Local Football Facility Plan Stafford

Stafford is located in the West Midlands region. The current population of the Authority (ONS 2017 Mid-Year Estimate) is 134,155. This is expected to rise to 140,409 by 2039.

26.7% of the Stafford population is within NS SEC classification 6-8 (lower socio-economic groups).

Stafford’s ethnic composition is primarily White (95.0%). This is higher than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of Stafford's population represented by the BAME community is 5.0%. This is below the national average (14.6%).

The Borough of Stafford is named after and includes the town of Stafford, which is the county town of Staffordshire, as well as the smaller town of Stone and numerous villages. In total it is made up of 26 wards.

Local authority

Stafford Council’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy (2015-2020) commits it to supporting residents and communities to take control of their own health and wellbeing and it references sport as a key tool to help achieve this.

The local authority Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS) along with the associated Assessment Report is being produced alongside this plan. The key findings thus far show a shortfall of 3G FTPs and future grass pitch shortfalls. The study is expected to be complete by April 2019.

Stafford also has an emerging Indoor and Built Facilities Strategy. This will inform the sports hall requirements for the Borough, with provision to be included as part of a new school being developed.

County football association

Stafford is covered by the Staffordshire County FA which provides 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.

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)

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). There is no active CCO in Stafford.

Local leisure operator

Freedom Leisure is a key leisure operator in Stafford. It currently manages some strategic sites including a 3G FTP and grass pitches at Rowley Park. All remaining FTPs and grass pitch provision within Stafford is managed by the Council.

Local consultation

This has taken place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in Stafford. 16 individuals (representing 13 local organisations) were consulted. These include:

• Beacon Sports
• Freedom Leisure
• Sport Stafford Borough

In addition, the majority of clubs and educational establishments were consulted as part of the emerging PPS. The findings of this consultation are linked to the outcomes of this plan.

(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. Stafford has a total of 197 affiliated teams, which is higher than local areas of a similar size (the PPS cites a different figure due to some teams not being included, such as disability teams).

The FA is investing to support clubs both on and off the pitch; this 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 Stafford, eight clubs have more than 10 registered teams. These (based upon 2017-18 affiliation data) are:

• Berkswich FC - 11 teams
• Eccleshall Eagles FC - 12 teams
• Milford Athletic FC - 10 teams
• Stafford Athletico FC - 10 teams
• Stafford Falcons FC - 16 teams
• Stafford Rangers FC - 18 teams
• Stafford Town FC - 30 teams
• Stone Dominoes FC - 34 teams

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

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

• Mid Staffs Junior League
• Stafford & District Sunday League
• Staffordshire County Senior League
• Staffordshire Girls & Ladies League
• Staffordshire Ability Counts League

The County FA reports that there is some cross boundary migration due to teams migrating into and out of Stafford to, for example, the Lichfield & District Recreational League and the Potteries Junior Youth League.

Disability football

9.4million people in England have a long-standing limiting disability, illness or condition; this 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 run specifically for people with a disability.

In Stafford there are five football teams / sessions run specifically for people with a disability. It is a County FA priority 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. Stafford has two FA Wildcats girls football centres at which to grow this aspect of the game.

At 10, Stafford’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 Staffordshire Girls' and Ladies League and matches are played on both a home and away and central venue basis. This League is expected to grow and sustain its provision in future years. It is also the League which caters for local adult female football in which matches are played on a home and away basis. The League is expected to sustain its provision in future years.

For talented players, the most local FA regional talent clubs (RTCs) are at Aston Villa, Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers football clubs all of which are located in neighbouring local authorities. 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. It 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 & 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 (Beacon Sports & Fitness)
• Soccer Sixes (Bishop Lonsdale School)
• Rowley Park Soccer Sixes

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

There are currently no futsal teams in Stafford. It is a priority for the County FA to grow Futsal for male, female and youth 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 four FA Just Play Centres in Stafford. Walking football sessions are delivered by a range of community organisation such as Alleynians Vets, Beacons Sport & Fitness and Stafford Borough Council. Walking football and Just Play are formats that the County FA has prioritised for further growth and development. Other local recreational football programmes include casual bookings which are delivered by a range of organisations including Freedom Leisure.

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 Stafford is played particularly in the north, south and central parts of the Borough. Alleynes High School, Rowley Park, Stafford Leisure Centre and Beacon Sport & Fitness are key site locations which are heavily used.

The key strengths of local football in Stafford include mini-soccer, youth male and adult male provision and it is recommend that this is sustained and also encouraged to grow further. However, gaps in provision do exist; these include disability and adult female football.

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

1.Grow adult female football

2.Grow disabilty football

3.Sustain and grow female youth football

4.Sustaining male youth and adult football

5.Promote futsal development and recreational opportunities

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

Additionally, each priority project that progresses to a funding application via the Football Foundation will produce a detailed ‘site development plan’ specifying all football development activity, usage and key partner engagement.

This section reviews existing football facility assets in Stafford. 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.

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 (11v11) 3G FTP 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.

FA data states that there are currently six 3G FTPs in Stafford; three full-sized and three small-sided.

The full-sized 3G FTPs in Stafford are:

• Rowley Park Stadium
• Stafford Town Football Club
• MoD Stafford

The FTP at MoD Stafford is considered to be unavailable for community use. This results in a current shortfall of three full-sized FTPs relative to assessed demand, and a future shortfall of four full-sized FTPs (as identified in the emerging PPS).

There are no small-sided 3G FTP centres in Stafford, although there are small sided 3G pitches at:

• Bishop Lonsdale C of E Primary School
• Castlechurch Primary School
• HMP Stafford

As mentioned, two of the three full-sized FTPs are available for community use. Two are on the FA Register for 3G FTPs (meaning they are quality checked and can be used for football match play). It is strongly recommended that the third (at Stafford Town Football Club) is quality checked and included on the register to enable more match play on 3G, especially considering the quantity of host club football it accommodates.

The geographic spread of existing facilities is uneven; there are provision gaps in the towns of Stone and Stafford despite the high population levels and it is recommended that these are addressed.

Local consultation reveals common issues with high pricing, low availability and long travel distances and it is recommended that these are addressed.

A new 'rugby turf' artificial grass pitch is being developed at Stafford Rugby Club. This is unlikely to contribute significantly to alleviating football shortfalls as it will primarily be used for rugby union activity.

Five priority projects for potential investment have been identified. Undersupply was calculated using the FA 3G FTP demand and supply model. Each site was selected by local partners based on a rationale which includes good access, high population, geographic spread, and quality of existing facilities:

One of the proposed full-size 3G FTPs should be provided to support Staffordshire FA's relocation, whilst similar developments at Walton High School and either Wellbeing Park or Alleynes Sports Centre will help address current shortfalls in the towns of Stafford and Stone, respectively. That said, security of tenure is an issue that needs to be considered at both Wellbeing Park and Alleynes Sports Centre in order to enable FTP development.

An option for the fourth additional FTP (required to meet projected future demand) is to include provision as part of a new school build in Beaconside. The development is scheduled for completion in 2020. If the inclusion of an FTP is not possible, alternative options need to be considered within the locality.

The fifth project listed is for a small-sided FTP at Beacon Sport & Fitness.

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 one in six games is cancelled. 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.

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.

PPS data indicates that there are currently 14 grass pitch sites in Stafford with three or more full-size pitch equivalents containing 66 grass pitches.

Of these, two are considered to have good quality pitches, seven are of standard quality and five are of poor quality.

Local consultation shows common issues with a lack of dedicated youth provision, in particular in relation to youth 9v9 pitches, as well as security of tenure issues at large sites such as Wellbeing Park. It is recommended that these are addressed.

Eight priority projects for potential investment have been identified. Of these, three have three or more full-size pitch equivalents of poor or standard quality, whilst two are smaller sites that are considered to be key for football, one of which has the potential to be expanded (Walton Common).

The remaining three sites to be developed are; firstly a site to accommodate Staffordshire FA, secondly Stone Hockey Club, which has aspirations to develop football pitches, and lastly Beacon Sports and Fitness, which wishes to work in partnership with a local youth league to provide youth 9v9 pitches.

Pitch quality rating was evidenced by the emerging PPS and qualified by local partners. Due to the significant number of grass pitch sites in Stafford, local partners did not select all sites and prioritised those included. The prioritisation was informed by local partners based upon a rationale which encompassed the selection of sites that are in the poorest condition, those which are best utilised and the ones deemed likely to help increase participation the most.

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 ahead of 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 14 key sites with three or more full-size pitch equivalents in Stafford, nine have suitable changing room pavilions/clubhouses, three have facilities that need improvement/replacement and one has no dedicated facilities and requires a new build. The remaining site (Westbridge Park) is without changing facilities but provision at this venue is not considered to be warranted based on current demand.

There are five other key sites which require changing room improvements or a new build.

Nine priority projects for potential investment have been identified; four of these have three or more full-size pitch equivalents with either no facilities or an unsuitable pavilion.

Of the remaining five, three are at smaller sites that are considered to be important enough to warrant investment, such as at Pershall Park and Marston Road which accommodate Step football, whilst the remaining two are at sites to be developed for football. The first of these is to accommodate Staffordshire FA, whereas the other is Stone Hockey Club, which aspires to establish grass football pitches and has planning permission for a new clubhouse.

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 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 opportunity that is 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 reveals that there is one indoor facility that requires improvement to develop small-sided football. This is a new school that is being developed with a sports hall (size yet to be determined). It is recommended that futsal markings are put in place when this goes ahead if the facility is sufficiently large.

Six 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, catering for a substantial number of people from lower social economic groups and meeting corresponding high local demand for informal football.

In addition, a MUGA is being developed at Westbridge Park without Football Foundation funding.

Following local consultation, two locations have 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.

• Cultural Services Manager - Stafford Borough Council
• Sport and Outdoor Leisure Policy Officer - Stafford Borough Council
• Public Health Development Officer - Stafford Borough Council
• Senior Parks Manager - Stafford Borough Council
• Head of Strategy & Investment - Staffordshire County FA
• Facilities Lead - SASSOT
• School Sports Coordinator - SASSOT
• Head of Sport - Staffordshire University
• Programme Lead - Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner
• Leisure and Cultural Area Manager - Freedom Leisure
• Owner - Wellbeing Park
• Chairman - Sport Stafford Borough
• Chairman - The Community Foundation
• Trustee - Staffordshire Council of Youth Voluntary Services
• Unknown - Chamber of Commerce
• Business Development Executive - Beacon Sports