Local Football Facility Plan Worcester

Worcester is in the West Midlands region.

The current population of the Authority (ONS 2017 Mid-Year Estimate) is 102,314. This is expected to rise to 111,252 by 2039.

Worcester is ranked 16 out of 30 LAs in the region, and 160 out of 326 LAs nationally on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (ONS).

Worcester's ethnic composition is primarily white (93%). This is higher than the national average (85.4%).

The proportion of Worcester’s population represented by the BAME community is 7%. This is below the national average (14.6%)

Local authority

The South Worcester Development Plan (SWDP) is a planning framework jointly prepared by the three authorities of Malvern Hills, Wychavon and Worcester City. It forms the heart of the new Local Development Framework and sets out long-term vision and objectives for South Worcestershire. The SWDP identifies three significant urban extensions to Worcester whereby a large part of it's housing requirement will be delivered within neighbouring Malvern Hills and Wychavon districts. This includes significant development of new neighbourhoods in West Worcester (2,500+ homes) and South Worcester (2,500+ homes) as well as new homes in North East Malvern (circa 850). Together these three developments are considered likely to generate increased demand for football facilities across Worcester and the border areas, with significant new playing field sites planned at all three. This sport and recreation provision is to be delivered within Malvern Hills and thus opportunities at these sites in the future are covered within the Malvern Hills LFFP, though their relationship with projects identified within this plan for Worcester should be noted.

The Authority Playing Pitch Strategy was undertaken in conjunction with Malvern Hills and Wychavon; the South Worcestershire PPS was adopted in 2016. The key findings and stated overarching priorities are to: increase the level of full-sized (11v11) 3G FTP provision in the City, improve the quality of grass pitches at key sites via improved maintenance regimes and to maximise opportunity for the investment into outdoor sports provision which is inked to the significant forthcoming housing growth in Worcester and its proposed urban extensions.

County Football Association

Worcester is covered by the Worcestershire 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 Worcester.

Local leisure operator

Freedom Leisure is the key leisure operator in Worcester. It currently runs three sports centres, two of which have accompanying outdoor football provision, they are:

• Nunnery Wood Sports Complex - one 11v11 football pitch, a sand-based artificial turf pitch, a larger area of surrounding playing field land plus a 4-court sports hall.
• Perdiswell Leisure Centre - six 11v11 football pitches, two 5v5 3G FTPs and a sports hall.
• St John's Sports Centre - two 7v7 3G FTPs and a 4-court sports hall

Local consultation

This has taken place with a diverse set of community groups in Worcester. Ten individuals (representing nine local organisations) were spoken to. The agencies consulted include:

• Worcester Community Trust
• University of Worcester
• Kingshurst Academy Trust

(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.Worcester has a total of 178 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 Worcester, four clubs have more than 10 registered teams. These (based upon 2017-18 affiliation data) are:

• Nunnery Wood - 39 teams
• Warndon Villages - 22 teams
• Perdiswell Colts - 16 teams
• Worcester City Youth - 13 teams

Leagues

Two leagues operate in Worcester. They offer competitive opportunities for many different players, including disability and adult. While there are no specific league opportunities for youth and female in Worcester, suitable provision is made in the neighbouring Malvern Hills, Wyre Forest and Wychavon areas.

The largest of the local leagues catering for clubs and leagues in Worcester's (2018/19) include:

• McDonalds Worcester and District League – 43 teams (home and away)
• Three Counties Ability Counts League – 11 teams (central venue at multiple sites)

The County FA reports low levels of cross boundary migration to/from Worcester; what there is is primarily due to teams migrating outwards to the many leagues operating in the Birmingham area.

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 Worcester there are seven 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. Worcester has four FA Wildcats girls football centres and the priority is to grow this activity.

At 18, Worcester’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 Mercian Fortis League and matches are played on a home and away basis. It is expected to grow its provision in future years. The local adult female league is the Midwest Counties League in which matches are played on a home and away basis; it is expected to sustain its provision in future years.

For talented players, the most local FA Regional Talent Club (RTC) is West Bromwich Albion which is located in Birmingham. Higher level talent pathway opportunities are also provided regionally and nationally by the FA, culminating in the England Women’s national squads. The most local Women’s Super League team is Birmingham City 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. Key local providers include Leisure Leagues at the King George V Playing Field

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.

The one futsal team in Worcester plays in the FA National Futsal League at key site locations including University of Worcester. It is a priority for the County FA to grow futsal for male, female, youth and adult 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 is currently no FA Just Play Centre in Worcester. Walking football sessions are delivered by a range of community organisations at University of Worcester (St John's Campus) and Perdiswell Leisure Centre. Walking football and Just Play are areas that the County FA has prioritised for further growth and development.

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 Worcester is played particularly in the north and eastern parts of the local authority. The Warndon area has key site locations that are heavily used.

The key strengths of local football in Worcester include adult, female and youth provision and it is recommended that this is sustained and also encouraged to grow further. However, gaps in provision do exist these include disability and Just Play session as well as small sided football.

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

1. Disability
2. Female (to increase provision)
3. Just play sessions
4. Small sided football

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 Worcester. 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 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.

There is one full sized (11 v 11) 3G FTP in Worcester at the University of Worcester (St John's Campus). There are also two small-sided 3G FTP centres:

• Perdiswell Leisure Centre - two 5v5 3G FTPs
• St John's Sports Centre - two 7v7 3G FTPs

There are two 5v5 football cages at the YMCA (Worcester), however the site has been sold and the future availability of these cages is yet to be determined.

Worcester's PPS, which was undertaken in 2015 and adopted in 2016, in conjunction with other South Worcestershire authorities Wychavon and Malvern Hills indicated a shortfall of at least two full sized 3G FTPs.

However, on the basis that there are 178 teams in Worcester in 2018/19, there is a requirement for five full sized 3G FTPs. Given the one full sized 3G FTP already in the City there is, thus, a shortfall of four full sized 3G FTPs.

Football Foundation funding was recently secured for the creation of a new full sized 3G FTP at County Sports Playing Field in place of one of the existing on-site grass pitces. The wider project will see redevelopment of the existing building provision into which Worcestershire County FA will relocate. Work is expected to commence in summer 2019 and will reduce the shortfall of full sized 3G FTPs to three.

In addition to the noted shortfall, the 3G FTP at University of Worcester (St John's Campus) is at end of its recommended lifespan and will need to be resurfaced in the short term. Initial development of the pitch was funded by the Football Foundation and the required work should not necessitate the allocation of further external funding, with the expectation that resurfacing costs should be covered through the sinking fund formed over years since the pitch was built.

The 3G FTP at the University of Worcestershire (St John's Campus) is available for community use and is on the FA Register for 3G FTPs (meaning that it is quality checked and can be used for football match play). It is recorded as being used for match play.

The one full sized 3G FTP is located in the north west of the local area. There are provision gaps in the remainder of the City and it is recommended that these are addressed.

Local consultation reveals common issues with limited availability and the recommendations in this LFFP are designed, wherever feasible, to address these.

There are proposals for development of a new full size 3G FTP as part of the West Worcester Urban Extension, to be delivered within Malvern Hills district, adjacent to the Malvern Hills/Worcester border and near the University of Worcester St John's Campus. There is potential for the University to become a key user or partner within such a scheme given the proximity to it's existing campus. This site is detailed further within the Malvern Hills LFFP.

Four priority projects for potential investment are identified. Each was selected based upon a rationale of site availability, good access, enhancing the geographic spread of 3G FTPs and serving key settlements.

Worcester Hockey Club is in discussion with Worcester City Council with regard to the potential to create a new double artificial grass pitch location for hockey at the Old Porcelain Ground, as part of the Council's vision for potential wider development of the site. This would see the loss of playing field land previously marked with two 11v11 football pitches. Relocation of all club hockey activity to this new centre would facilitate the possible conversion to 3G of existing sand based pitches at both University of Worcester (St John's Campus) and Nunnery Wood Sports Complex. Consultation with England Hockey highlights that this is potentially achievable however unless and until the hockey project is confirmed no conversion should be pursued. In the event that one or both of these projects cannot be taken forward, there will be a need to identify a suitable alternative for development of 3G FTP provision in these areas of Worcester.

It is of key importance that both the football partners and City Council maintain close and regular dialogue with England Hockey in order to understand the progressing position for hockey and indicative timelines and potential issues which may affect the priority projects for 3G FTP conversions identified within this LFFP.

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, many players (63%) believe facilities are already expensive and some (16%) believe prices are prohibitive. A sustainable solution should, therefore, carefully balance pitch quality and affordability.

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

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

For more information click here.

PitchPower

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

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

Learn more by clicking here.

There are currently 14 grass pitch sites in Worcester with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three pitches but deemed to be of strategic importance). These contain 46 grass pitches. All of these are considered to have standard quality pitches.

In addition to the 14 grass pitch sites identified above, there will be brand new sites to be developed at several urban extensions within Malvern Hills, including new playing fields at West Worcester, South Worcester and North East Malvern. These are detailed within the LFFP for Malvern Hills where the facilities will be located. However opportunity for additional investment to supplement or enhance planned provision may exist which is likely to be accessible to existing Worcester teams and residents as well as the new population.

Two additional football pitches are proposed to be instated on land at Perdiswell Leisure Centre in mitigation for loss of football pitches at the Porcelain Ground to development of new hockey facilities.

Local consultation with clubs did not highlight any specific common issues.

Battenhall Playing Fields is presently used by the University of Worcester for athletic union (BUCS) fixtures on Wednesday afternoons. It was recently acquired by a private developer which is presently permitting the University to access the pitches and pavilion through rolling annual leasehold. The site is also home ground of Nunnery Wood Colts which has 30 teams playing both at this venue and at the adjacent Evendine Playing Fields, which is owned by the University itself. Future plans for use of Battenhall Playing Fields are not known and access for sport is not secured. It is possible that access could be lost at short notice which would put pressure on other sites to accommodate significant levels of University and particularly community club demand.

Of the 14 key pitch sites referenced above it was determined that nine of these should be prioritised for improvements. This will result in quality improvements to 28 pitches:

Nine priority projects for potential investment are identified. Pitch quality rating was evidenced in the PPS and ratified by local partners. Prioritisation was based on a rationale of selecting sites that had the most pitches and that are, or have the potential to be, best-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 14 key grass pitch sites in Worcester with three or more full-size pitch equivalents (or with fewer than three pitches but of strategic importance) 12 have suitable changing rooms. Cornmeadow has no facilities but does not require a new changing room. Two sites require improvement or replacement of existing facilities, these are:

• Perdiswell Leisure Centre - planned extension to existing changing room capacity to support increased footfall generated by the proposed delivery of new full size 3G FTP and grass pitch provision, as well as to service new indoor provision proposed for development for futsal and recreational football.
• Pitchcroft - requires refurbishment of existing pavilion provision which is reportedly a factor in the under-utilisation of the site due to its impact on the attractiveness of the current offer. It is a large site and has substantial potential to better serve local demandthe proposed improvements to pitches and changing facilities should encourage increased use.

Bilford Road Corner has no on-site changing or toilet facilities. Perdiswell Colts is in discussion with Tudor Grange Academy with a view to potentially taking on a lease for the site; there may, as a consequence, be a future need to explore the development of toilet and possibly changing facilities . However, this should be considered in line with other identified needs in Perdiswell such as new 3G FTP provision and levels of demand at Bilford Road Corner to adjudge any future need for supporting ancillary provision onsite.

Football Foundation funding was recently awarded for development of a new building at County Sports Playing Field which will include new changing room provision as part of a wider scheme which will see the relocation of Worcestershire County FA to the site. Development is expected to begin in mid-2019.

Brand new sites at each of the three aforementioned Worcester urban extensions will require accompanying pavilion or toilet/changing provision as part of the proposed schemes. There may be opportunity to explore supplementation of facilities proposed to be delivered with the help of partnership funding. This is explored further in the LFFP for Malvern Hills where the new playing field sites are to be located.

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 opportunity for development of one new indoor facility to develop small-sided football. The City Council in partnership with Worcestershire County FA is pursuing the development of a futsal hub at Perdiswell Leisure Centre as a focus venue for futsal across the County. Present plans are for the development of a covered surface with a National League size court marked over the top of four recreational level futsal courts, complete with spectator viewing platform and new changing provision which would service both new futsal and new and existing outdoor football provision.

Worcester Community Trust operates six community centres, five of which have football provision in the form of either a MUGA and/or grass space. The Trust reports that MUGAs are floodlit and generally well used, except for Warndon Hub which is not floodlit.

Local consultation indicates potential opportunity to improve three MUGAs . In each case the rationale is based on the site being in an area of substantial population, with a locally relatively high proportion of people from lower social economic groups and corresponding high local demand for informal football:

• Shap Drive (Warndon Hub) - the unorthodox circular shaped MUGA area with no ball-stop fencing, makes it not particularly well suited to informal football. It also lies adjacent to a well-used and busy car park presenting danger to children. The site has formal football pitches and a well-used community centre building with toilets and changing, within a high IMD area.
• Green Centre (Dines Green) - existing MUGA with half-height fencing. Subject to occasional vandalism and misuse but reportedly well used for informal football.
• Horizon Community Hub - existing MUGA reportedly well used for informal football by local residents in a densely populated area close to the City centre.

Following local consultation, two locations are identified to support small sided informal football. Here, the rationale is based on popular local parks and open green spaces with suitable space / areas to increase informal football:

• King George V Playing Field (KGV Community Hub) - this is a large strategic site for both participation and affiliated football in high IMD area with potential to enhance the existing offer with better free to access provision.
• Ronkswood Hub - this is a large area of playing field land behind the existing hub building and MUGA previously marked as football pitches. There is potential to improve this playing field for informal football within a densely populated locality.

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:

• Football Development Manager - Worcestershire FA
• Engagement Manager - Football Foundation
• Planning Manager - Sport England
• Supervisor Environmental Operations - Worcester City Council
• Contracts & Performance Manager - Worcester City Council
• Chief Executive Officer - Sports Partnership Herefordshire & Worcestershire
• Facility Relationship Manager - England Hockey
• Hub Team Manager - Worcester Community Trust
• Warndon Villages
• Nunnery Wood
• Perdiswell Colts
• Kingshurst Academy Trust
• University of Worcester