Appendix 2 : Club Feedback WINCHESTER/SUB AREA 1 (covering Sub Areas 1 (Winchester), 2 (Kingsworthy) and 4 (Winchester Rural) Comments on demand Overall there is some perception that adult grass football is in decline. Whilst this may be the case with Saturday league football, and more teams now playing small sided games on artificial and indoor pitches, there is still a healthy Sunday football culture within and around Winchester and burgeoning youth teams. Saturday league sides – not a problem in accommodating these on Saturdays. One Saturday league team playing on school/education land at Sparsholt College Clubs in south of league often playing at Fleming Park and Fair Oak (Lansdown Park) but many cancellations with Southampton league and pitches so often end up coming up to Winchester and KGV for pitches. e.g.Grantham Arms – usually at Chandlers Ford but come up to use KGV. In summary the issues are identified as: There are a number of shared grounds, notably King George V, where early cessation of football pitches means difficulties in completing the season, especially for cup ties and meeting demand from postponed matches With only two floodlit surfaces in Winchester, meeting demand for midweek training is very difficult. There is expressed demand for additional floodlit synthetic surfaces and indoor training facilities. There is some conflict over the intensification of use of grass and hard surfaces with local residents, who object to floodlighting. The Strategy highlights the need for certain sites to be designated as being of importance to the pitch sports, where intensification (floodlighting, improved changing facilities) will be supported through the planning system. Clubs with 2 teams often split between grounds e.g. Upham (Kingsworthy and Upham), Accutec and FC Exchange 1 League feels that Winchester teams should have priority, and pitches should not be allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Specific sites: Hampshire CC ground in Chilcomb is used by Winchester City Women’s teams, a senior Saturday side and hosts some local cup and representative teams but is not generally available to meet demand on a regular basis from the Winchester Sunday league teams. It has been identified as requiring improvement Littleton & Harestock The Recreation Ground at Littleton caters for local senior and youth teams; no particular problems or issues have been identified. Olivers Battery The pitch here is sloping and not full size; both characteristics which the Parish Council would like to rectify. Winchester Garrison Ground Home to very popular Winchester Girls Youth FC and Winchester Utd Ladies; sometimes used by other Winchester Sunday league teams who cannot get a pitch elsewhere.. University This ground (2 adult football pitches) will be out of action for a while during construction of proposed athletics track. King George V 2 6 adult pitches, home to Winchester Saturday and Sunday league sides. As far as the Winchester Saturday and Sunday Leagues are concerned, there are seven available pitches for them to use in Winchester – 6 at KGV and 1 at Garrison Ground. There is no problem in accommodating Saturday sides, but the Sunday league has 3 divisions and many teams (with buoyant demand), meaning a maximum of 14 teams can be accommodated within the city. o This means the situation is very tight with no spare capacity and little flexibility for: o Accommodating new teams (3 new applications in for next season (2 Sun/1 Sat) o expansion of existing clubs o Meeting increased fixture pressure from cancellations etc o No time for rest & recovery o Sharing of ground with cricket means that pitches at KGV out of action for April and May – difficulty in meeting fixture schedule. There is a pitch available at Garrison Ground during this time but it struggles to accommodate all necessary matches. Length of cricket season also rules out pre-season friendlies. o Some waterlogging and poor drainage of KGV pitches in winter causes cancellations o Improvement required to changing rooms/pavilion at KGV Some concern at loss of adult pitches in favour of mini/junior pitches at North Walls and the Garrison Ground (now accommodating 7 and 3 mini pitches respectively). The leagues feel this is a short sighted policy, given that demand from youth and mini sides should translate to demand for larger pitches as the teams age. Some play wherever can get a pitch e.g Granley Rovers sometimes at Hunters Park and sometimes at Hursley IBM There is currently a ground without a home team at King George V Memorial Ground, Couch End, Itchen Valley Cricket 3 No issues identified. Have not been able to ascertain demand for cricket pitches in Winchester. Existing squares at North Walls and King George V cater for range of friendly and mid week teams. Poor changing rooms at King George V St Cross Symondians Cricket Club plays at the Green Jackets Cricket ground in Compton. They feel that Current council cricket pitches and facilities in Winchester are not up to the required standards and would like to see one good quality cricket ground and pavilion with modern facilities. They are currently negotiating to take on long term lease at St Cross, sports development officers at the Council are aware of this, we will then need major funding and financial support. Keen to see used by more schools and groups. Rugby Winchester Rugby Football Club Play at North Walls Playing Fields and they train at Nuns Road With a large number of children playing, if there are to many to host on our grounds we have to seek other areas, in very bad weather we have to seek indoor or astroturf areas Over use of the main pitch limits its use in poor weather, our other pitches suffer with training areas being at their base effecting the dead ball area and try lines Problems with drainage, grass cover and pitch quality Need funding to improve playing surfaces at Winchester RFC including irrigation for pitch 1 Would like to see a top quality pitch, an AWP and training area at Winchester RFC and an available indoor area Hockey Winchester Hockey Club Play at Kings School ATP 4 Kings School do not provide what we were looking for hence why we are changing venue for our after match hospitality The playing pitch is in good condition although the goals need repair, the shower facilities are appalling and hardly worth using them There seems to be a very large focus on football and rugby within Hampshire yet we are one of the most successful counties in the country and have also produced many national champions through school and club hockey Winchester U16 boys themselves were national indoor champions last season and that has brought many players to the club We would also like to see good indoor hockey venues, this can be any sports hall really but needs to have the lines marked on the floor and be able to provide hockey goals Indoor Hockey is one of the rising stars for England Hockey and will be pushed massively over the next year culminating in the return of England to the International Indoor competition in Jan 2008 in Sheffield If someone were to provide a good training venue now they could stand to make a lot of money Fleming Park have strong links with Indoor Hockey and I am co-director of a league that runs there on a Monday night which caters for juniors, ladies and men Sub Area 2 Kingsworthy Sub Area FOOTBALL Caters for village teams and some overflow from Winchester (e.g. Sparsholt FC playing at Sparsholt College). Current spare pitches at Crawley George Phillipi Memorial Sports Ground Play Area is becoming worn and in need of some replacement 5 Kingsworthy Poor changing facilities but pitches at Eversley Park make important contribution to supply for both Saturday and Sunday teams in the Winchester area (both Sat & Sun leagues). Club playing there says pitches says there is competition for the pitches from other teams in the Winchester area, suggesting demand not met within Winchester itself. Junior footballers needs are not met, according to Parish Council. (Hinton Fields may be 2 junior pitches associated with school, but limited access) Micheldever Improvements to both The Warren and Lord Rank Playing Field required. Proposals in hand for upgrading of Lord Rank pavilion and replacement of pavilion at The Warren. Team using Lord Rank Playing Field has currently disbanded, and trying to attract another team. However, problems of access to pavilion which belongs to the former FC. South Wonston Parish Council feels that 2 more football pitches needed; the pitches here are intensively used by range of Sat, Sun and youth sides Limited changing facilities; Swifts FC need a clubhouse: Pavilion has been identified by Parish Council as in need of Improved access, disabled toilets, upgrading changing facilities There is dual community use at the school site already but is inadequate Sparsholt No known activity other than at Sparsholt College which has 2 adult football pitches, 1 adult rugby pitch, a hockey pitch and a hard court marked for tennis. Well used by College Sparsholt FC (Sat side) play at Sparsholt College – they hire this because the Winchester council pitches get waterlogged so easily and they cannot fit in all of their home games. Moreover there are very few floodlit pitches for evening training in the Winchester area 6 Other community have use of the pitches e.g. HRFUW use the rugby pitch 4 times a year. Not sure about maintaining access and have no spare capacity Demand for ATP from e.g. Sparsholt College Hockey Team Wonston The Gratton Recreation Ground caters for senior Sat & Sun sides.