Local Football Facility Plan Tonbridge and Malling

Tonbridge and Malling is in the South East region.

The current population of the authority (ONS 2017 Mid-Year Estimate) is 130,508. This is expected to rise to 147,344 by 2039.

Tonbridge and Malling is ranked 37th out of 67 LAs in the region, and 277 out of 326 LAs nationally on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (ONS).

Tonbridge and Mallings's ethnic composition is primarily white (96%). This is higher than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of Tonbridge and Malling’s population represented by the BAME community is 4%. This is below the national average (14.6%)

Local authority

Tonbridge and Malling Council’s local plan is currently at examination stage and includes a vision that by 2031 Tonbridge and Malling will be a place where sustainable growth is supported including new homes and jobs to help address the wide range of needs of the growing population and essential infrastructure to create a high quality environment for all.

The local authority has no Playing Pitch Strategy in place however it is their intention to undertake an assessment in the near future.

NB there are also a large proportion of town and parish councils within the Tonbrige and Malling Borough Council area.

County football association

Tonbridge and Malling is covered by the Kent 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 Tonbridge and Malling .

Local leisure operator

The local Leisure Operator is Tonbridge and Malling Leisure Trust (who operate as TM Active). They currently run the small sided football provision at Tonbridge Farm Sportsground and oversees the letting of all grassed football pitches in Tonbridge.

Local consultation

This has taken place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in Tonbridge and Malling. 14 individuals (representing 12 local organisations) were spoken to. The agencies consulted include:

• Tonbridge Sports Association
• Leybourne Chase Community Development Trust
• Parish and Town Councils

(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. Tonbridge and Malling has a total of 400 teams, which is higher than local areas of a similar size.

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

Over the last 10-years there has been a significant national increase in the number of large multi-team football clubs. In Tonbridge and Malling, 10 clubs have more than 10 registered teams. The largest of these (based upon 2018-19 affiliation data) are:

• Aylesford - 15 teams
• Borough Green Junior - 14 teams
• Ditton Minors - 18 teams
• K Sports Youth - 16 teams
• Kings Hill - 45 teams
• Larkfield - 32 teams
• Leybourne Youth - 10 teams
• Snodland Town Nomads - 10 teams
• Tonbridge Angels - 10 teams
• Tonbridge Invicta Junior - 12 teams
• Tonbridge Junior - 47 teams

Leagues

No leagues operate in Tonbridge and Malling . While there are no specific league opportunities for disability, youth, adult male or women & girls, there is however suitable provision provided in neighbouring areas.

The County FA reports that there is significant cross boundary migration in Tonbridge and Malling due to teams migrating outwards to the:

• Ashford And District Youth League
• Crowborough & District Junior Football League
• FA Women's National League
• Goals In Mind
• Isthmian Football League
• Isthmian Youth Football League
• Junior Premier League
• Kent College Students Sports Association
• Kent County Football League
• Kent Girls/Ladies Football League
• Kent Youth League
• London and South East Regional Womens Football League
• Maidstone and Mid Kent Sunday F.L.
• Maidstone Boys Primary
• Maidstone Invicta Primary League
• Maidstone Minor Football League
• Medway Messenger Youth League
• National League U19 Alliance
• Rochester & District Football League
• Sevenoaks And District Football League
• South East Counties Womens League
• South East London & Kent Youth League
• Southern Counties East Football League
• Suburban Football League
• West Kent Sunday League

Disability football

There are 9.4 million people in England with a long-standing limiting disability, illness or condition which equates to 18% of the population – almost one in five. Football playing opportunities should be flexible, inclusive and accessible for everyone, whatever their level of ability. This could entail inclusion in mainstream activity or teams / sessions specifically for people with a disability.

In Tonbridge and Malling there are 15 football teams / sessions specifically for people with a disability. It is a priority of the County FA to sustain 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. Tonbridge and Malling has 4 FA Wildcats girls football centres and the priority is to sustain this activity.

At 20, Tonbridge and Malling’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 Kent Girls/Ladies Football League and matches are played on a home and away basis. The league is expected to grow its provision in future years. The local adult female leagues are the Kent Girls/Ladies Football League and South East Counties Womens League. Matches are played on a home and away basis and the league is expected to grow its provision in future years.

For talented players, the most local FA Regional Talent Club (RTC) is Gillingham FC which is located in Medway. 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 Brighton & Hove Albion Women FC 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.

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.

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 Tonbridge and Malling.

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 6 FA Just Play Centres in Tonbridge and Malling. Walking football sessions are delivered by a range of community organisations such as in the Angel Centre and Kings Hill Sports Park. Walking football and Just Play are areas that the County FA has prioritised to be sustained.

Other local recreational football programmes include Rondos Academy.

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).

The key strengths of local football in Tonbridge and Malling include Youth and Mini Soccer and it is recommended that this is sustained and also encouraged to grow further. It is also acknowledged that there is potential for growth in futsal. Gaps in provision do exist; these include Adult Male 11v11 teams and Informal Football sessions.

It is therefore recommended that the future football development priorities for Tonbridge and Malling are:

1. Support the transition of Youth teams to progress to Adult Male 11v11 leagues.
2. Grow informal football provision.
3. Ensure club structures are in place to grow in line with the housing growth.
4. Develop comprehensive support to volunteers to allow clubs to retain, grow and provide opportunity to all.
5. Increase Women & Girls provision through informal ladies sessions and FA Wildcats programme.

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 Tonbridge and Malling. 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 has been reviewed applying a standard approach, supplemented by input from consultation with local partners and stakeholder organisations.

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

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

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

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

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

There are six existing full-sized (11 v 11) 3G FTPs in Tonbridge and Malling :

• Hayesbrook School
• Judd School
• Judd School (Vizards Sports Ground)
• K Sports
• Kings Hill Sports Park
• Wrotham School

Additionally, there are currently two small sized 3G FTPs at

• Hayesbrook School (60 x 40m)
• Potyns Sports Ground (22m x 37m)

Tonbridge school also contains a water-based short pile (tiger turf) pitch that caters for community football bookings.

There is no current PPS and, therefore, demand for full sized 3G FTPs has been calculated using the FA training ratio model 1:38.

On the basis that there are 400 teams in Tonbridge and Malling, there is a requirement for ten full sized 3G FTPs. There are currently six full sized 3G FTPs in Tonbridge and Malling and there is thus a shortfall of four full sized 3G FTPs. Each of the pitches are available for community use.

Three (Wrotham School, Kings Hill Sports Park, K Sports) 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 remaining pitches are assessed and placed on the Register to enable more match play on 3G. The geographic spread of existing facilities is relatively even according to the main centres of population in the district. Local consultation nevertheless reveals common issues with lack of match play on 3G and it is recommended that these are addressed.

Four priority projects for potential investment are identified for new full size 3G FTPs, and one additional project is identified for the resurfacing of existing small sided sand based pitches at Tonbridge Farm. Each was selected based upon a rationale of good access, high population, geographic spread, and existing facility quality

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 15 grass pitch sites in Tonbridge and Malling with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three pitches but deemed to be of strategic importance), containing 70 grass pitches.

Consultation identified that whilst Tonbridge and Malling District Council does not currently have an up to date playing pitch strategy, it is their intention to undertake an assessment during 2020 which can inform future iterations of the LFFP.

Of the 15 key pitch sites referenced above it was determined that one of these should be prioritised for improvements (Racecourse recreation ground in Tonbridge). This will result in quality improvements to 11 pitches.

One priority projects for potential investment has been identified - the largest playing pitch site in the district at Racecourse sports ground.

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 15 key grass pitch sites in Tonbridge and Malling with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three but deemed to be of strategic importance), 12 sites have suitable changing rooms, 2 sites require improvement/replacement (K Sports Ground and Swanmead Sports Ground) and one requires a new build (Frog Bridge).

Three 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 opportunity for a MUGA refurbishment has been identified at East Peckham Playing Fields.

Local consultation indicates that, at present, there are no opportunities to develop small sided football in parks.

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:

Secretary - Sevenoaks & District League

Leisure Services Manager (Development) - Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council

Sports Development Manager - Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council

Representative - Aylesford FC

Representative - Borough Green Juniors

Representative - K Sports Youth

Representative - Kings Hill FC

Representative - Larkfield FC

Representative - Rondos Academy

Representative -Snodland Town

Representative - Tonbridge Invicta Junior

Representative - Tonbridge Juniors / Tonbridge Angels

Representative - Chase Community Development Trust

Representative - Tonbridge Sports Association