Since the recent update provided in relation to the return of competitive grassroots football in line with FA Guidance, we have been in dialogue and have now received the following communication from Leicester City Council with regards to the return to affiliated football on some council facilities.

It is important impacted stakeholders read this statement in full to ensure grassroots football complies with local decisions, then make and communicate the necessary adjustments to fixture programmes over the coming weeks.

Leicester City Council – Statement on the use of Park Pitches

Asset owning clubs/organisations with their own facilities or approved Covid secure facilities, within the city boundaries can align to FA guidance, however within a parks setting the council needs to manage and adhere to government guidelines in relation to outdoor social gatherings, which is you should only socialise in groups of up to 6 people from multiple households. Gatherings larger than 6 should only take place if everyone is exclusively from 2 households or support bubbles and must not exceed 30 people. You should always socially distance from people outside of your household.

Therefore, we are unable to allow recreational football to align to FA guidance within a public setting such as Parks, this includes any whole team training or match play.

The City Council will review this position on the 11^th September and will communicate any changes then. The City Council will need a minimum of 2 weeks prior to any pitch being ready for match play to ensure all goalposts are up, grass has been cut and lines marked. So it is unlikely that any fixture can be played on a Park pitch prior to the end of September. Therefore, in the meantime, the advice is to plan any fixtures away from the City’s public parks. 

To be clear asset owning clubs/organisations with their own facilities within the city boundaries can align to FA guidance. This includes 3g pitches at venues such as Aylestone Recreation Ground, Riverside or New College.

We understand the disruption that this may cause to  leagues and teams, however the LCC need to ensure public settings can be controlled effectively in order to ensure public safety and preventing the spread of Covid-19. This decision was not taken lightly and subject to government guidance changing we hope that any disruption is minimised and football can return to Council Parks.

Sites not open and under review till 11th September: 

• Aylestone Playing Fields , 101 Braunstone Lane East 
• Aylestone Recreation Ground North, Knighton Lane East. 
• Aylestone Recreation Ground South, Knighton Lane East. 
• Davenport Road Playing Fields, Davenport Road (hoping to be open earlier)
• Employees Sports Ground, Braunstone Lane East (hoping to be open earlier)
• Hamilton Park Football, 100 Sandhills Ave  (not including fenced off stadia pitch)
• Knighton Park / Welford Road Playing Fields Pavilion, Brighton Avenue 
• Narborough Road Playing Fields 
• Rushey Fields Recreation Ground, Harrison Road 
• Sturdee Road, Hillsborough Road 
• Victoria Park, London Road. 
• Western Park, Hinckley Road 
• Willowbrook Park, Colthurst Way