New plan sets out scale of football facility shortfall in Flintshire with ten sites identified for investment
Flintshire has half the number of full-size 3G football pitches it needs for its current player base, according to a new plan that identifies three priority sites for new pitches at Deeside Leisure Centre, Hawarden High School and St David’s High School in Saltney.
The Flintshire Local Football Facility Plan, published on Monday by the Cymru Football Foundation and Football Association of Wales, found the county has four full-size 11-versus-11 3G artificial grass pitches against a minimum requirement of eight.
The plan uses a model which sets one full-size 3G pitch as sufficient to support 800 registered players.
With 5,676 players registered at clubs based in Flintshire, the plan identifies a shortfall of four pitches.
The four existing full-size pitches are at Broughton FC, Connah’s Quay Sports Centre, Holywell High School and Flint Town United.
Deeside Leisure Centre is listed as a priority site for a new full-size 3G pitch to serve Connah’s Quay Tigers, Connah’s Quay Town FC and Shotton Town United Juniors.
The plan states the current full-size grass pitch at Deeside Leisure Centre is overused and that a new 3G pitch would complement the existing small-sided provision, which is being resurfaced.
Hawarden High School is identified for a new 3G pitch to serve Hawarden Rangers FC and Hawarden Park FC, a club which plays exclusively in the women’s game.
The plan states the school currently has a poor quality 2G artificial pitch that needs replacing, that the hockey club is moving away from the site, and that the school is supportive of 3G provision.
St David’s High School in Saltney is the third priority site, identified to serve Saltney Town FC and Broughton United FC, both described as large clubs with women and girls’ provision.
The plan notes the school is in a priority area for deprivation and is being redeveloped as part of a school refurbishment programme, with a 3G pitch under consideration as part of that work.
The plan projects that player numbers in Flintshire will grow by around 1,989 by the 2030/31 season, which would create demand for a further three pitches on top of the current shortfall.
By 2035/36, an estimated additional 3,978 players could be registered in the county.
Flintshire currently has 35 affiliated clubs with 5,676 registered players, including 989 women and girls.
Player numbers have grown by 986, or 21 per cent, since the 2022/23 season.
Women and girls’ registrations have risen by 302, a 44 per cent increase over the same period.
Eleven clubs in Flintshire have more than 200 registered players: Mynydd Isa FC, Broughton United FC, Buckley Town FC, Penyffordd Football Club, Hawarden Rangers FC, Mold Alexandra FC, Holywell Town FC, Deeside Dragons FC, Connah’s Quay Nomads FC, Halkyn United FC and Saltney Town FC.
The plan also identifies priority projects for changing rooms and clubhouses at four sites.
Argoed Sports and Social Club is listed for improved changing facilities, linked to a new school development in the area that will include a new full-size 3G pitch, to support Mynydd Isa FC and its women and girls’ teams.
Care and Repair Sports Ground in Shotton is identified for new changing provision to serve several clubs on the site, including women and girls’ teams, with the plan noting it falls within an area ranked among the 30 per cent most deprived in Wales.
Dock Road is listed for new facilities to replace poor quality container changing rooms, to support Connah’s Quay Tigers, which provides for players with disabilities.
MKB Stadium in Mold, home to Mold Alexandra FC, appears in both the ancillary facilities and grass pitch improvement lists.
The plan states the club lacks security of tenure at the site, which prevents it from improving facilities, and that the current pitch quality is poor.
Hawarden Park is also listed for grass pitch improvement, with grassland proposed to be developed into a full-size 11-versus-11 pitch for a women’s team that currently has only a smaller 9-versus-9 pitch available at Hawarden Park Cricket Club.
The plan notes an expression of interest for CFF funding has already been submitted for the Hawarden Park project.
For recreational facilities, the Holywell area is listed as a priority, with the plan noting Flintshire County Council has carried out initial consultation and identified a possible conversion of old tennis courts in the Holway area.
Of 18 grass pitch assessments carried out by the Grounds Management Association in Flintshire, none were rated Advanced, three were rated Good, eleven were rated Basic and four were rated Unclassified or Poor.
A quarter of clubs in Flintshire rated their pitches as poor quality in a survey conducted as part of the plan, and a third rated their ancillary facilities, including changing rooms and clubhouses, as poor.
The Cymru Football Foundation has supported 19 projects in Flintshire since 2022, with a total grant value of £811,000.
That investment has funded one new 3G pitch, two new or upgraded ancillary facilities and 16 grass pitch improvement or equipment projects.
Flintshire is ranked the 21st most deprived local authority in Wales.
Aled Lewis, Director at the Cymru Football Foundation, said:
“We’re excited to reveal our local football facility plans to help shape the future of facility investment across Cymru.
“These plans will shape future conversations and partnerships with football clubs, leagues, Area Associations and Local Authorities to successfully implement and deliver priority facility projects and we’re looking forward to working together to invest into facilities that will have a positive impact.”
Across Wales, the FAW and CFF are calling for £150 million to be invested in football facilities over the next five years.
The Wales-wide shortfall in full-size 3G pitches currently stands at 51, a figure the plan projects will rise to 119 within five years if growth continues at its current rate.
The full Flintshire Local Football Facility Plan can be viewed below:
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