The LFP membership has been extended at the Group's request in order that previously under represented groups have a voice and an ability to be consulted in the same way as the original stakeholders.
In the development of the Strategy the LFP has extensively looked at REFF the evolving Liverpool Strategy, the F.A. National Facility Development Strategy and the F.A.'s Football Development Strategy.
From this a series of meetings have been held with key stakeholders on the basis of seeking the widest possible consultation. All of this information has helped formulate a list of priorities that have been assessed and approved by the LFP on the basis of:-
• Development Outcomes
• Value for money (number of participants against the cost of the project)
• Links to the community
• Long term sustainability
• Strategic alignment from football development to facilities
Throughout the consultation process research was undertaken on trends and affiliation, population, wards of deprivation and changing demographics.
In supporting REFF Liverpool F.A. has undertaken an extensive Local Authority based exercise which has identified key football development initiatives such as:-
• Charter Standard (Clubs and Schools)
• Tops
• Girl's and women's
• Disability
• Equity and Social Inclusion
• Education (Schools and Specialist Sports Colleges)
• Football in the Community
In addition to those outlined above other key local factors were taken into consideration representing the reality of football within the Liverpool LFP region and 13 key strategic objectives have been identified:-
1. Stop the decline in adult league football
2. Re-development of employer sponsored/private sports grounds
3. Strategic programme for the development of outdoor pitches and facilities
4. Geographical spread of facilities
5. Devolution of facility responsibility to clubs
6. Support the development of F.A. Community Clubs
7. Address the current under provision of Mini-Soccer pitches
8. Promote community use of school facilities
9. Provision of local community floodlit hard surface kick-a-bout areas
10. Recognise and support the growth of 5-a-side football
11. Promoting the women's game
12. Promoting the game to black and ethnic minority groups
13. Using football as a tool to promote social inclusion