Local Football Facility Plan Wiltshire

Wiltshire is in the South West Region.

The current population of the Authority (ONS 2017 Mid-Year Estimate) is 496,043. This is expected to rise to 545,012 by 2039.

Wiltshire is ranked 28 out of 37 LAs in the region, and 234 out of 326 LAs nationally on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (ONS). However, it must be noted that due to the size of the authority, levels of deprivation differ greatly from area to area.

Wiltshire's ethnic composition is primarily white (96.6%). This is higher than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of Wiltshire's population represented by the BAME community is 3.4%. This is below the national average (14.6%)

Local authority

Wiltshire Council’s Core Strategy (adopted 2015) commits it to protecting and developing its green infrastructure. It also notes that "green infrastructure projects and initiatives that contribute to the delivery of a high quality and highly valued multi-functional green infrastructure network in accordance with the Wiltshire Green Infrastructure Strategy will be supported".

The Authority PPS was adopted in 2017. The key finding is a substantial shortfall of 3G pitches. The majority of grass pitches are assessed as good or standard quality and have capacity for further use.

County football association

Wiltshire is covered by Wiltshire 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). The Swindon Town FC Community Foundation runs some health, education, engagement, football and sporting activities within the local area.

Local leisure operator

Places Leisure is a key leisure operator in Wiltshire, running numerous leisure centres albeit that the level of football provision within these is minimal. The majority of grass and 3G pitches are operated by town councils plus Salisbury City Council.

Local consultation

This has taken place with a broad and diverse set of community groups in Wiltshire. 19 individuals (representing 17 local organisations) were spoken to. The agencies consulted include:

• Calne Town Council
• Chippenham Town Council
• Salisbury City Council
• North Wilts Youth League

(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. Wiltshire has a total of 1,000 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 10-years there has been a significant national increase in the number of large multi-team football clubs. In Wiltshire, 26 clubs have more than 10 registered teams. The largest of these (based upon 2018-19 affiliation data) are:

• Melksham Town Youth FC - 44 teams
• FC Chippenham Youth FC - 31 teams
• Bradford Town Youth FC – 27 teams
• AFC Corsham - 25 teams
• Marlborough Youth FC – 25 teams

Leagues

Eleven leagues cater for clubs and teams in Wiltshire. They offer competitive opportunity for many different players, including women and girls, disability, youth and adults. The largest of these (2018-19) include:

• North Wilts Youth League – 540 teams– home and away
• Mid Wilts Youth & Minor League – 300 teams– home and away
• Wiltshire Women's & Girls' League – 53 teams - home and away or central venue (depending on age group)
• Chippenham & District League – 33 teams – home and away

The County FA reports that there is significant cross boundary migration to/from Wiltshire due to teams migrating outwards to play in the:

• Testway Youth League (Southampton)
• Southampton & District Tyro League (Southampton)
• Eastleigh & District Mini Soccer League (Southampton).

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 Wiltshire 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. Wiltshire has nine FA Wildcats girls football centres and the priority is to grow this activity.

At 61, Wiltshire’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’ and adult female league is the Wiltshire Women's & Girls' League in which matches are played on a home and away and central venue basis. It is expected to grow junior provision and sustain women's football in future years.

For talented players, the most local FA regional talent clubs (RTCs) are Bristol City Women's FC and Southampton Ladies' FC located in Bristol and Southampton, respectively. 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 Bristol City Women's FC and Yeovil Town Ladies FC'; 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 Soccer Sixes, which operates out of six venues (Stanley Park, Melksham Oak, Gerard Buxton Sports Complex, Wellington Academy, John of Gaunt School and Devizes Leisure Centre) as well as Football Mundial, which operates out of Salisbury & South Wilts Sports Club.

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 is currently one futsal team (FC Salisbury United) in Wiltshire playing in the FA National Futsal League, at Five Rivers Leisure Centre. 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 12 FA Just Play centres in Wiltshire. Walking football sessions are delivered by a range of community organisation such as Wiltshire Council and a range of town councils. Walking football and Just Play are County FA priorities for further growth and development. Royal Wootton Bassett Sports Association has a large informal veteran's Just Play centre.

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 Wiltshire is played across the local authority. Most existing MUGAs are key well-used site locations.

The key strengths of local football in Wiltshire include mini soccer provision and it is recommended that this is sustained and also encouraged to grow further. However, gaps in provision do exist, including disability and adult football provision. It is therefore recommended that the future football development priorities for Wiltshire are to:

1. Work with clubs and partners to provide access to appropriate high quality facilities
2. Increase the quantity of provision of, and levels of access to, 3G football turf pitches for training and match play.
3. Improve and enhance facilities to help sustain/grow women's and girls' football.
4. Provide opportunities to support informal provision and recreational play

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 Wiltshire. 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 Wiltshire are located at:

• Beversbrook Sports Facility
• Bulford Barracks Ground
• Gerard Buxton Sports Ground
• Stanley Park Sports Ground
• The Wellington Academy

In addition, a full size 3G FTP is to be developed at Green Lane Playing Fields, via Football Foundation funding. This is expected to be operational in early 2020 and, as funding has already been offered, is not included as a project within this plan. Once available, it will increase the number of full size 3G FTPs in Wiltshire to six.

There are also three small-sided 3G FTPs - at:

• Beversbrook Sports Facility (36 x 18m)
• Fairfield Farm College (38 x 20m)
• Leafy Lane (46 x 36m)

The 2017 Wiltshire PPS indicates a shortfall of 17 full size 3G FTPs. Based on the FA's training ratio model (1:38) and latest affiliation data, this figure has increased to 21 full size 3G FTPs. However, given the size of the authority and partially rural nature, meeting this shortfall is not considered to be feasible or necessary. Instead, it is considered appropriate to concentrate on increasing full size 3G FTP stock in priority, high demand areas, with smaller areas instead to be serviced by small-sided 3G FTPs.

All the existing 3G FTPs are available for community use, although access can on occasion be limited at Bulford Barracks due to the private nature of the site. Three of the five full size venues 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 two (at Bulford Barracks Ground and The Wellington Academy) are assessed and placed on the Register to enable more match play on 3G. For the latter, this will require a resurface due to the in adequate quality of the present carpet.

The geographic spread of existing facilities is uneven; the majority are located in the north and west of the Authority. There are substantial provision gaps elsewhere as well as a need for more pitches in some of the areas in which there is already 3G FTP provision - due to the substantial population and related demand. Delivering the recommendations made in this plan will make substantial inroads into addressing this shortfall.

Local consultation confirms the issues faced locally in respect of limited availability, the need to travel long distances to access 3G FTPs and the lack of match play on 3G and the need to address this underpins this plan.

13 priority projects for potential investment are identified: 11 full size 3G FTPs and two small-sided 3G FTPs. Included within this project list is the resurfacing of the existing full sized 3G FTP at The Wellington Academy; the remaining projects are for new venues.

The projects proposed were selected on the basis that they will service key settlements or enhance provision in larger towns where some (but insufficient) provision is already made. The key rationale relates to them offering good access, serving a significant local population, enabling a good geographic spread and upgrading existing facility quality. Given the large shortfalls identified, there is specific emphasis on providing pitches in areas most in need, such as Salisbury, which is currently without any 3G FTP facility.

Four of the full size FTP projects are not site specific and simply reference areas in which full sized 3G FTPs are needed. This relates to Laverstock & Ford, Marlborough, North Chippenham and Westbury/Warminster. Further investigation is required to determine preferred site options.

Furthermore, one of the small-sided FTP projects is also for an area rather than being site specific. This relates to Malmesbury. Although demand within the area suggests the need for a small-sided pitch, there is some synergy to instead deliver a full size pitch, given similar shortfalls in neighbouring Tetbury (Cotswold District), as such provision could cater for demand in both areas. Further investigation is required to determine the pitch size required as well as the preferred location (in either Malmesbury or Tetbury). A 9v9 pitch is recommended in this plan but there is scope for this to be amended.

Outside the parameters of this plan, an additional 3G pitch is proposed at Chippenham Rugby Club. Whilst this should not necessarily be factored into the equation from a football perspective (as it will primarily be used for rugby), its impact will need to be considered in respect of the two Chippenham based projects (Stanley Park Sports Ground and North Chippenham).

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 42 grass pitch sites in Wiltshire with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three pitches but deemed to be of strategic importance). These contain 161 grass pitches. Of these, 11 are considered to have good quality pitches and 31 have pitches that are deemed to be of standard quality.

Local consultation reveals no real common issues and, in essence, pitch quality is generally considered to be adequate across the County, with very few problems reported either during LFFP consultation or via the PPS. Numerous high quality sites provide a substantial number of pitches (i.e., Beversbrook Sports Facility, Stanley Park Sports Ground and Gerard Buxton Sports Ground). All of these are maintained to a good level by town councils and should be considered hub sites for the areas.

Of the 42 key pitch sites referenced above it was determined that eight should be prioritised. This will result in quality improvements to 19 pitches. Given the general quality of larger sites, the majority of sites identified for improvements are smaller sites that still service a strategic need (or have the potential to do so).

Eight priority projects for potential investment have been identified. Pitch quality rating was evidenced by PPS and ratified by local partners.

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 42 key grass pitch sites in Wiltshire with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three but deemed to be of strategic importance), 36 sites have suitable changing rooms or are not in need of provision, one site requires improvement and five require a new changing pavilion either because of the poor state of existing provision or because of a current lack of provision.

Of the five sites which need a new build pavilion, one is happening exclusive of this plan - at Green Lane Playing Field. This is to support the proposed full size 3G FTP at the site, which currently has no dedicated pavilion, and the relocation of Wiltshire County FA, which will be based at the venue. It is not included within the project list.

Five 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 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. Numerous site operators have aspirations for an indoor centre to be created; however, it is not considered to be a target area at this time.

12 potential opportunities for MUGAs are identified. Of these, ten are part of, or are closely aligned to, Wiltshire's Healthier Communities project. This is a 3-year project funded by Sport England, offering sport and physical activity opportunities to residents aged 16-74 in the heart of ten communities within the most deprived parts of the authority. Helping to support people to become more active, the type of activities offered are suitable for those who are not active on a regular basis and who want to improve their health but are unsure where to start. All sessions are held in local facilities and are available at an affordable cost to participants.

The remaining two relate to improvement of the existing MUGAs at Leighton Recreation Centre and Monkton Park. The former is operated by Places Leisure and is currently unavailable due to its present condition, whilst the latter (located in a popular local park) is also poor quality despite catering for high levels of use. It is located behind Olympiad Leisure Centre, operated again by Places Leisure.

Following local consultation, no locations are identified to support small sided informal football. It is considered that MUGA development is more relevant for Wiltshire due to the Healthier Communities project and given the presence of existing MUGAs (that need to be improved) within the ten communities upon which it is focused.

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:

• Leisure & Play Strategy Officer - Wiltshire Council
• Head of Community Development - Wiltshire Council
• Operations Director - Wiltshire & Swindon Sport
• Deputy Chief Executive - Chippenham Town Council
• Interim Manager - Chippenham Town Council
• Head of Leisure - Calne Town Council
• Clerk - Corsham Town Council
• Clerk - Trowbridge Town Council
• Clerk - Salisbury City Council
• Area Manager - Places Leisure
• User Engagement Co-Ordinator - Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living
• Functional Skills Tutor - Help for Heroes
• Manager - Barnado's Youth Centre
• Secretary - Calne Youth FC
• Secretary - Chippenham Town Youth FC
• Secretary - Salisbury Youth FC
• Secretary - FC Chippenham Youth
• Secretary - Trowbridge Town Youth FC
• Secretary - North Wilts Youth League