the Community run a variety of health, education, engagement, football and sporting activities within the local area.

Local leisure operator

There are several leisure operators for community football facilities in Rushcliffe. Most (fourof five) leisure centres are operated by Lex Leisure whilst MITIE operates one centre. They have the following football facilities:

• Bingham Leisure Centre (at Toot Hill School - Lex Leisure) - grass football pitches x3, full size sand based artificial grass pitches x2, indoor hall.
• Cotgrave Leisure Centre (Lex Leisure) - grass football pitches x2, indoor hall.
• Keyworth Leisure Centre (at South Wolds Academy - Lex Leisure) - grass football pitches x3, 5v5 3G FTP, indoor hall.
• East Leake Leisure Centre (at East Leake Academy - MITIE) - 11v11 3G FTP, grass football pitches x6, indoor hall.
• Rushcliffe Arena (Lex Leisure) - indoor hall.

Rushcliffe Borough Council is presently exploring options for the relocation of the Bingham Leisure Centre operation away from the Toot Hill School site. Should a new leisure centre build be developed, it is not anticipated that this would include new indoor or outdoor facilities for football, whilst there is also no foreseen impact on existing facilities at Toot Hill School.

Local consultation

This has taken place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in Rushcliffe. A total of 21 individuals (representing 19 local organisations) were consulted. These include:

• West Bridgford Colts
• Trent Bridge Community Trust
• Lex Leisure
• East Leake FC
• Bingham Town Council

(See Appendix B for full list of consultees)

There are over 91,000 community football teams in England, spread over an expansive network of clubs and leagues. Rushcliffe has a total of 322 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 Rushcliffe, nine clubs have more than 10 registered teams. These (based upon 2017-18 affiliation data) are:

• West Bridgford Colts - 96 teams (but only 63 playing within Rushcliffe)
• Bingham Town - 33 teams
• Radcliffe Olympic - 27 teams
• Keyworth United - 26 teams
• Holy Spirit Celtic- 24 teams
• Cotgrave Youth - 21 teams
• Ruddington Village - 17 teams
• East Leake Bantams - 17 teams
• Edwalton Cavaliers - 14 teams

Fifteen leagues operate in Rushcliffe. They offer competitive opportunities for many different players, including women and girls, disability, youth and adults.

Rushcliffe's largest local leagues (2017-18) include:

• Young Elizabethan League (YEL) Saturday – 627 teams – home and away
• Young Elizabethan League (YEL) Sunday – 406 teams – home and away
• Nottinghamshire Girls and Ladies Football League– 154 teams– home and away
• Notts Youth Football League Saturday – 147 teams – home and away
• Notts Youth Football League Sunday– 98 teams– home and away

The County FA reports that there is some cross boundary migration in Rushcliffe due to teams migrating outwards for use of the facilities, such as West Bridgford into Nottingham City.

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 Rushcliffe there are two 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. Rushcliffe has one FA Wildcats girls football centre and the priority is to sustain this activity.

At 25, Rushcliffe'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 Nottinghamshire Girls and Ladies League and matches are played on a home and away basis. The league is expected to grow its provision in future years. The local adult female league is the Nottinghamshire Girls and Ladies League and matches are played on a home and away basis and the league is expected to sustain its provision in future years.

For talented players, the most local FA Regional Talent Club (RTC) is Nottingham Forest RTC which is located in Basford. 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 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.

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:

• Nottingham Football Centre - Female Footy Fives, Monday night league

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 Futsal is available across the country.

There are currently no futsal teams in Rushcliffe. It is a priority for the County FA 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 no FA Just Play Centres in Rushcliffe. Walking football and Just Play are County FA priorities for further growth. Other local recreational football programmes include casual booking and a mixed disability turn up and play session which are delivered by a range of organisations including Football Sports Management and Nottingham Forest 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 Rushcliffe is played particularly in the north part of the local authority. Nottingham Football Centre and South Notts Academy are key site locations that are heavily used.

The key strengths of local football in Rushcliffe include multi team clubs and youth female affiliated game provision and it is recommended that this is sustained and also encouraged to grow further. However, gaps in provision do exist, these include the recreational football offer as well as the formal game.

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

1. Walking Football opportunities
2. Futsal Development
3. Increase the accessibility and opportunities for girls within the Wildcat programme
4. Training facilities to allow clubs/ teams to be able to access facilities within their Local Authority

The facilities required to assist this are now set out in the Assets and opportunities section.Each priority project that progresses to a funding application via the Football Foundation will produce a detailed ‘site development plan’ specifying all football development activity, usage and key partner engagement.

This section reviews existing football facility assets in Rushcliffe. 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:

• 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 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.

Existing full-sized (11 v 11) 3G FTPs in Rushcliffe include:

• East Leake Leisure Centre
• Gresham Sports Park
• Rushcliffe School (Nottingham Football Centre)
• South Nottingham Academy & Sixth For

There is a fifth pitch at Nottingham Forest FC Academy, however this is not accessible to community clubs and functions as a private professional club training facility.

Additionally, there are currently no small-sided 3G FTP centres in Rushcliffe. There are however small sided 3G FTPs at the following sites:

• University of Nottingham (Sutton Bonnington Campus) - 7v7 3G FTP
• Keyworth Leisure Centre - 5v5 3G FTP
• Rushcliffe School (Nottingham Football Centre) - 5v5 3G FTP x2

Rushcliffe has a PPS, undertaken in 2017. The PPS indicates that there is a shortfall of four 11v11 3G FTPs, rising to five pitches by 2028.

There are proposals for the development of a second 11v11 3G FTP at Rushcliffe School to be funded by S106 contributions secured from the Sharphill development on land adjacent to the school. It is not anticipated that this would require additional partnership funding, though would reduce the shortfall to four 11v11 3G FTPs.

Since the PPS, East Leake Leisure Centre has recently been converted from a sand based artificial grass pitch to a 3G FTP surface, unforeseen by the County FA and local football stakeholders when the works were completed in February 2019. The pitch is 11v11 size and marked accordingly but does not have 11v11 goals so is not presently able to host adult football matches, despite being FA Registered. It is recommended that this is addressed to maximise potential use of the pitch. Despite the conversion of this pitch to 3G FTP, it is considered that there is still a need for four additional 11v11 3G FTPs across Rushcliffe, due in part to the fact that although East Leake Leisure Centre caters for some Rushcliffe teams (e.g. East Leake Bantams) it also services teams from neighbouring local authority border areas such as North West Leicestershire and Charnwood.

In addition to the identified shortfall of four additional 3G FTPs, there is an existing 11v11 3G FTP that requires surface replacement at Gresham Sports Park.

All four of the accessible pitches are available for community use. Three are on the FA Register for 3G FTPs (meaning they are quality checked and can be used for football match play). The pitch at South Nottingham Academy & Sixth Form was previously on the FA Register however registration has not been renewed. It is strongly recommended that this pitch is assessed and placed on the Register again to enable more match play on 3G.

The geographic spread of existing facilities is uneven; the majority are located in the north of the local area in the West Bridgford area, yet there is still evidenced demand for greater provision here as these towns represent the most densely populated part of the Borough. There are provision gaps in the south (Keyworth) and north east (Bingham) areas and it is recommended that these are addressed.

Local consultation reveals common issues with low availability and it is recommended that these are addressed.

The RFU has aspirations to develop World Rugby compliant 3G pitch provision at a site in the South Nottingham/North Rushcliffe area. Consideration should be given to potential for a collaborative project if appropriate and the balance of capacity which would then be available for football and rugby union within such a scheme.

Four priority projects for potential investment have been identified. Each site was selected by local partners based on a rationale of good access, high population, geographic spread, and quality of existing facilities:

There are currently 16 grass pitch sites in Rushcliffe with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with less than 3 pitches but of strategic importance determined by the steering group), containing 65 grass pitches. Of these, one is considered to have good quality pitches, 11 are of standard quality and four of poor quality.

There is also a new playing field site planned for development as part of housing development in Clifton which will see the development of new grass pitches for football.

Of the 16 key pitch sites referenced above the steering group agreed that all of these should be prioritised for improvements, totalling 65 pitches. Local consultation shows no common issues other than high levels of demand.

Fourteen priority projects for potential investment have been identified. Pitch quality rating was evidenced by PPS and qualified by local partners. Prioritisation was informed by local partners with the rationale of selecting sites that had the most pitches and that were most well utilised.

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 Rushcliffe with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with less than 3 pitches but of strategic importance determined by the steering group), 13 sites have suitable changing rooms and three sites require improvement/replacement. None are without facilities and require a new changing room/s.

There is also a new playing field site planned for development as part of housing development in Clifton which will see the development of new grass pitches for football. The pitches will require a new pavilion/ancillary provision, or toilets at a minimum, to support use of the pitches.

Three priority projects for potential investment have been 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 & 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.

There is a key challenge around access to indoor capacity for futsal (and opportunities to grow walking football) across the County. There is an indoor futsal league held in Nottingham at Nottingham Girls & Boys High School on Thursday evenings.

Small sided football is generally played outdoors on 3G FTPs, including the likes of Leisure Leagues held at Rushcliffe School and Toot Hill School (Bingham Leisure Centre - full sized sand based artificial pitch). Lex Leisure reports there is little demand for use of indoor sports halls and leisure centre sites it operates, with only a few bookings for recreational football. Outdoor facilities, particularly 3G FTPs, are preferred for recreational and small sided football in Rushcliffe. However, increased consideration must be given to opportunities at indoor facilities for futsal, for which indoor spaces are the preferred facility and for which format the County FA plans to grow participation.

The Young Elizabethan League aspires to develop futsal by introducing a futsal offer within its league season. This may help to avoid the impact of poor weather on outdoor pitches thus keeping people playing throughout, whilst offering a different type of football opportunity. This would require access to indoor space and futsal goals, though further work is needed to understand where capacity exists to introduce and develop futsal where competitive facilities are required.

Six potential opportunities for MUGAs have been identified. These projects have been identified at locations on the basis that they are located in more rural settings where there is little free to access provision (Radcliffe on Trent, Gotham) or where they can complement existing park and play facilities at open spaces in more densely populated areas (West Bridgford, Ruddington).

Three potential opportunities for improved parks and open spaces have been identified. In each case the rationale is based on the site being in an area of high urban population, with limited green space, a high proportion of people and corresponding high local demand for informal football.

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

• Business Development Manager - Nottinghamshire FA
• Engagement Manager - Football Foundation
• Planning Manager - Sport England
• Principal Community Development Officer - Rushcliffe Borough Council
• Sports Development Officer - Rushcliffe Borough Council
• Strategic Director - Active Partners Trust
• Place Lead - Active Partners Trust
• COO/Deputy CEO - Nottingham Forest Community Trust
• Activity Manager - Notts County FC Football in the Community
• General Manager - Nottingham Forest FC
• Managing Director - Field Sports Management
• Finance Director - Our Lady of Lourdes Multi Academy Trust (The Becket School)
• General Manager - Lex Leisure
• Positive Futures (Trent Bridge Community Trust)
• East Leake Bantams FC
• Cotgrave Colts FC
• West Bridgford Colts FC
• Radcliffe Olympic FC
• Edwalton Cavaliers FC
• Group Scout Leader - 1st Gotham Scout Group
• Town Clerk - Bingham Town Council