The idea
Across West Oxfordshire there is a desperate need for more football pitches & training venues. Player participation and team development are booming, following an explosion in popularity of the women's game. A recent study by West Oxfordshire District Council and Oxfordshire FA concluded:
1. There is insufficient supply of full size 3G pitches to meet current and future demand for affiliated football team training in West Oxfordshire.
2. Based on the FA model, there is a current shortfall of 4 full size 3G pitches and a future shortfall of 5 across West Oxfordshire. When considering demand on an analysis area basis, there is a current and future shortfall of 4 full size 3G pitches.
This project develops existing facilities to increase capacity for football training & games. Enabling clubs to continue recruiting players and developing teams. Working together with existing facility providers: schools, clubs and councils.
With the funding we will purchase a storage container & goals.
What we'll deliver
- Create new teams to reduce the waiting list
- Provide a venue for our summer tournament
- Provide a venue for social events, workshops etc
- On-site storage container
- Goals
Why it's a great idea
With 700 players, 40 teams and 100 volunteers, Witney Vikings Youth FC is one of the largest grassroots clubs in Oxfordshire. But team development is being choked by facility availability. Over the last 3 years our waiting list has ballooned to 250 boys and girls.
By increasing pitch capacity for football training and games, we can continue to recruit beginners and develop teams for young girls and boys. We can clear the waiting list by creating new teams for our most popular ages i.e. Under 10 and 11.
Additionally we can develop our 5 community programmes: Teeny Tiny Vikings, Tiny Vikings, FA Witney Wildcats, FA Ladies Just Play and FA Comets. We would like to offer Walking Football and more sessions for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
We are a 50-year-old family club and everything we do is for the community. A huge number of boys and girls will benefit directly from this project. It will also have a positive impact on our hardworking volunteers.
Steps to get it done
- Relaunch summer tournament
- Reduce waiting list
