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Caerphilly County Borough Council has announced a new booking system for its artificial sports pitches, which will now prioritise teams in the top divisions of their sport.

Under the new system, which will be in place from June, teams who are higher up in the football or rugby ‘pyramid’ will be prioritised in line with Football Association of Wales (FAW) and Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) criteria.

It’s understood this system is already in place for some clubs, but will now be rolled-out across all of Caerphilly’s 3G pitches.

Football

According to a report by the council, senior clubs who are in higher tiers will get first priority, but for clubs in the same division bidding for the same spot, the priority will be for the club that has a ‘sustainable pathway’.

For example, both Risca United and Trethomas Bluebirds play competitive matches and train at the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach, and are both in tier three of the football pyramid.

The only thing separating the two clubs are their ‘sustainable pathways’. Risca United have younger age groups unlike Trethomas, who only have a first team and a reserves. Therefore, under the new system, Risca would be prioritised.

Of course, if Trethomas were to gain promotion into tier two for example, they would then have priority over Risca.

For junior football, the priority for clubs is completely down to their “willingness and ability to grow the game”, meaning, clubs who have lots of age groups, and a girls section for example, will be prioritised when booking.

In all circumstances, teams within Caerphilly County Borough will be prioritised when booking.

Two football-only artificial pitches, Pontllanfraith and Heolddu, will not be part of the new system, and will remain first-come-first-serve in order to “ensure access across the county borough”.

Two 3G pitches at Newbridge and St Cenydd Leisure Centre – neither of which are full size or dual use – will also remain on a first-come-first-serve booking system.

Rugby

The rugby criteria is very similar as set-out by the WRU. The first priority is for adult teams in tier one – of which Caerphilly has none of – then tier two, or the WRU National Championship East. This tier includes Bargoed, Bedwas, Cross Keys, Newbridge, and Penallta.

Once again, like football, priority for teams in the same division bidding for the same slot on an artificial pitch is given to those with a pathway, such as a mini and juniors section for example.

The next rung of priority is for adult teams in tier three or below, then finally age grade and sustainable pathway groups, descending from youth to mini and juniors.

Like football, teams within the borough will be prioritised when booking.

“Absolved of favouritism”

In a council scrutiny committee meeting on February 13, the council’s sport and leisure development manager, Jared Lougher, explained how adopting this “tried and trusted method” absolves the council of favouritism.

He went on to say how every club wants the “prime slots” between 6pm and 8pm, adding the council could build ten more 3G pitches and still not have the capacity.

Mark Williams, corporate director for the economy and environment, said: “It’s a robust method that favours clubs with pathways developing youngsters.

“The new system is open and transparent, used by two governing bodies within the sport.”

Mr Lougher was asked about teams trying to book from outside of the borough. He said: “We don’t expect any teams from outside the borough to book a pitch unless there was a vacancy. Then we’d rather take the revenue than leave it vacant.”

This article has been amended to clarify that the new system was already in place for some clubs.