Local Football Facility Plan Test Valley

Test Valley is in the South Region.

The current population of the Authority (ONS 2018 Mid-Year Estimate) is 120,700. This is expected to rise to 139,345 by 2039.

Test Valley is ranked 40 out of 67 LAs in the region, and 262 out of 317 LAs nationally on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (ONS).

Its ethnic composition is primarily white (96%). This is substantially higher than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of Test Valley’s population represented by the BAME community is 4%. This is considerably below the national average (14.6%)

Local authority

The Test Valley Corporate Plan 2019 - 2023, sets out four strategic aims for maintaining and improving quality of life in the area over the next four years and beyond. One of these aims is to ensure that communities are empowered, connected and able to build upon their strengths. As part of this aim, the Authority is committed to promoting the wellbeing of its communities by securing a legacy of outstanding sports, leisure and cultural spaces that are accessible and will enable a positive impact on the quality of life of Borough residents for generations to come.

The Authority is currently undertaking a refresh of its Playing Pitch Strategy, which should be completed in Summer 2020.

County Football Association

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

Football Foundation

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

Sport England

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

Professional community club organisations (CCOs)

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

Local leisure operator

Places Leisure is the key leisure operator in Test Valley. It currently runs four key sites including Andover and Knightwood leisure centres.

Local consultation

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

• Test Valley Borough Council
• A range of affiliated football clubs

(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. Test Valley has a total of 197 teams, which is comparable to local areas of a similar size.

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

Over the last ten years there has been a significant national increase in the number of large multi-team football clubs. In Test Valley seven clubs have more than ten registered teams. These are (based upon 2019-20 affiliation data):

• Andover New Street- 25
• Andover Town Youth- 27
• Baddesley Park Youth- 13
• Braishfield Bees Youth - 12
• Romsey Town - 30
• St Francis -22
• Shooters- 15

Leagues

Three main leagues cater for clubs and teams in Test Valley offering competitive opportunities for youth and adult males. These are:

• Andover and District Football League- 6 teams
• Andover and District Sunday Football League- 24 teams (Home and away)
• Testway League - 220 teams

Other leagues serving the area include:

• Tyro League
• Southampton Sat League
• Peter Houseman Youth League

Female and disability league provision is delivered on a county basis.

The County FA reports significant cross boundary migration to/from Eastleigh primarily due to teams playing in some of the large central venue leagues (e.g. Stoneham Park).

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 Test Valley there are three 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. Test Valley has four FA Wildcats girls football centres and the priority is to grow this activity.

At nine, Test Valley’s number of female teams is lower than local areas of a similar size. The County FA’s priority is to support existing clubs to grow and encourage more to develop playing opportunities for females. The local girls’ league is the Hampshire Girls Youth League in which matches are played on a home and away and central venue basis. It is expected to grow provision in future years. The local adult female league is the Hampshire County Women’s League. Its matches are played on a home and away basis and it also expects to grow provision in future years.

For talented players, the most local FA Regional Talent Club (RTC) is Southampton. 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 Reading 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.

In Test Valley, The Sports Academy is the only site used to host JD Fives football leagues.

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 two affiliated futsal teams in Test Valley. 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 Test Valley. This is a priority for the County FA to initiate and grow.

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 Test Valley is played at various sites across the Borough including in the two main towns of Andover and Romsey.

The key strengths of local football in Test Valley include adult male and youth football; this should be sustained and encouraged to grow further. However, provision gaps include women and girls, disability and recreational football opportunity. It is therefore recommended that the future football development priorities for Test Valley are to:

1. Sustain male youth and adult football.
2. Increase the number of women's and girls teams.
3. Continue to grow futsal participation.
4. Increase the number of Just Play centres.
5. Support the development of disability opportunity.

The facilities required to assist this are now set out in the Assets and opportunities section. Priority projects that progress to become a funding application via the Football Foundation produce detailed ‘site development plans’ specifying all football development activity, usage and key partner engagement.

This section reviews existing football facility assets in Test Valley. It identifies current issues and presents opportunities for improvements, including a list of priority projects for potential investment. Local assets and opportunities have been reviewed in line with four investment priorities:

• 3G FTPs
• Improved grass pitches
• Changing room pavilions / clubhouses
• Small sided facilities

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

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

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

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

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

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

The full-sized (11 v 11) 3G FTPs in Test Valley are located at:

• Mountbatten School
• The Sports Academy
• St George Catholic College

In addition, there are seven small-sided 3G FTP centres at:

• Knightwood Primary School (one 5v5)
• Knightwood Leisure Centre (two 5v5)
• Middle Wallop Station (one 5v5)
• Anton Junior School (one 5v5)
• Charlton Place Fitness Centre (one 5v5)
• The Mark Way School (one 5v5)

A new community available full sized 3G FTP is to be installed as part of a major housing development at Ganger Farm. This will be part of a sports hub, which will include several grass pitches and a changing pavilion. The development will not require Football Foundation funding and it is anticipated that it will be open by the end of 2020.

The draft PPS calculates a shortfall of two full sized 3G FTPs. However, the development at Ganger Farm will reduce the shortfall to one.

All three 3G FTPs are available for community use and the Sports Academy's pitch is on the FA Register for 3G FTPs (meaning that it has been quality checked and can be used for football match play). It is strongly recommended that the remaining two are assessed and placed on the Register to enable more match play on 3G.

Although the location of existing facilities reflects the main population centres (Andover and Romsey); demand at these facilities far outstrips supply and club consultation confirmed that additional provision is required in both areas. A number of Andover clubs currently resort to training on small sided recreational pitches due to the fact that the full sized provision at the Sports Academy is at capacity. Clubs in the Romsey area report having to travel to Stoneham Park (Eastleigh), due to the shortage of slots at the venue in the south of the authority. The pitch at Ganger Farm will address the shortfall in the south, however, it was concluded that a new facility in the Andover locality is required.

One new full sized 3G FTP priority project for potential investment is identified. This will be located in the Andover area to address the shortfall in the north of the authority.

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

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

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

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

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

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

For more information click here.

PitchPower

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

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

Learn more by clicking here.

There are currently nine grass pitch sites in Test Valley with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three pitches but deemed to be of strategic importance). These contain 48 grass pitches. Of these, six are considered to have good quality pitches and the other three are of either standard or poor quality.

On this basis, it was determined that three site should be prioritised. This will result in quality improvements to 11 pitches:

Three priority projects are identified. Without the evidence base of an up-to date PPS, pitch quality rating was evidenced by consultation and ratified by local partners. Prioritisation was based on a rationale of selecting sites with poor condition pitches but that offer potential to be 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 nine key grass pitch sites in Test Valley with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three but deemed to be of strategic importance) seven have suitable changing rooms and two require improvement/replacement.

In addition to the two key sites noted, Foxcotte Sports Park and Bypass Stadium (Romsey FC) require changing room upgrades. However, these will be funded via the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIS).

Two priority projects for potential investment are identified:

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

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

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

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

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

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

One potential MUGA opportunity is identified. Andover Sports Academy is a popular site for both affiliated and recreational football. Consultation indicated that the disused tennis court could be upgraded to enhance the site allowing the Sports Academy to increase its programme of use, including walking football sessions.

Local consultation indicates that, at present, no parks and open green spaces require improvement to develop small sided football.

A range of local agencies and larger (usually 10 plus team) local football clubs were invited to participate in the LFFP consultation. Those that contributed are listed below:

• Test Valley Borough Council
• Club representative - Andover New Street
• Club representative – Andover Town Youth
• Club representative – Baddesley Park Youth
• Club representative – CK Andover Youth
• Club representative – St Francis FC
• Club representative – Wellow FC
• Finance Manager – Harrow Way Community School