TECHNICAL


pitches was our first priority and, although we had attracted the funding necessary for the work to be completed, in part from Harrogate Borough Council, along with club funds that have been raised over the last ten years.” “S106 money [arising from building gains] is released to the council at pre-set times rather than as a lump sum, which creates an issue as 90% security of funding has to be in place as a condition for the project to proceed. This is hampering Phase 2, but we will continue to secure other funding sources.”


A field on the edge of Pannal village was identified as a potential home. Former arable land leased from the council, it had last been farmed up until 2017. “The club wished to retain its Pannal heritage,” Graham continues, “and we had been in talks with the council for more than ten years.” Pannal Sports JFC has expanded dramatically since its formation in 1966 - a seminal year for English football, when the national team lifted the FIFA World Cup on


home turf at Wembley. Their growth made the mission for a club base all the more critical.


“There is a lack of quality natural grass pitches in the area and our twenty junior teams play on several different sites currently, so everyone relishes the prospect of consolidating games at a purpose-built ground, with all facilities to hand and professionally maintained high-quality surfaces.”


A crowded calendar and other sporting commitments will prevent Pannal Community Park from hosting all club fixtures though. “County cup competitions will be staged there, and it will form a permanent base for our U5s to U8s and U9s, with all other teams rotating through the site,” says Graham, whose three sons have all played for the club.


One of Pannal Sports JFC’s priorities in attracting funding was to expand its mixed and female teams and to ensure the club has at least one Level 1 FA qualified coach per


team, Graham explains.


Another requirement restricted playing times to daylight hours. “No floodlighting is permitted in the valley in which the land sits,” says Graham, “which limits community use. Ideally, we would have wanted to create a 3G synthetic area as well as the natural grass pitches. That said, Harrogate Town AFC plays on a 3G, St John Fisher Catholic High School runs one, as does Rossett Sport Centre locally.” STRI are consulting on the project, laying out requirements and specifications for the site following initial soil sampling. “They have worked with us on putting together a programme of ongoing maintenance to ensure the continuing quality of the playing surfaces,” says Graham.


“The club has to show evidence to the Football Foundation that it has the cashflow to meet maintenance costs for the pitches and the clubhouse and we have to set up a sinking fund for this purpose.”


“Within the plan, we intend to recruit a part-


122 PC February/March 2019


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