Grass pitch application pack

Introduction

This information is a guide to inform football teams using a North Tyneside Council grass pitches about the service standards to be expected and what we expect from football teams.

There are some changes from previous seasons so we ask that you read through the information carefully before signing the terms and conditions. If you have any questions, please contact Active North Tyneside:

• Email: football@northtyneside.gov.uk
• Telephone: 0191 643 7171 (weekend contact number: 07815 655 247)

The team is available 9am-5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am–4pm Friday. 

Service charter

Football pitches and facilities

North Tyneside Council is committed to providing quality services to its customers. The following points outline the standards we have set for our football pitches and facilities:

• A clean and safe environment
• Pitches and facilities to be free from vandalism, graffiti and litter
• Well-maintained changing rooms
• Changing rooms are clean, tidy and available for use when required
• Providing sufficient warm water for shower users
• Ensuring toilets are clean, stocked with consumables and inspected on a regular basis
• Well-maintained football pitches
• Ensuring posts are in accordance with FA rules and requirements
• Maintaining playing pitches to provide a good, safe playing surface

*Please note weather can severely impact the above from October–February*

Administration 

• Efficient and effective administration, bookings and management
• Provision for enquiries during office hours 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, and 9am to 4pm on Friday via 0191 643 7171
• Outside these hours, Leisure Assistants can be contactable via Facebook and mobile (07815 544 247)
• Provision for the booking of pitches 9am on Mondays to 12pm on Wednesdays
• Accurate and prompt administration including processing of invoices, receipts and booking forms
• Seeking customer views to improve the service

Any issues associated with the administration and management of football bookings, please email football@northtyneside.gov.uk

We expect our customers to treat our team courteously, respect other facility users and preserve our football pitches and changing facilities.

Pitch allocation timeline

Pitch allocation policy

The criteria for the allocation of grass football pitches are as follows:

• Allocations will be made per team
• Applications from teams with an outstanding debt will not be considered
• The longest standing teams will be given preference
• Teams to be allocated a pitch (where available), subject to having complied with all rules and regulations
• Applications will be considered within the context of the statements set out above and equal opportunity will therefore be offered to all teams
• Late applications will only be considered after all other allocations have been completed, including the allocation of pitches to new teams
• In the event of the demand for pitches outweighing the supply, teams who have been unsuccessful in their application will be advised to contact other pitch providers, which may include schools/education sites and other private providers
• We will support your team in exploring suitable alternative venues

Terms and conditions

Governing the hire of grass football pitches, season 2026/2027

1. All registered clubs wishing to hire a football pitch must be affiliated to the Northumberland Football Association (0191 270 0700 / www.northumberlandfa.com)
2. Applications from teams with an outstanding debt will not be considered.
3. Applications must be received by 27 April 2026. The completion of applications is the sole responsibility of the football team. Teams will be sent a confirmation email once in receipt of a completed application form prior to the deadline. Any applications received after the deadline will be considered but determined as late and may not result in first and/or second choice venue being allocated. We may also be unable to allocate any venue, dependant on capacity.
4. The football season will begin 1 August 2026. The season will officially end on 23 May 2027 or earlier if advised.
5. The team must play only on the pitch allocated to them at the specified time slot (am/pm).
6. It is the teams responsibility to arrange fixtures to fit in with those of any other team, which may be allocated the same pitch.
7. Any double booking of allocated football pitches must be resolved by either the league secretary or secretary of each individual football team concerned.
8. An invoice for football pitch hire will be issued and must be paid by the due date. Any team that does not meet their payment by the date specified will be deemed to have broken the terms and conditions governing the hire of football pitches and as such will have access to the use of facilities withdrawn with immediate effect. In addition, the league secretary will be informed, and a pitch will not be reallocated once debt recovery has commenced.
9. All team secretaries must complete the football pitch booking form with their weekly fixtures no later than 12pm on the Wednesday prior to the fixture. Midweek fixtures should be booked by 12pm Wednesday of the week prior. Any teams failing to meet this deadline may not be allocated a pitch or changing accommodation.
10. All teams, players and officials take part in the game at their own risk. North Tyneside Council does not accept liability for injuries sustained during the course of the game. Teams shall, therefore, indemnify the Council against any claim, liability, loss or proceedings whatsoever, arising under statute or common law in respect of personal injury or death of any persons, or damage to any property arising out of or which may alleged to arise out of or in the course of the use of the facilities, or premises by the organiser, unless due to any act or neglect of the Council or of any person for whom the Council is responsible.
11. Teams shall obtain and pay the premium for an approved insurance against those liabilities specified above. This is provided through affiliation to the NFA (see clause 1).
12. Teams must produce when reasonably required a current affiliation number.
13. Notification of any change of secretary, team name, league, or disbanding teams must be sent in writing immediately to football@northtyneside.gov.uk
14. Intimidation or abuse of a Council employee will not be tolerated, particularly over the decision as to whether the pitch is fit for play. Any such behaviour may result in the club concerned being refused access to Council facilities and Northumberland Football Association being notified.
15. Users of Council facilities should park their vehicles in such a manner as to allow adequate access for emergency services. Vehicles should be parked in accordance with local parking regulations and not in a way which causes annoyance or inconvenience to the occupiers of any private property. Where car parking facilities are inadequate users should not park on grassed areas adjacent to designated parking areas or entrances.
16. The Local Authority accepts no responsibility for the loss of or damage to vehicles or for payment of any fixed penalty notices issues whilst on Council land. Parked vehicles, whether in a designated parking area or not, are left entirely at the owners’/drivers’ own risk.
17. All organisations working with juniors must ensure all coaches and volunteers are vetted through an enhanced DBS check. Failure to comply with this will result in facilities being withdrawn with immediate effect. (All teams with players under the age of 18 must contact the NFA for procedures and guidelines). A list of all persons cleared through DBS must be provided on request.
18. No rebates are made in respect of cancelled fixtures due to unforeseen circumstances i.e. damage to playing surfaces or equipment or when the pitch is considered unplayable due to bad weather conditions. In addition, if a team disbands after the commencement of fixtures no refunds will be given.
19. The Local Authority does not hold itself responsible for any loss/damage to property of the team, players or officials that take place on land or premises owned by the Local Authority. All property remains at the owner’s risk.
20. All contracts of hire are subject to the ground not being required by the Local Authority for other purpose.
21. Team secretaries are held responsible for the actions of both the home and the away team at the time of the fixture. As the signatory on the terms and conditions the secretary will be held responsible for any costs incurred. It is therefore advised that all players are made aware of the terms and conditions.
22. Team managers must familiarise themselves and communicate with all team members (and away team) of the content displayed on the Health and Safety notice board.
23. All reservations or complaints regarding pitches and facilities must be made in writing to the Leisure and Wellbeing Team Leader at football@northtyneside.gov.uk

Conditions of pitch hire

• No league or cup games will be allowed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, or New Years Day. Christmas closure dates will be 26 and 27 December 2026 and 2 and 3 January 2027. No league or cup games will be allowed on 28 March 2027 (Easter Sunday).
• Matches played on Bank Holidays will be subject to an additional charge.
• A maximum of 20 home games will be allowed unless agreed with League Secretaries.
• Two pre-season friendly matches will be allowed on the allocated pitch from weekend 18 and 19 July 2026.
• Training on any grass playing pitch managed by Active North Tyneside is strictly prohibited. Any team found to be doing this will find their use of facilities withdrawn with immediate effect and will not be eligible for a refund of any fees paid.
• Sub-letting is strictly prohibited.
• If it is found that the pitch is being misused, underused or not being used by the team it has been allocated to, the club or team in question will forfeit their allocation for that pitch for the following season and may lose use of the pitch with immediate effect.
• The decision regarding the cancellation of football pitches due to inclement weather is the responsibility of North Tyneside Council.
• To confirm whether a pitch is available for play or cancelled due to extreme weather conditions/unforeseen circumstances, teams should check the Sport North Tyneside Football Pitches Facebook page after 12pm on the Friday before a fixture. The referee and on-site Leisure Assistant (if available) will make any on the day closure decisions.
• If there is no representative on site, the team and referee are responsible for deciding whether or not the pitch is playable. Care should be taken over this decision. Any injuries incurred due to pitch condition, is the responsibility of the team following inspection. If your pitch is not playable, you are not guaranteed alternative provision.
• Teams will be held responsible for any reinstatement costs or loss of income if a team plays on a pitch that is closed or unsuitable for play.
• Teams, players and officials are requested to carry out their own pitch inspection so as to satisfy themselves as to its safety prior to commencing play inclusive of dog fouling. Any dog fouling occurrence should be reported via North Tyneside Council’s ‘Report It’ e-form located on the council webpage.
• Handling and moving goals; teams must erect and dismantle the posts before and after fixtures, failure to dismantle or incorrectly move and store the posts will result in an additional charge to the team who booked the pitch (see football goal post instructions).
• Loss and damage of goal bolts and equipment will be charged as a full replacement fee to the team who booked the pitch.
• Teams will be provided with bin bags upon request and must remove all litter generated around the pitch upon completion of the game, failure to do so will result in an additional charge to the team who booked the pitch. Teams must ensure that all socket covers / lids are closed at the end of any fixture.

Conditions of buildings hire

• Teams are responsible for any damage caused to Council buildings such as changing rooms as a result of occupancy by both the home and away teams. Teams must not do, suffer, or permit to be done, anything which may invalidate the Council’s Policy of Insurance Against Fire. This includes leaving buildings and gates unlocked.
• All facilities are covered by the Local Authorities no smoking policy. This applies to all buildings and Council owned land. Facilities users must abide by this ruling.
• The consumption of alcohol is not permitted whilst using Council facilities.
• Players are encouraged to remove football boots before entering changing areas in support of maintaining our facilities.
• Wash basins and showers must not be used for cleaning football boots.
• Changing rooms must be left in a clean and tidy condition (litter put in bins provided).
• If facilities are not left in a clean and tidy condition by both the home and away teams, or boots have been cleaned in the facility, the home team who booked the facility during that period will incur an additional charge to cover the cost of additional cleaning.
• Access to the changing facilities is by prior arrangement with your weekly booking. Facilities will be opened a minimum of one hour prior to KO.

Guidelines on misconduct

We are committed to supporting all strands of equality participation in sport and will take positive action to meet the sporting rules and operations of the whole community. We are committed to promoting and encouraging wider participation by minority communities in playing, spectating, coaching and officiating football. We believe that the football community should be able to enjoy their sport in an environment free from threat of intimidation, harassment and abuse.

The following will not be tolerated and will be treated as acts of misconduct:

• Verbal / physical abuse of any kind.
• Abuse / damage to Council employee or property.
• Failure to abide by the ruling concerning the availability of a pitch for play.
• Failure to play on the allocated pitch/playing on an unallocated pitch.
• Failure to comply with the conditions set out in the terms and conditions governing the hire of a football pitch.
• Any team found guilty of misconduct will find their use of facilities withdrawn with immediate effect and will not be eligible for a refund of any fees paid.

These terms and conditions, which do not constitute an exhaustive list, have been agreed with the Northumberland FA. North Tyneside Council reserves the right to amend or add to the terms and conditions at its discretion. We reserve the right to withdraw the use of facilities with immediate effect from teams who are found guilty of misconduct.

Football goalpost instructions

This information is provided to assist teams in safely setting up and taking down their goals.

To set up the goals:

• Leisure Assistant/home team will unlock goal posts from stowage
• Home team to carry posts to relevant goalmouth
• 2 or 3 persons to carry a cross bar
• 2 persons to carry an upright
• Assemble the goalposts on the ground by inserting the uprights into the crossbar and tighten up the 4-wing nut and bolts - square posts only
• Secure the nets to the uprights and crossbar using tape or plastic clips provided
• Raise the goal post and insert into ground sockets
• 2 persons per upright and insert fully into sockets

To dismantle the goals:

• Lift the goalpost out of sockets (2 persons per upright)
• Carefully lower the post to the ground
• Remove net clips and net from the goalposts
• Undo wing nuts and bolts, dismantle goals on the ground
• Return bolts/wing nuts and net clips to the Leisure Assistant
• Return posts to stowage
• 2 or 3 persons to carry a cross bar
• 2 persons to carry an upright
• Leisure Assistants/home team will lock up and make post stowage secure

Goalpost safety

Each goal must be set up and be tightened securely. Never use faulty goalposts. Please ensure everyone who is involved in setting the goals up and taking them down has seen these instructions and the risk assessment.

Report any faults or concerns to the Leisure Assistant on site or contact football@northtyneside.gov.uk

Goalposts (football pitches) risk assessment

• Date completed: 05.01.2026
• Work area: Football pitches across North Tyneside
• Description of task: Goalpost assembly
• Review date: 2027

Risk rating calculator:

Goalpost and pitch sizes

Read the FA guide to pitch and goalpost sizes

Training facilities

To assist in further developing your football team, included below is a list of the Council’s sports and leisure centres offering gym facilities, indoor sports halls and 3G football pitches (available at Hadrian Leisure Centre and The Parks Sport Centre)

Hadrian Leisure Centre

St Peters Road, Wallsend, NE28 7LQ

(0191) 643 2025

hadrianleisure@northtyneside.gov.uk

The Parks Sports Centre

Howdon Road, North Shields, NE29 6TL

(0191) 643 2700

the.parks@northtyneside.gov.uk

Tynemouth Pool

Beach Road, North Shields, NE29 9PX

(0191) 643 2900

tynemouth.pool@northtyneside.gov.uk

Waves

The Links, Whitley Bay, NE26 1TQ

(0191) 643 2600

waves@northtyneside.gov.uk

The Lakeside Centre

Southgate, Killingworth, NE12 6SA

(0191) 643 4177

lakeside@northtyneside.gov.uk