Local Football Facility Plan Wigan

Wigan is in the North West Region.

The current population of the Authority (ONS 2017 Mid-Year Estimate) is 324,650. This is expected to rise to 334,113 by 2039.

Wigan is ranked 21 out of 39 LAs in the region, and 105 out of 326 LAs nationally on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (ONS).

Wigan's ethnic composition is primarily white (97%). This is higher than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of Wigan’s population represented by the BAME community is 3%. This is below the national average (14.6%)

Local authority

The Wigan Deal for the Future Strategy: Deal 2030 was developed by residents, community organisations, businesses and public bodies. It outlines how everyone in Wigan can work together to create a world class place to live, work and visit up to 2030. It adopts the concept of the Wigan Deal, whereby the Council sets out a commitment or undertaking (Our Part), as well as detailing what it expects in response from the local residents to deliver on these outcomes (Your Part). The ten priorities for Deal 2030 are:

• Best start in life for children and young people
• Happy healthy people
• Communities that care
• Vibrant town centres
• An environment to be proud of
• Embracing culture, heritage and sport
• Economic growth that benefits everyone
• A well connected place
• Confidently digital
• A home for all.

'Embracing culture, heritage and sport' pertains most to the LFFP and in order to deliver on this, the Council sets out its part of the Deal, in terms of sport and recreation specifically committing to 'invest in playing facilities for grassroots sports to increase participation', with a call for residents response to 'take part in sports or get involved by volunteering to help run a local team in your area'.

The Authority Playing Pitch Strategy was adopted in 2018. The key findings and stated overarching priorities are to increase the number of full sized 3G FTPs, pursue the development of multi-pitch football hubs so as to deliver a better quality and broader football offer, improve grass pitches and pavilions through qualitative improvement and investment and to explore opportunities for leasehold or community asset transfer to local clubs/groups on a case by case basis.

County football association

Wigan is covered by the Lancashire 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.

Some clubs in the Borough affiliate to Manchester FA which provides support on an individual club by club basis where they have aspirations to improve or develop football facilities.

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). The Wigan Athletic Community Trust runs a variety of health, education, engagement, football and sporting activities within the local area.

Local leisure operator

Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles (IHL) is the key leisure operator in Wigan. It currently runs key sites including:

• Howe Bridge Leisure Centre - indoor hall and full sized 3G FTP
• Ashton Leisure Centre (dual use with Cansfield High School) - indoor hall and full sized 3G FTP
• Hindley Leisure Centre (dual use with Hindley High School) - indoor hall

IHL also delivers community use of the small sided 3G FTP at Central Park (Montrose Avenue), whilst it will in future manage indoor and small sided 3G FTP facilities at the new Standish Leisure Centre due to open in 2020.

Local consultation

This has taken place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in Wigan. Twenty four individuals (representing 23 local organisations) were spoken to. The agencies consulted include:

• Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles
• Wigan Youth Zone
• Wigan Borough Council Education Services

(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. Wigan has a total of 658 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 Wigan, 21 clubs have more than 10 registered teams. The largest of these based upon 2018-19 affiliation data are:

• Leigh Genesis - 43 teams
• Golborne Sports Club Juniors (including girls and adults) - 41 teams
• Hindley Juniors - 39 Teams
• Cherrybrook - 32 Teams
• Winstanley Warriors - 29 Teams
• Hindley Green - 27 Teams
• Atherton Town - 27 Teams
• Astley and Tyldesley - 26 Teams
• Highfield Grange - 24 Teams
• Ashton Park - 22 teams
• Wigan Junior Latics - 22 Teams

Leagues

Four main leagues serve clubs and teams in Wigan. They offer competitive opportunity for many different players, including youth and adult males. While there is no specific league opportunity for women and girls or disability football within Wigan, suitable provision is made in neighbouring Bolton, West Lancashire and County-wide. The largest local leagues (2018-19) include:

• Wigan & District Youth Football League– 213 teams (home and away / central venue mini soccer)
• South Lancs Counties – 40 teams – (home and away)
• Wigan Amateur League – 36 teams– (home and away)

The County FA reports some cross boundary migration to/from Wigan primarily due to its teams which play in the Bolton & Bury District Junior Football League (including summer season play) and the Warrington Junior 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 Wigan there are four 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. Wigan has one FA Wildcats girls football centre and the priority is to grow this activity.

At 44, Wigan’s number of female teams is higher than 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 West Lancashire and South Manchester Girls League in which matches are played on a home and away basis. It is expected to sustain its provision in future years. The local adult female league is the Lancashire County Women’s League. It too plays matches on a home and away and is expected to sustain provision in future years.

For talented players, the most local FA regional talent clubs (RTC) are Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Everton RTC. 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 teams are Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Everton; these provide player pathway opportunities for gifted and talented female players and a spectator interest for fans.

Small sided football

Many different types of small-sided football are played in England, from teams and leagues to recreational and informal. It is an established and important part of the modern game.

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

• Man V Fat: Robin Park Arena Sports & Tennis Centre - 6 teams
• PowerPlay: Howe Bridge Leisure Centre - 24 teams
• SoccerSixes: Dean Trust Academy - 9 teams
• Leigh Sports Village - 66 teams

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 eight futsal teams in Wigan. These play in the Red Rose Futsal League at key site locations including Ladybridge High School (Bolton). It is a priority for the County FA to grow opportunity to play 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 two FA Just Play centres in Wigan. Walking football sessions are delivered by a range of community organisation such as Wigan Athletic Community Trust. Walking football and Just Play are County FA priorities for further growth. Other local recreational football programmes include include Man V Fat and Kicks projects which are delivered by a range of organisations.

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 Wigan is played particularly in the north at Ashfield Park and Shevington Recreation Ground, in the south at Jubilee Park and Westleigh Park, in the east at Astley Street Park and Leyland Park and, in the central part of the Borough, at Laithwaite Park, Abraham Park and William Fosters Playing Fields. Laithwaite Park and William Fosters Playing Fields.

The key strengths of local football in Wigan include youth male and youth female provision and it is recommended that this is sustained and also encouraged to grow further. However, there are aspects of provision that are less well developed than is the case in local authorities of a similar size, these include recreational football, disability football and futsal. It is therefore recommended that the future football development priorities for Wigan are:

1. Development of 3G FTPs to support current growth particularly for the grassroots youth game.
2. Key strategic hub sites in the district.
3. Grass pitch improvement.
4. Small sided and flexible recreational facilities.
5. Facility to develop Futsal growth.

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

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

This section reviews existing football facility assets in Wigan. 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 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.

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

• Abraham Guest Academy
• Howe Bridge Leisure Centre
• Robin Park Arena Sports & Tennis Centre
• St John Rigby College
• St Peter's Catholic High School
• Leigh Sports Village (x2 pitches)
• Lowton CE High School

The facility at Lowton CE High School was extended and converted from a sand-based surface in summer 2019 without funding via the Football Foundation, subsequent to the production of the 2018 Wigan PPS.

Wigan Athletic FC has aspirations to develop a full size 3G FTP in the central area of the Borough. This would be for performance use by the professional club and would offer little capacity for community use, other than that made available by the Wigan Athletic Community Trust for delivery of its community programme activity. It would not be broadly accessible to external community groups.

Small sided 3G FTPs are provided at Leigh Sports Village (70m x 50m), Cansfield High School/Ashton Leisure Centre (73m x 45m) and Central Park (Montrose Avenue, 60m x40m). In addition, there are two small-sided 3G FTP centres in Wigan:

• Robin Park Arena Sports & Tennis Centre (5v5 3G FTP x4)
• Wigan Youth Zone (5v5 3G FTP x4)

A new 9v9 3G FTP is to be developed without Football Foundation funding at the new Standish Leisure Centre due to open in 2020.

Current (2018/19) demand for full sized 3G FTPs has been calculated using the FA training ratio model 1:38. On the basis that there are 658 teams in Wigan, there is a requirement for 17 full sized 3G FTPs. There are currently eight and there is, thus, a shortfall of nine.

Wigan is presently engaged in the Parklife Football Hubs Programme and is pursuing development of five new 3G FTPs across two sites; William Fosters Playing Fields and Laithwaite Park. (One of the proposed FTPs at Laithwaite Park will be of extended size to accommodate more mini soccer games at peak times). Given that the equivalent of just over five full-sized 3G FTPs is planned to be delivered via this portfolio investment, it was agreed that two further full size 3G FTPs should be identified in the LFFP.

In addition to the shortfall of full size 3G FTPs, the carpet at one existing venue (St John Rigby College) will require replacement. It presently exceeds the recommended surface lifespan and is now 13 years old, having been installed in 2006; although no significant quality issues are presently reported by clubs.

All eight full sized 3G FTPs are available for community use. Four 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 four are assessed and placed on the Register to enable more match play on 3G. Small sided pitches at Leigh Sports Village and Winstanley Warriors (Little Lane) are also FA registered for football match play.

The geographic spread of existing facilities is uneven; the majority are located in the north and west of the local area around Wigan Town, with some provision in the Leigh area. There are facilities gaps in the east (Hindley, Astley, Tyldesley, Atherton) despite high levels of population and high levels of deprivation in these areas and it is recommended that these are addressed.

Local consultation reveals common issues with high pricing and it is recommended that these are addressed. There are recurring reports from clubs and stakeholders of significant increases in pricing at non-Football Foundation funded school sites since the 2017 PPS, where operation of community use outside of school hours by a recently installed commercial provider across several individual sites has seen clubs move off 3G FTPs because they have reportedly become cost inaccessible. Constructive discussion with third party operators which manage non-Football Foundation funded sites is advocated, to implement a fair pricing policy and continue investment.

The former small sided soccer centre at Powerleague closed in 2018. Half of the premises has now been converted to other commercial leisure use meaning there was a loss of some indoor small sided 3G provision. The other half of the premises is now closed and is not anticipated to be accessible to community users in future, though the pitch provision remains. Until closure, it was reportedly well used for many years by Wigan & District Youth Football League as a central venue for all 5v5 and 7v7 mini soccer. Whilst the League is a proposed partner at the planned new Parklife hubs, there is a temporary pressure to reaccomodate this significant level of participation elsewhere at existing facilities in the coming two years at least until Parklife hubs are delivered.

Wigan Youth Zone (WYZ) is a potential site able to accommodate this central venue use over the weekends and has capacity to do so however its pitches are not FA registered. Consultation with Wigan Youth Zone indicates that the League has made an approach in respect of it making use of the facilities (which are available at a non-commercial rate) but the lack of certification is a key issue. WYZ reports that it is not presently able to afford the fee for testing and registration and would require support in order to do so, whilst performance standard testing may in turn evidence that some remedial works could be required.

Since the 2017 PPS, Wigan Warriors Community Foundation (WWCF) has taken over management of Robin Park Arena Sports & Tennis Centre. Community access to football facilities and programme of use remains the same and WWCF reports that the facilities are oversubscribed. Pending other actions as noted above, the site will, for the time being, be used by Wigan & District Youth Football League, relocating from the now closed Powerleague site.

Six priority projects for potential investment are identified. They were selected based upon a rationale of capacity to service the affiliated game and key settlements which have high levels of deprivation and a substantial proportion of residents from lower social economic groups.

Given the strategic importance of the Parklife hub sites it is suggested that any identified new full size 3G FTPs, not listed in the LFFP Priority Project list, should not be delivered until the hub sites have matured (initial business case suggests three years) as new sites could negatively impact the sustainability of the Parklife hubs and their wider benefits to the Borough. Therefore the feasibility of all new 3G FTPs must service additional local demand and clearly demonstrate no negative impact on existing sites. Any change to this approach will need the agreement of key stakeholders including the Football Foundation, The FA and Wigan Borough Council.

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 22 grass pitch sites in Wigan with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three pitches but deemed to be of strategic importance). These contain 103 grass pitches.

In addition to the sites prioritised for improvement in this plan, there is a need to improve the grass pitches which are to be retained at the proposed Parklife hubs at Laithwaite Park and William Fosters Playing Fields. This is not to be as a result of direct investment, but will be made possible via the revenue generated by the Parklife operational model onsite.

Local organisations have aspirations to improve grass pitch and changing room provision at Legh Street Playing Fields, though this has not been identified as a priority project for Football Foundation funding support.

Local consultation confirms the issue of high pricing at some school sites which influences the realistic accessibility of school supply; it is recommended that this is addressed. There are also instances where clubs are undertaking additional top up maintenance at local authority managed sites without any formal security of tenure or protection of investment into qualitative improvement. This too, needs to be taken into consideration when the detail of specific proposals is worked up.

Of the 22 key pitch sites referenced above it was determined that 16 should be prioritised. This will result in quality improvements to 46 pitches:

Sixteen priority projects for potential investment are identified. Pitch quality rating was evidenced by PPS and prioritisation based on the selection of sites that had the most pitches, that are (or could be) best utilised and reflect the strategic focus to improve local authority and club pitches which will operate outside the Parklife partner user network.

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 22 key grass pitch sites in Wigan with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three but deemed to be of strategic importance) 11 have suitable changing rooms, eight require improvement/replacement and two have no facilities and require new pavilions. Orrell Lamberhead Green Community Primary School does not have accessible changing or toilet provision (it is situated within the School). The user club Highfield Grange does not report this to be a significant issue.

Two of the eight sites requiring changing room improvement/replacement are Parklife hubs and will subsequently see development of new hub buildings with integrated changing rooms and facilities to replace existing building provision.

Development of additional 3G FTP provision at Howe Bridge Leisure Centre will require new pavilion provision onsite to support the increase level of footfall for use of 3G, exclusive of the leisure centre building.

Local organisations have aspirations to improve grass pitch and changing room provision at both Legh Street Playing Fields and St John's Playing Fields (Abram). The latter is presently under consideration for Community Asset Transfer, with a multi-team football club one of the interested parties.

Eleven 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.

There is presently relatively little demand for use of indoor facilities in Wigan, use is mostly only for younger age groups to train in the winter. There is presently comparably little futsal activity in relation to other areas of the County. The Wigan & District Youth Football League reports that whilst it has tried to launch a futsal offer there has, to date, been little interest or take up.

Local consultation confirms one potential opportunity for the refurbishment of a MUGA . It is in an area of significant population with limited green space and a relatively high proportion of people from lower social economic groups. Wigan Athletic Community Trust supports local onsite engagement through its Kickz programme.

Two areas are identified to support small sided informal football. Here, the rationale is based on the locality having relatively populations and proportions of people from lower social economic groups. The exact sites and project forms are to be determined as a result of future consultation.

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:

• Head of Facilities & Investment - Lancashire FA
• Football Development Officer - Lancashire FA
• Engagement Manager - Football Foundation
• Planning Manager - Sport England
• Greenspace Development Officer - Wigan Council
• Project Manager - Wigan Council
• Assistant Head of Community - Wigan Athletic Community Trust
• Atherton Town
• East Leigh Juniors
• Golborne Sports Junior
• Golborne Sports Seniors
• Highfield Grange FC
• Leigh Genesis
• Pennington
• Shevington
• Standish Panthers Juniors FC
• Wigan Athletic Ladies & Girls
• Wigan & District Amateur League
• Wigan & District Youth League
• Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles
• Wigan Youth Zone
• Wigan Council Community Partnership
• Wigan Council Education Services
• Wigan Warriors Community Foundation