Football Ground is of a similar size to that of Staplehurst’s with the capacity to site 3 Adult size pitches subject to dimensions. There are currently 2 Adult Teams playing at the ground, however the predominant use is that of mini soccer teams of which there are 5 and 2 junior teams, all from HYFC. It is predicted that HYFC will add a further 5 teams for the 2008/09 season. Thee is a hard standing for car parking, the estimated capacity of which is 45 cars.

Staplehurst PC had tried three times to obtain funding before the football club came on board. Help was obtained from the Borough Council and plans were drawn up costing £1000. They looked at what was wanted from the building and costs associated, and decided on the following:

4 Changing Rooms with electric showers

Communal Area

Kitchen

14 Toilets Ladies and Gentlemen’s (including Disabled)

Educational Room

Officials Changing Room

The project has to be Junior lead and the Development plan and Business plan were both drawn up and agreed.

HYFC have already had their Development Plan agreed by the FA and will need to work with the Hawkinge Parish Council to update the Business Plan. 

Staplehurst PC are allocating £10,000 per year to the project.

Wimpy Homes have also donated £10,000 to the project.

Maidstone Borough Council has also allocated £65,000 towards the project.

The Staplehurst Football Clubs will also allocate £10,000.

The Football Foundation has agreed to pay £390,000.

The Parish Council then intend allocating £3,000 per year to be used for cutting of pitches and edges etc. this they thought was the best way forward as they are able to claim back VAT and also felt that as the ground is used for other recreational purposes it seemed reasonable for them to do.

HYFC intends to approach prospective investors to seek additional funding should it be required.

Hawkinge Parish Council have set aside £100,000 for their pavilion and have also spent £55,000 in bringing the pitches up to FA standard. The Parish Council have spent a considerable amount of funds on consultant fees for the present design (356 Sq m).

Staplehurst PC are ready to put the building of the pavilion out to fixed price tenders:

Pavilion - £472,000 (£1600 per sq m)

Fees - £52,000

Car Park - £20,000

Football Foundation have agreed 74% of cost

Staplehurst PC will have the pavilion built and their intentions once built is to lease it out to the Staplehurst football clubs on a 25 year lease which will start once building is handed over to the football clubs.

Staplehurst PC will be able to claim back the VAT for the building of the pavilion but the football clubs will need to pay VAT from when they receive the lease for the pavilion from the Parish Council. At this time there is a gentleman’s agreement between the Parish Council and the Football Clubs at Staplehurst regarding the building and lease of the pavilion.

Staplehurst PC intend to distance themselves from the pavilion following the handover and the responsibility for the pavilion and its maintenance with then be with the Football Club. There will be a member of the Parish Council on the Football Management Team. The Pavilion will be for sole use of the Staplehurst Football Clubs and they will rent out pitches, arrange fund raising, match fees (£1.00 per game), membership fees (£25.00 per year), sponsorship etc. to bring in the money that will be used for maintaining the pavilion and the running of the football club.

It will be the responsibility of the home team(s) to ensure that the building is opened and locked up at the end of the training / matches and to make sure that the building is cleaned and left ready for the next game / training session. Volunteers will be used for this to save on employing a cleaner. Marking of the pitches will be the responsibility of the Staplehurst football clubs, again this will be done on a voluntary basis by club members.

for copies of correspondence relating to Hawkinge Parish Council Football Grounds, click here

Staplehurst PC charges for use of Pitches:

Training Sessions – No Charge

Matches -

Senior Teams - £50.00 per game (post pavilion construction)

Junior Teams - £20.00 per game

Mini Soccer - £10.00 per game

There are no plans for floodlights at this time but it is something they will look at in the future.

Training Sessions – £28 per pitch, for all or part of a pitch used (upto3 hours)

Matches -

Senior Teams - £35.00 per game

Junior Teams - £28.00 per game

Mini Soccer - £28.00 per game

N.B. inadequate/no facilities available at start of 08/09 season.

Staplehurst Parish Council – felt if starting again they would work closer together as the costs will always be there and the speed of momentum is vital to drive to conclusion as costs will always rise the longer it takes.

Hawkinge Parish Council – found they have been pulling back when FA keep pushing for them to go ahead. Staplehurst PC were asked what would happen if they had to payback any of the loan from the Football Foundation due to ‘claw back’ clause? Staplehurst PC replied they could not envisage the Football Foundation initiating the ‘claw back’ clause as their emphasis would be to ensure the facility was used for footballing purposes and would focus on developing a resident Club. It was agreed that Staplehurst Parish Council and Football Club will e-mail Business Plan & Costing’s to Tina (Clerk to Hawkinge Parish Council) who will then forward to Jenny Davis HYFC Treasurer.