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Local Football Facility Plan South Derbyshire

Introduction

01

This is the Local Football Facility Plan (LFFP) for South Derbyshire. It was prepared by Knight, Kavanagh and Page (KKP) with support from local partners, including:

  • South Derbyshire District Council
  • Derbyshire County FA
  • Football Foundation
  • Sport England

What is the goal?

Every local area in the Country will have a LFFP to enable investment in football facilities to be accurately targeted.

Who is behind this?

The Football Association, the Premier League and Sport England (on behalf of Government). This partnership finances the National Football Facility Strategy (NFFS) and commissions the Football Foundation to deliver it.

What is the purpose of this plan?

The national funding partners have significantly increased investment to accelerate efforts to deliver more and better football facilities for the grassroots game. The purpose of this plan is to identify the priority projects for potential investment in South Derbyshire.

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Why invest in football facilities?

As the nation’s most popular team sport, football has the power to contribute positively to vital social outcomes and health priorities. To maximise this power, facilities have to be welcoming environments to attract first-time users and repeat visits, whether for informal, recreational or competitive football.

Research clearly and continually demonstrates the positive impact high-quality football facilities, in the right locations, can have on participation and enjoyment. Latent demand exists, but facility quantity and quality has to ‘step up’ if football is to reach out to everyone.

How are we going to do it?

£1.3billion has been spent by football and Government since 2000 to enhance existing football facilities and build new ones. However, more is needed if football and Government’s shared objectives for participation, individual well-being and community cohesion are to be achieved.

Nationally, direct investment will be increased – initially to £69 million per annum from football and Government (a 15% increase on recent years). Locally, the work has already started* - this LFFP will guide the allocation of 90% of national funds and forge stronger partnerships with local stakeholders to develop key sites. This, together with local match-funding will deliver over one billion pounds of investment into football facilities over the next 10-years.

What are the priorities for investment?

This LFFP, with guidance from local partners, has developed a list of high level projects for potential investment. Each is aligned to the investment priorities set out in the National Football Facilities Strategy, which include:

  • 1,000 new 3G football turf pitches (FTPs): in a mix of sizes and settings, dependent upon local needs. All aimed at enhancing the quality of the playing experience.
  • 20,000 improved natural-turf pitches: to help address drop-off due to a poor playing experience.
  • 1,000 new changing pavilions / clubhouses: all linked to priority sites.
  • Small-sided facilities: to grow the small-sided game for teams & leagues, recreational and informal play.

What outcomes will be achieved?

The priority projects for potential investment identified in this plan will help develop a sustainable network of quality facilities to drive participation across all parts of the game. Central to this are five key success factors: quality, inclusivity, sustainability, engagement and usage. Each identified project takes account of these factors.

How should this plan be used?

This LFFP will, in effect, be the go-to document for football facility investment in South Derbyshire.

Whilst it identifies priority projects for potential investment, it does not guarantee the success of future funding applications. Each project must still follow an application process to show how it will deliver key participation outcomes, become a quality & sustainable facility and demonstrate suitable match-funding.

When each project is in a position to proceed, the Football Foundation will determine a suitable timeframe to submit a grant application and pre-application support will be provided by Derbyshire County FA and the Football Foundation.

Set a 10-Year vision to transform local football facilities
Identify priority projects to be delivered
Act as an investment portfolio for projects that require funding
Be updated up on a regular basis

How should this plan NOT be used?

A LFFP is an investment portfolio of priority projects for potential investment - it is not a detailed demand and supply analysis of all pitch provision in a local area. It cannot be used as a replacement for a Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS) and it will not be accepted as an evidence base for site change of use or disposal.

A LFFP will however build on available/existing local evidence and strategic plans and may adopt relevant actions from a PPS and/or complement these with additional investment priorities.

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South Derbyshire

02

Local area

South Derbyshire is in the East Midlands region.

The current population of the Authority (ONS 2017 Mid-Year Estimate) is 102,385. This is expected to rise to 110,374 by 2028. However, due to the accommodation of some of Derby City’s housing the South Derbyshire prediction is for the 2028 population to be significantly higher than ONS at 120,000.

30.8% of the South Derbyshire population is within NS SEC classification 6-8 (lower socio-economic groups).

South Derbyshire’s ethnic composition is primarily White (95.7%) and this is higher than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of South Derbyshire’s population represented by the BAME community is 4.3%. This is below the national average (14.6%).

Demographics

  • 102,385 Current population (2017)
  • 110,374 Projected population (2028)
  • 28th most deprived out of 40 local authorities in the region
  • 231st most deprived out of 326 local authorities in England

Ethnicity data

  • Asian (2.51%)
  • Black (0.45%)
  • Mixed (1.12%)
  • Other (0.23%)
  • White (95.68%)
21%
27%
26%

% of people that are inactive

  • South Derbyshire
  • Region
  • England

ONS data and Sport England Active Lives Survey 2016/17

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Local partners

Local Authority

‘Getting South Derbyshire Active’ – A Strategy for Physical Activity, Sports & Recreation (PASR) in South Derbyshire (2017-2022) builds on the previous Sport and Health Strategy (2011-2016), this aims to deliver against three key areas: Physical and Mental Wellbeing, Individual Development and Social, Community and Economic Development and will aim to achieve sustainable communities through this and other strategies. The vision of the PASR is identified as follows:

“Partners of Active South Derbyshire will work together to improve opportunities within sport, recreation, physical and health activity across the District of South Derbyshire”.

The local authority has a Playing Pitch Strategy in place, produced in 2018. The overarching outcomes from this strategy include addressing the imbalance between the supply and demand for pitches. Increased capacity of pitches at key sites can be improved through enhanced maintenance regimes and pitch surface improvements. Existing changing pavilion stock is also considered to be poor at several key sites.

The Derbyshire Physical Activity and Sport Strategy – Towards an Active Derbyshire (2016-2021) has the vision of ‘more people in Derbyshire engaged in physical activity and sport’, with the ambition of engaging an additional 50,000 people in actives lives by 2021. There will be a focus on addressing the inequalities in physical activity and sport engagement in the following areas: women and girl’s, people from lower social-economic groups and young people aged 5-18.

County Football Association

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

Football Foundation

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

Football Foundation Investment

11 Total grants
  • £3,960,426 Total project cost
  • £1,678,173 Total grant value
  • 6 Sites improved
  • 4 New 3G FTPs
  • 3 Changing rooms / pavilions
  • 2 Grass pitches improved

See Football foundation website for more info (http://www.footballfoundation.org.uk/impact/where-our-money-goes)

Sport England

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

Professional Club Community Organisations (CCOs)

There are no professional teams based in South Derbyshire. On occasion Derby County Community Trust and Burton Albion Community Trust provide training sessions and camps within the District.

Local leisure operator

South Derbyshire District Council has outsourced its leisure operation to Active Nation. It currently operates two key sites across the District at Etwall and Green Bank Leisure Centres. The Leisure Centres have facilities including: gyms, swimming pools, and sports halls.

Local consultation

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

  • South Derbyshire District Council
  • Derbyshire County FA
  • Gresley FC

(See Appendix B for full list of consultees)

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Local football

Clubs

There are over 91,000 community football teams in England, spread over an expansive network of clubs and leagues. South Derbyshire has a total of 214 teams, which is comparable to local areas of a similar size. This figure includes a number of imported teams from neighbouring Local Authorities.

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 South Derbyshire, 8 clubs have more than 10 registered teams. The largest of these (based upon 2017-18 affiliation data) are:

  • Hilton Harriers FC – 37 teams
  • Willington Sports FC – 19 teams
  • Melbourne Dynamos FC – 18 teams
  • Newhall FC – 17 teams
  • Woodville Rangers FC – 16 teams
  • Hatton United Junior FC – 15 teams
  • Repton Casuals FC – 11 teams

Affiliated Teams

214 Teams
  • 44 Adult male teams
  • 1 Adult female teams
  • 86 Youth male teams
  • 8 Youth female teams
  • 0 Disability teams
  • 73 Mini-soccer teams

The FA Whole Game System- season 2017/18

Leagues

A number of leagues provide playing opportunities in South Derbyshire. They offer competitive opportunities for many different players, including women and girls, Futsal, Mini-Soccer, youth and adults.

While there are no specific league opportunities for disability football within South Derbyshire, there is however provision provided in the East Midlands PAN Disability League

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

  • Derby Junior Football League – 324 teams – central venues (Lees Brook School, The Racecourse & Alvaston Park)
  • Derby City Football League – 171 teams – home and away
  • Derbyshire Girls and Ladies League – 65 teams - central venue & home and away
  • Central Midlands League – 48 teams – home and away
  • Midlands Regional Alliance – 24 teams – home and away
  • Derby Futsal League – 24 teams – central venue

The County FA reports that there is some cross boundary migration in South Derbyshire due to teams migrating outwards to the Burton Junior Football League (Staffordshire) and internally to Derby based leagues. The Burton Junior Football League host league fixtures on a weekly basis out of John Port Spencer Academy (Etwall Leisure Centre) and The Pingle Academy in South Derbyshire.

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 South Derbyshire there are two football teams / sessions specifically for people with a disability. The Disability Football hub in South Derbyshire is run through Hilton Harriers FC with sessions based out of John Port Spencer Academy. It is a priority of the County FA to grow this provision. For talented players the FA run Regional Centres and England national squads.

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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. South Derbyshire has two FA Wildcats girls football centres (delivered by Hilton Harriers FC and Stapenhill Swans Juniors FC) and the priority is to grow this activity.

At nine, South Derbyshire’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 Derbyshire Girls & Ladies League and matches are played on a central venue basis. The league is expected to grow its provision in future years. The local adult female league is the Derbyshire Girls & 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 Derby County which is located in Derby City. 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 FC which provides player pathway opportunities for gifted and talented female players and a spectator interest for fans.

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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.

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

Key local providers include

  • The Pingle Academy, Swadlincote
  • John Port Spencer Academy
  • Melbourne Sports Partnership

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

There are currently no futsal teams in South Derbyshire. It is a priority for the County FA to grow Futsal for youth players and there has been some interest from Gresley FC. There are Futsal markings in the sports hall at John Port Spencer Academy, on occasion some Derby Futsal League fixtures have been played at this site.

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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 three FA Just Play Centres in South Derbyshire. Walking football sessions are delivered by a range of community organisations such as Gresley FC in the Community, Melbourne Sports Partnership and Etwall Leisure Centre. Walking football and Just Play are areas that the County FA has prioritised for further growth and development. Other local recreational football programmes include pro-club community scheme activities which are delivered by a range of organisations including Burton Albion Community Trust and Derby County 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 South Derbyshire is played particularly at recreation grounds and parks across the District.

Summary

The key strengths of local football in South Derbyshire include Mini-Soccer and Youth Football provision and it is recommended that this is sustained and also encouraged to grow further. However, gaps in provision do exist, these include Just Play provision, disability and adult male and female football.

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

1.Work with clubs with existing male and female youth provision to develop sustainable adult teams

2.Develop additional Just Play provision across the District.

3.If demand requires work with key local partners such at The Pingle Academy and Burton Albion Community Trust to develop disability provision in a central part of the District

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.

Assets and Opportunities

03

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

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

  1. 3G FTPs
  2. Improved grass pitches
  3. Changing room pavilions / clubhouses
  4. Small-sided facilities

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

While each investment priority is reviewed individually, it is understood that they can be inter-reliant; account is, thus, taken of these potential connections.

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3G Football Turf Pitches (FTPs)

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Improved Grass Pitches

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Changing room pavilions/ clubhouses

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Small-sided facilities

3G Football Turf pitches (FTPs)

04

3G FTPs are a high quality and indispensable part of modern football facilities; their impact cannot be underestimated. In recent years the industry has seen major innovations and improvements to artificial surfaces (and sports lighting). This has created playing surfaces that replicate a good standard natural turf pitch whilst significantly increasing levels of use (x20). All FTPs must have sports lighting to achieve this.

The high quality, consistent playing surface is the ideal environment to play the game and for young people to learn. With regular maintenance programmes, FTPs can be heavily used all year round with no decline in quality. They almost completely negate annoying fixture cancellations during winter months, helping football to be a key part of a regular physical activity habit.

High capacity levels offer a great opportunity to embrace all formats and engage all participants. A full-sized 3G caters for an average of 1,200 participants per week and is suitable for various location types. That means being fully inclusive to all sections of the community, with a particular focus on under-represented groups such as women and girls, people with a disability, BAME communities and people from lower socio-economic groups.

The way 3G FTPs are used is rapidly changing; current line-marking systems allow for match play across all formats of football (5v5, 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11). This enables significant levels of match-play to be transferred from grass to 3G.

The national ‘Mini Pitch’ programme delivers small 3G FTPs at primary school sites to provide a high quality introduction to football and get children more physically active. While mini pitches are reviewed in this section, they are not included in the demand and supply analysis for 3G FTPs.

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Assets and opportunities

FA data states that there are currently two full size 3G FTPs in South Derbyshire; this is a shortfall of one pitch relative to assessed demand.

Existing 3G FTPs in South Derbyshire include:

  • John Port Spencer Academy (Etwall Leisure Centre) – full size 3G FTP
  • The Pingle Academy – full size 3G FTP
  • Melbourne Sports Park – 60m x40m (small sided)

The 2018 PPS Assessment Report states “based on the FA affiliated team training demand model there is sufficient supply of full sized 3G pitches to meet current demand on an Analysis Area basis, however forecasted future demand increases highlight a future shortfall of one full sized 3G pitch in the Central Area”. This refers to the number of teams situated per Analysis Area as determined within the PPS.

The PPS further states “It is considered that there are 141 teams which require access to train once per week on floodlit 3G surface. When applied on a District level, this equates to the need for three full sized 3G pitches to service this level of training demand. At present, there are two available full sized 3G pitches across the District. Therefore, there is a shortfall of one full sized 3G pitch to meet training demand for football.

There are currently no small sided 3G FTP centres in South Derbyshire.

The FTPs at John Port Spencer Academy, and The Pingle Academy are both available for community use. The pitch at John Spencer Academy is on the FA Register for 3G FTPs (meaning they are quality checked and can be used for football match play). The Pingle Academy has recently been resurfaced, once all work is finalised this FTP will feature on the FA register.

As per the PPS there is an identified potential future shortfall in the central area of the district and currently a shortfall at District wide level. This is despite significant numbers of affiliated teams in these, and it is recommended that these are addressed.

Local consultation identifies a lack of availability in relation to training demand, with a number of the larger clubs within South Derbyshire unable to train on 3G FTPs.

2 Current 3G FTPs
1 More 3G FTPs required
0 More small-sided 3G FTPS required

Priority projects

By way of context, neighbouring Derby City Council and partners are presently developing Parklife football hub proposals in partnership with the FA . Two key hub sites have been identified and feasibility is continuing on these sites. A third back up site has also been identified. The process is ongoing and delivery of Parklife is not confirmed , however in this report it is important to acknowledge the potential of these sites and how this may impact future FTP development in South Derbyshire. Further feasibility around demand for a full size FTP in South Derbyshire will need to be investigated further.

One priority project for potential investment has been identified. Undersupply was calculated using the FA 3G FTP demand and supply model. The location is based on key criteria including good access, high population, geographical spread, success and quality of existing facilities:

1 - Woodhouse Recreation Ground - new floodlit 11v11 3G FTP

  • Existing facilities: three full size grass pitches with poor changing facilities.
  • Existing users: three teams from clubs including; Springfield United First, TS Sport U12 Panthers and Woodville Rangers First. This site is due to become the home ground for 19 teams from Newhall Rangers. This project has the potential to fulfill the Districts 3G FTP requirement in the Central Area of South Derbyshire.
  • Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, senior football, BAME participation, women & girls, informal/recreational football, over 50's participation.

Current and proposed 3G FTP’s

Pitchfinder

Improved Grass Pitches

05

Playing fields are one of the most important resources for sport in England. All football players should have the opportunity to play on good quality grass pitches. However, FA data shows that 63% of pitches in England are poor / low standard and 1 in 6 games are cancelled. As such, poor pitch quality is consistently cited as the number one issue for players.

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

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

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

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

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

For more information click here.

PitchPower

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

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

Learn more by clicking here.

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Assets and opportunities

There are currently six grass pitch sites in South Derbyshire with three or more full-size pitch equivalents containing 27 grass pitches. Of these, one site has pitches rated as good quality, and the remaining five are rated as standard quality.

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

6 Key grass pitch sites
6 Sites prioritised for improvement.
18 Full-sized pitch equivalents at these sites

Priority projects

Six priority projects for potential investment have been identified. Four sites have three or more pitches and have a standard pitch quality rating. Pitch quality rating was evidenced by PPS / FA data and qualified by local partners. Due to limited usage at some sites with three or more full-size pitch equivalents, the steering group also decided to include two strategically important sites with less than three full-size pitch equivalents. Due to the significant number of grass pitch sites in South Derbyshire local partners did not select all sites and prioritised only six, containing 18 full size pitch equivalents. The prioritisation was made by local partners with the rationale of selecting sites that were most well utilised and of strategic focus to improve Local Authority and club pitches:

1 - Woodhouse Recreation Ground – works to natural grass pitches

  • Existing facilities: three full size grass pitches with poor changing facilities.
  • Existing users: three teams from clubs including; Springfield United First, TS Sport U12 Panthers and Woodville Rangers First.
  • Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, senior football, women & girls.

2 - Church Gresley Indoor Bowling Centre – works to natural grass pitches

  • Existing facilities: two full size and one junior grass pitch good quality changing facilities.
  • Existing users: seven teams from clubs including; Belmont Royals, Gresley FC, and Miners Arms FC.
  • Rationale: participation growth in; senior football, junior football.

3 - The Mease Pavilion (Hilton Harriers FC) – works to natural grass pitches (pitch development)

  • Existing facilities: two full size grass pitches with good quality changing facilities.
  • Existing users: nine teams from Hilton Harriers FC.
  • Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, senior football, women & girls.

4 - John Port Spencer Academy (Etwall Leisure Centre) – works to natural grass pitches

  • Existing facilities: Full size 3G FTP, two full size and three junior grass pitches with standard quality changing facilities.
  • Existing users: one team from Hilton Girls. Plans in place to bring more teams in to use grass pitches. Potential to become key hub site.
  • Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, senior football, women & girls, cross curricular use.

5 - Willington Football Club – works to natural grass pitches, equipment bank for club

  • Existing facilities: one full size and three junior grass pitches with good quality changing facilities.
  • Existing users: eight affiliated teams from Willington Sports.
  • Rationale: Participation growth in; junior football.

6 - Woodville Recreation Ground, New Road – works to natural grass pitches (pitch development)

  • Existing facilities: one full size grass pitch.
  • Existing users: primary site for Woodville Rangers FC
  • Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, senior football, women & girls.

Priority grass pitch sites

Pitchfinder

Changing room pavilions / clubhouses

06

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.

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Assets and opportunities

Of the six key sites with three or more full size equivalent pitches in South Derbyshire, five have suitable changing room pavilions/clubhouses. None have no facilities and require a new changing pavilion.

5 key sites have suitable changing rooms/ pavilions/ clubhouses
4 require improvement/ replacement
0 have no facilities and require new builds

Priority projects

Four priority projects for potential investment have therefore been identified. Due to limited usage at some sites with three or more full-size pitch equivalents, the steering group took the decision to also include a number of strategically important sites with less than three full-size pitch equivalents. Each Project has either no facilities or was assessed against a standard criteria to have an unsuitable pavilion:

1 - Woodhouse Recreation Ground – refurbish changing pavilion

  • Existing facilities: three full size grass pitches with poor changing facilities.
  • Existing users: three teams from clubs including; Springfield United First, TS Sport U12 Panthers and Woodville Rangers First. This site is due to become the home ground for 19 teams from Newhall Rangers.
  • Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, senior football, women & girls.


7 - Hawfields Football Ground – refurbish changing pavilion

  • Existing facilities: one full size grass pitch with poor changing facilities.
  • Existing users: three teams from Newhall United.
  • Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, senior football, women & girls.


8 - Broomhills Lane Playing Field – refurbish changing pavilion

  • Existing facilities: two full size grass pitch with poor changing facilities.
  • Existing users: 12 teams from Repton Casuals.
  • Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, senior football, women & girls.


9 - Maurice Lea Memorial Park – refurbish changing pavilion

  • Existing facilities: one full size grass pitches with poor changing facilities.
  • Existing users: three teams from clubs including; New Inn First, Springfield First, Springfield Spartans.
  • Rationale: participation growth in; junior football, senior football.

Priority changing room pavilion sites

Pitchfinder

Small-sided facilities

07

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

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

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

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

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

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Priority projects

0 Better Indoor spaces
5 MUGAs
1 Better parks/ open green spaces

Indoor

Local consultation reveals there are no indoor facilities that require improvement to develop small-sided football:

Multi-use Games Areas (MUGAs)

Five potential opportunities for MUGA’s have been identified. In each case the rationale is based on the site being in an area of high urban population , limited green space , high levels of deprivation, high levels of lower social economic groups and corresponding high local demand for informal football:

4 - John Port Spencer Academy (Etwall Leisure Centre) – new MUGA

  • Existing facilities: Full size 3G FTP, two full size and three junior grass pitches with standard quality changing facilities.
  • Existing users: one team from Hilton Girls. Plans in place to bring more teams in to use grass pitches. Potential to become key hub site. Site used for recreational football.
  • Rationale: participation growth in; lower socio – economic groups, informal/recreational football.

9 - Maurice Lea Park – upgrade MUGA

  • Existing facilities: dilapidated MUGA
  • Existing users: used for recreational football.
  • Rationale: Participation growth in; lower socio – economic groups, informal/recreational football.

10 - Twyford Road Playing Field (Willington) – new MUGA

  • Existing facilities: one full size grass pitch. No recreational facilities.
  • Existing users: used for recreational football. Open Space Strategy identifies need for MUGA in Willington area.
  • Rationale: participation growth in; lower socio – economic groups, informal/recreational football.

11 - Penn Lane (Melbourne) – upgrade MUGA

  • Existing facilities: dilapidated MUGA.
  • Existing users: site used for recreational football.
  • Rationale: participation growth in; lower socio – economic groups, informal/recreational football.

12 - Newall Park – upgrade MUGA

  • Existing facilities: dilapidated MUGA.
  • Existing users: site used for recreational football.
  • Rationale: participation growth in; lower socio – economic groups, informal/recreational football.

Parks and open green spaces

Following local consultation, one opportunity has been identified to support small-sided informal football. Here, the rationale is based on highly popular local parks and open green spaces with suitable space / areas to increase informal football:

13 - District Wide – Inflatable football arena

  • Existing facilities: n/a
  • Existing users: Potential for mobile arena to be moved around parks and open spaces as part of delivery programme.
  • Rationale: Participation growth in; lower socio – economic groups, informal/recreational football.

Priority small sided facilities

Pitchfinder

Appendix A: Priority Project List

08

This list compiles all of the priority projects for potential investment. Each project has been scored against two principle factors: deliverability and outcomes (quality, inclusivity, sustainability, engagement and usage).

The list will be used flexibly; a projects ‘rating’ does not determine the exact order that it will progress to a funding application to the Football Foundation as we understand there are many factors that influence this. The process for moving a project from this list and into the ‘pre-application stage’ will be managed by the Football Foundation.

1

1 - Woodhouse Recreation Ground

Location

WOODHOUSE RECREATION GROUND 64 COPPICE SIDE, SWADLINCOTE, Derbyshire, DE11 9AA

Facilities
  • New 11v11 Floodlit 3G FTP (1)
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (3)
  • Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

4.0/4

Overall score

83% (10.0/12)

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Small-sided recreational; Small-sided teams and leagues; Youth female; Youth male

3

3 - The Mease Pavilion (Hilton Harriers FC)

Location

THE MEASE PAVILION HILTON HARRIERS FOOTBALL CLUB, THE FOOTBALL PAVILLION THE MEASE, HILTON, DERBY, Derbyshire, DE65 5LS

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (2)
Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.0/4

Overall score

67% (8.0/12)

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

5

5 - Willington Football Club

Location

WILLINGTON FOOTBALL CLUB Twyford Road, Willington, Derby, Derbyshire, DE65 6PP

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (3)
Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.0/4

Overall score

67% (8.0/12)

Project Focus

Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

6

6 - Woodville Recreation Ground (New Road)

Location

WOODVILLE RECREATION GROUND BISHOPS GATE, WOODVILLE, SWADLINCOTE, Derbyshire, DE11 8DT

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (1)
Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.0/4

Overall score

67% (8.0/12)

Project Focus

Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

8

8 - Broomhills Lane Playing Field

Location

BROOMHILLS LANE PLAYING FIELD Broomhills Lane, Repton, Derby, Derbyshire, DE65 6FS

Facilities
  • Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

3.0/4

Overall score

67% (8.0/12)

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth female; Youth male

10

10 - Twyford Road Playing Field (Willington)

Location

TWYFORD ROAD PLAYING FIELD Twyford Road, Willington, Derby, Derbyshire, DE65 6PP

Facilities
  • Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.9/4

Overall score

65% (7.8/12)

Project Focus

IMD / lower social economic groups; Small-sided informal

7

7 - Hawfields Football Ground

Location

HAWFIELDS FOOTBALL GROUND 33 THE GABLES, NEWHALL, SWADLINCOTE, Derbyshire, DE11 0TG

Facilities
  • Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)
Owner

Football club

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.8/4

Overall score

63% (7.6/12)

Project Focus

Mini-soccer; Youth male

2

2 - Church Gresley Indoor Bowling Centre

Location

CHURCH GRESLEY INDOOR BOWLING CENTRE 12 BRAMLEY DALE, CHURCH GRESLEY, SWADLINCOTE, Derbyshire, DE11 9RT

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (3)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.7/4

Overall score

61% (7.3/12)

Project Focus

Adult male; Mini-soccer; Youth male

4

4 - The John Port Spencer Academy (Etwall Leisure Centre)

Location

ETWALL LEISURE CENTRE HILTON ROAD, ETWALL, DERBY, Derbyshire, DE65 6HZ

Facilities
  • Natural grass pitch improvements (4)
  • Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Owner

Education

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.7/4

Overall score

61% (7.3/12)

Project Focus

Adult female; Adult male; IMD / lower social economic groups; Mini-soccer; Small-sided informal; Youth female; Youth male

11

11 - Penn Lane (Melbourne)

Location

MUGA off PENN LANE PENN LANE, MELBOURNE, DERBYSHIRE, DE73 8EP

Facilities
  • Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.5/4

Overall score

59% (7.0/12)

Project Focus

IMD / lower social economic groups; Small-sided informal

9

9 - Maurice Lea Memorial Park

Location

MAURICE LEA MEMORIAL PARK York Road, Church Gresley, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE11 9QF

Facilities
  • Refurbish Changing Pavilion (1)
  • Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.4/4

Overall score

57% (6.9/12)

Project Focus

Adult male; IMD / lower social economic groups; Small-sided informal; Youth female

12

12 - Newall Park

Location

NEWHALL PARK THE SCOUT HUT HIGGINS ROAD, NEWHALL, SWADLINCOTE, Derbyshire, DE11 0JY

Facilities
  • Small sided informal (MUGA) (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

2.3/4

Overall score

55% (6.6/12)

Project Focus

IMD / lower social economic groups; Small-sided informal

13

13 - Inflatable football arena (for use across the District)

Location

Location details: N/A

Facilities
  • Small sided informal (Park) (1)
Owner

Local Authority

Deliverability score

Medium (2/4)

NFFS outcome score

1.9/4

Overall score

49% (5.9/12)

Project Focus

IMD / lower social economic groups; Small-sided informal

A project's overall score provides an indication of its potential outcomes and deliverability only (weighted twice as much towards the outcomes score). It does not impact the likelihood or level of any potential investment.

Appendix B: Consultation List

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  • Culture and Community Manager- South Derbyshire District Council
  • Director – Active Derbyshire
  • Football Development Officer (Adult, Recreation and Inclusion) – Derbyshire County FA
  • Football Development Officer (Clubs, League’s & Workforce) – Derbyshire County FA
  • Football Development Officer (Youth & Education) – Derbyshire County FA
  • Head of Community – Derby County Community Trust
  • Head of Facilities & Strategy – Derbyshire County FA
  • Secretary – Gresley FC
  • Secretary – Hilton Harriers
  • Sport and Health Partnership Manager – South Derbyshire District Council

Survey responses were received from the following affiliated clubs:

  • Repton Casuals

Share the full South Derbyshire plan