| Football is
widely regarded as the ‘National Game’ in
the UK. The Football Association (FA)
strategy for developing football in England
is called ‘The national Game’ and this
states that football is currently the
biggest team sport in England with an
estimated 6.8 million regular players, 3.9
million of whom are children and young
people. |
| Current trends
identified in the national strategy are a
growth in mini-soccer, youth football,
5-a-side football, disability football, and
girls and women’s football, but a decline in
adult male 11-aside football. |
| The Football
Development Strategy sets out priorities and
actions to increase participation in
football. Participation in physical activity
is also a key priority in the Children and
Young People’s Plan, Community Sports and
Physical Activity Network and the
development plan for the School Sports
Partnership. |
| A Cultural
Strategy for Kingston 2008 -2012, ‘The Best
Place to Live’ is the key document which
sets out the broader strategy. Two of its
aims are particularly relevant as they seek
to increase participation in cultural
activities and encourage volunteering into
cultural organisations. |
| Football in
Kingston is the largest participation sport
(source Active People Survey 2006) and is a
route to fitness and recreation for many
local residents. |
| However there
are a number of challenges to be faced if
football is to continue to be relevant to
modern life. The infrastructure needs to be
there to support modern patterns of use and
travel times; the club structure needs to be
revitalised and the connections to young
people need to be stronger. Standards of
coaching and support for skills development
need to be improved. |
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The
Football Development Strategy is divided
into 4 inter-linked sections:
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1.
Pitches, Pavilions and Open Spaces |
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2.
Clubs, Coaching and
Referees |
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3.
Developing Young
People’s Potential Through Football |
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Each section has a summary at the end
identifying priorities for action |
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The strategy has been developed in
consultation with key clubs and
organisations in the Borough and progress
will be monitored and evaluated by a
steering group consisting of: |
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Sports Council
Kingston School Sports
Partnership
Fulham Football Club
Surrey FA
Kingstonian Football Club
Corinthian Casuals
Chessington and Hook
United
Dinton Field Trust
Kingston
Little League
Kingston University
Kingston College
Quadron Services
(grounds maintenance)
Kingston and
District Referees Society |
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1.
Pitches Pavilions & Open Spaces
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Pitches
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For football to prosper suitable pitches
must be maintained and it must be possible
for anyone who wants to play regularly to be
able to find a venue to play. Consultation
has indicated that Kingston’s pitches are
operating near capacity at peak times. |
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In recent years Kingston’s stock of pitches
has increased and improved – going against
the national trend where pitches have been
lost. Kingston has seen the development of
Dinton Field as a centre for football for
young people with 6 pitches used by schools,
Kingston Little League and KIngstonian
Youth. Multi-Use Games Areas, suitable for
football have also been installed in key
locations such as Dickerage Adventure
Playground and several schools. Kingston’s
pitches, particularly in the South of the
Borough, have been susceptible to drainage
problems, but in recent years this has been
addressed to some extent by improvements to
grounds maintenance, particularly at
Chessington and Hook United and at council
owned pitches maintained by Quadron
Services. |
There has been a severe shortage of
five-a-side football pitches until recently
but two sites (Deckers and Old Bevonians)
are likely to come into use as
‘for-hire’
private facilities which should help to
address this shortfall. Good five a side
pitches are currently available at
Kingsmeadow stadium and a number of schools
(including Holyfield, Tiffin Girls) have
outdoor Multi-User Games Areas (MUGAs)
suitable for five a side which can be hired. |
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In addition to the main football clubs’
pitches the council offers the following
pitches for public use:- |
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Senior Pitches |
Mini Pitches |
Junior Pitches |
| Alexander Rec. Ground |
2 |
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| Beverley Park |
2 |
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| Churchfields Rec. Ground Senior |
2 |
1 |
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| Fairfield Rec. Ground |
4 |
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| King Edwards Rec. Ground |
4 |
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| King Georges Field |
4 |
6 |
3 |
| Kingston Road Rec. Ground |
2 |
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| Latchmere Rec. Ground |
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3 |
3 |
| Manor Park |
2 |
2 |
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| Victoria Park |
2 |
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| Hawker Centre |
1 |
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| Din Field |
2 |
4 |
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These are running at near capacity,
particularly at the weekends. |
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A number of schools also have pitches on
their attached or detached playing fields.
These are occasionally hired to local
football clubs. |
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A full condition survey of local public
pitches has been conducted on behalf of
Quadron Services by STRI (Sport Turf
research Institute) and the details are
available as an annex to this strategy on
the Kingston Council website. |
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Pitch surveys and consultation identifies
the following priorities:- |
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(i) Five-a-side provision
(ii) Floodlight
training pitches for the major clubs
(iii) Increasing the number of Multi-Use
Games Areas, particularly in areas where
there are a few available
(Tolworth,
Chessington, New Malden)
(iv) Increasing
the number of full sized pitches available
at weekends
(v) Increasing
extra-curricular usage of school pitches by
community football clubs. |
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Pavilions
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Dinton Field is an example of a good new
pavilion. It was funded by the Football
Foundation, London Marathon Charitable Trust
and Kingston Council. The pavilion is built
to a high standard and the Dinton Field
trust (a charitable company set up to run
the pavilion and field) is committed to
maintaining and improving the fields to
support youth football. However, many of the
older pavilions are in need of renovation –
the recent closure of Latchmere Pavilion is
an indication of the issues here. There is a
need to support the provision of new
pavilions such as the University Playing
Fields Project, and to ensure existing
pavilions are well maintained or
re-furbished. This may require partnership
funding or the identification of external
capital.
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Open
Spaces
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A Green and Open spaces strategy has been
developed by Kingston Council and its
partners. A draft is available at
www.kingston.gov.uk/staging/browse/environment/parks/green_spaces_strategy.htm |
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The draft strategy states that: |
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“Within the borough there are currently
19 senior football pitches, and 16 junior or
‘little league’ pitches. The pitch booking
and operational management are the
responsibility of Quadron Services. At
present the demand for football pitches by
organised clubs outstrips the supply of
pitches in the borough. The consequence of
this is that the existing stock is
over-used, to the detriment of the quality
of the pitches. In addition there is
unorganised use when matches are not being
played, which further adds to the wear and
tear. This is a major issue in itself, as
the pitch usage cannot be easily monitored
or controlled. |
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Measures must be put in place to ensure
these issues are tackled, and that good
quality usage can be sustained over the
period of this strategy. |
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A review of
Kingston council’s football pitch stock has
been carried out by our
grounds
maintenance partners, Quadron Services, to
assist in the preparation of a playing pitch
assessment. This assessment will tackle
problem issues such as drainage, pitch usage
and renovation requirements, and will be
constantly monitored and amended to keep
pace with current need. |
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The playing pitch assessment will be the
tool for determining what provision of
sports pitches is needed; the Green Spaces
Strategy will deal with the management of
sports facilities where they exist in parks
and green spaces. |
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To realign the current service
arrangements a review will be carried out to
improve the current pricing policy and pitch
booking system and will be readjusted
annually. There will be a resistance to long
term leasing unless self-managed
arrangements are put in place that reflect
annual increases. |
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We also have 5-a-side goals available
for more informal use at a number of Sites,
including Manor Park, Athelstan Recreation
Ground, Elm Road Recreation Ground, and the
newly renovated Cromwell open space. These
facilities are enjoyed by the younger
generations.” |
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The open land which is designated for
recreational use may provide some
opportunities to extend football pitch
provision. This would be dependent on the
identification of capital and revenue
funding to support their development. One
such example is Lovelace Playing Fields.
These were formerly the detached playing
fields for Chessington Community College,
but since the loss of the pavilion through
vandalism more than ten years ago the
pitches have not been used. The pitches
would need drainage work to be brought back
into use, and a pavilion would be required.
Therefore any revitalisation of this space
for football would be depending on funding
and partnership working. |
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Pitches,
Pavilions and Open Spaces – Actions
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Work with partner organisations to support
an increase in five-a-side provision,
maximising community use; |
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Support within planning guidelines and the
consultative planning process, the
aspiration of local clubs to find suitable
local floodlight training space |
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Support schools and local football clubs,
within planning guidelines and the
consultative planning process, in proposals
to increase the number of multi-user games
areas, particularly in areas where there is
currently a deficiency (Tolworth,
Chessington, New Malden, and the use of
school pitches outside school hours); |
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Carry out a condition survey and review
maintenance arrangements for pavilions |
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Review open spaces and school pitch
provision to Increase the number of full
sized pitches available at weekends. |
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Premier
League
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Fulham FC, as the nearest premier league
football club, operate the FA’s Football in
the Community scheme in the Kingston area. |
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Fulham offers a range of activities through
the Fulham Community Sports Trust. These
include programmes such as ‘Kickz Project’
encouraging young disadvantaged children
into the game, and coaching courses. Fulham
employs development officers to support
greater participation by women, girls and
people with disabilities, activities which
are supported by Kingston CSPAN action plan.
Fulham also operates after school provision
in a number of Kingston Schools. |
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www.fulhamfc.com/Club/CommunitySportsTrust/FulhamInTheCommunity.aspx |
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AFC
Wimbledon
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AFC Wimbledon purchased the tenancy of
Kingsmeadow stadium from the owner of
Kingstonian in 2003. The club was formed by
fans of Wimbledon FC when the registered
Club moved to Milton Keynes. AFC Wimbledon
is run by a Supporters Trust and sees the
involvement of Trust members as vital to the
continued growth of the club. Trust members
contribute to the day to day running of the
club and to the up keep of the ‘Fans
Stadium’ (Kingsmeadow). AFC Wimbledon
currently play in the Ryman Premier League
and have a large number of teams playing in
all levels, primarily based in Merton. |
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www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/index.php?Psection_id=1 |
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Kingstonian
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In 2003 Kingston Council issued the
following press statement: |
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“The Council has a clear and consistent
view on Kingstonian FC and Kingsmeadow. We
see Kingstonian FC as an important part of
the Royal Borough's history and tradition.
We want to see Kingstonian continue to play
their football at Kingsmeadow and we will
use whatever influence we have to achieve
this goal.” |
Kingstonian are based at Kingsmeadow. The
K’s have a long and proud history, their
most recent achievements being victory
(twice) in the FA Trophy.
They currently
play in the Ryman League Division One
(South) |
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Kingstonian also has a growing youth
section. The Club has recently acquired FA
Charter Standard Development Club status and
has expanded its youth provision to 22
teams, indicating its ambitions to work in
developing football in the local community. |
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Kingstonian Youth are based primarily at
Dinton Field where the younger teams play on
Sundays. |
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www.kingstonian.net/index.jsp |
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www.kingstonianyouth.com |
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Corinthian
Casuals
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Corinthian Casuals are the area’s leading
amateur side, with a long and proud history
stretching back to the nineteenth century.
They play at the council owned King George’s
Fields and operate a broad range of sides
from Under-9 to a ladies side and the full
side which currently plays in the Ryman
League Division One (South) |
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www.corinthian-casuals.com/news.php |
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Chessington and Hook United
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Chessington & Hook United F.C. are based in
Chessington at Chalky Lane. They joined the
Combined Counties Football League in 1997
having been established in 1953. They are
currently members of the Combined Counties
Football League Premier Division. The club
runs a large youth team section from
under-7s upwards and also caters for even
younger players at Saturday morning
mini-soccer sessions at the club. |
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www.chessingtonhookunitedfc.co.uk |
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Kingston
and District League
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This is the largest league in Kingston –
with six divisions of amateur men’s
football. Games are played at public or
private hired pitches. The website at
www.kdfl.org.uk gives details of the
structure of the leagues and many of the
individual clubs have websites (eg
www.dynamokingstonfc.co.uk ). |
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With each league having 10 or 11 sides, and
most clubs having between 15 and 20 regular
players this represents over 1,000 amateur
adult footballers. |
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Football
Coaching in Kingston - FA Charter Standard
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Football coaching is an essential element in
improving standards in the game. One of the
primary aims of the strategy for developing
football in Kingston is to encourage clubs
to achieve FA Charter standard (Kingstonian
Youth currently have this status).
www.thefa.com/GrassrootsOld/ClubDevelopment/CharterStandardScheme/ |
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This sets standards of coaching,
administration and child protection for
clubs working with young people. As a
benchmark for quality, it will improve the
playing experience for all. |
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FA
Charter Criteria
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The FA, in conjunction with various bodies,
has drawn up the following set of criteria
for clubs wishing to reach Charter Standard:
• A written constitution
• FA CRB
checked volunteers
• All managers to have
minimum of FA Level 1 Coaching Course
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Commitment to attend in-service training
• Acceptance and promotion of Codes of
Conduct
• Commitment to provide
Mini-Soccer opportunities for Under 10s
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Commitment to promote schools liaison and
equal opportunities for all |
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FA
Charter Benefits
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Clubs that are successful in achieving the
Charter will get access to a range of
benefits:
• Use of Charter Standard Crest
• Exclusive Workshops
• Umbro Kit
and Equipment Grants
• National and
Regional Awards
• Access to FA
McDonald's coaching awards
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Certificates
• Starter Pack, including
posters, Codes of Conduct, Certificates
•
FA Coaching courses are held at Dinton
Field. |
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Kingstonian Youth have Charter status. The
strategy seeks to support other clubs in
achieving this status, recognising that the
barriers include the cost of the coaching,
CRB checks etc. |
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Refereeing in
Kingston
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Referees perform a vital role in the game,
and with the growth in the popularity of
football, particularly for women and
children, the demand for match officials is
increasing. |
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The Football Association estimates that in
some areas of the country, 20 per cent of
games are played without a qualified match
official. |
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The first stage involved in becoming a
referee is to register with the Surrey
County Football Association and the second
stage is to attend a basic Referees Course.
Refereeing courses take place at Dinton
Field under the umbrella of Surrey County
FA. |
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Details of pathways into becoming a referee
are available through the FA website: |
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www.thefa.com/GrassrootsNew/Referee/ |
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Clubs,
Coaches and Referees – Actions
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Support clubs to work towards FA Charter
Standard |
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Ensure sufficient courses are available to
continue to develop coaches and referees |
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3.
Developing
young people’s potential through football
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The government has recognised the importance
of physical activity to young people’s
health and personal development by setting
targets for the time spent on high quality
physical activity. All young people will be
expected to take part in 2 hours of physical
activity in and out of school by 2010. |
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In Kingston this target is well on the way
to being met. Currently the focus is on
sport and physical activity in curriculum
time but from 2008 extra-curricular activity
will also be measured. This provides a great
opportunity for football clubs and
organisations in the borough to work in
partnership with schools and youth
organisations to increase e participation. |
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In Dinton Field Kingston has already
established a centre of excellence – a venue
which is exclusively designed to support
football for young people, and where the FA
coaching certificates are being taught. |
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Within the borough are also a range of
Little League organisations – Kingston, New
Malden and Tolworth. These organisations
provide an entry point into football without
the pressure that surrounds more competitive
club football. Little Leagues also provide a
soft entry route for adults to volunteer
into support sport and to gain coaching
competence, CRB checks etc which will help
them progress, if they want, into more
formal football coaching. |
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Kingston has a fully developed School Sports
Partnership which provides support through a
network of PE teachers, Continuing
Professional Development and competitions
for both curricular and extra curricular
activity. |
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Kingston also has a number of more major
clubs with youth sections – notably
Kingstonian, Corinthian Casuals, Chessington
and Hook United and AFC Wimbledon. These
clubs have developed their coaching capacity
in recent years which has enabled them to
expand the number of youth teams they can
support and to develop summer schools and
provision for younger age ranges. |
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Fulham FC has the FA Community football Club
status and provide after school coaching in
a number of local schools. |
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As part of extended schools provision, local
schools are increasingly looking to provide
a wider range of after school physical
activity. There are opportunities for the
clubs to work in cooperation with the
Kingston Schools Sports Partnership to link
more closely with extended schools in
future. The outcomes sought would be to
improve the standard of coaching in
curriculum and after school provision
(particularly working with clubs which have
achieved or are working towards the FA
Charter Mark) , and to provide progression
routes for children to move from schools
football to club football. |
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Developing Young People’s Potential Through
Football – Actions
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Support the
development of coaching
qualifications and CRB checking
procedures for all clubs in the
borough, and increase the number of
clubs which have or are working
towards the FA Charter Mark |
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Increase
liaison between Kingston School
Sports Partnership and local clubs
and organisations to improve school/
club links to (a) support the
development of inter-school and
borough competitions, (b) develop
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Provide better
support for schools to assist them in
identifying and developing higher quality
after-school football coaching |
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4.
Football For All;
Ensuring That Everyone Can Participate
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Kingston has established
a Community Sports Physical Activity Network
(CSPAN) which is chaired by the CEO of
Kingston Voluntary Action. Representatives
of all the key organisations involved in
sport sit on the CSPAN which has developed
an action plan for Kingston. This has
identified the following priorities locally
for developing sports participation and
excellence: |
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Key aims within the
Kingston CSPAN action plan include: |
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•
to increase the number of disabled young
people and adults taking part in Sport,
exercise and active recreation; |
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• to
increase the number of girls and women who
take part in sport and leisure activities. |
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Football for people with
disabilities
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The Community Sports and
Physical Activity Network action plan
identifies people with disabilities as a
priority group and resources are being
targeted to increase participation by people
with disabilities or additional needs. Some
delivery exists through Active Kingston, and
this needs to be extended and made
sustainable. |
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Working in particular
with Special Olympics Surrey (S.O.S) to
develop football teams from juniors to
adults to train and play with opportunities
to develop inter-borough matches and
competitions. |
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There is a clear need
to work with cubs and schools to improve
opportunities for participation by young
people and adults with disabilities. The
CSPAN action plan will identify tasks and
projects which will have increased
participation as a key outcome, and
measurement of impact (eg achievement in
school PE). |
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Football For Women
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Kingston has a developing women’s
football scene, at the heart of which is a
growth in girl’s football at schools. |
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A good source of information on the web,
including coverage of Kingston’s adult
women’s clubs (Corinthian Casuals and
Surbiton Town) is the online magazine ‘She
Kicks’. |
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www.shekicks.net/ground2ground/index.php?mode=fixtures&league_id=108&team_id=3996 |
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Several of the area’s clubs (including
Kingstonian, AFC Wimbledon, Corinthian
Casuals and Chessington and Hook United)
also offer girl’s youth teams. |
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In
consulting with football clubs in the area
it was clear that there is a need to focus
on girls football and to make more effective
links between the clubs and schools to
encourage more girls and young women into
football and through to the clubs. |
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In
order for women’s football to thrive
improved links between clubs and schools are
required and this is a priority within the
CSPAN and through the Schools Sports
Partnership. |
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Football for Black
and Minority Ethnic groups
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Kingston has the largest Korean community in
Europe, with upwards of 10,000 people of
Korean origin living in the Borough. A large
number of Koreans play football regularly at
the weekend in parks in the New Malden area.
There are some formal arrangements;
particularly through church-based teams who
compete have competed in the past at the
Korean Festival. |
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There is also an
established Korean Football Academy at
Worcester Park. The first evidence of
pathways to higher levels for local Korean
footballers was the emergence of David Shin
as a professional player for Kingstonian FC
in the Ryman League in 2006/7. |
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Football is also played through the main
ethnic cultural organisations in the
borough, including the Gujarati School on
Friday evenings and the Tamil Institute of
Culture (Saturday mornings). |
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Football
For All - Actions
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Increase
participation in football amongst
people with learning or physical
disabilities through partnership
work with leisure providers,
voluntary sector and community
organisations; |
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Increase the number of
girls who play football and support clubs in
the development of girls football teams; |
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Improve links between BME football
provision and clubs and schools. |
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Return Links |
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Return to
Top
of page /
Pitches, Pavilions and Open Spaces /
Clubs, Coaching and
Referees / Developing Young
People’s Potential Through Football /
Football For All;
Ensuring That Everyone Can Participate /
Active
Kingston Section |
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