County FA to run football facilities at Cantley Park
The Berkshire and Buckinghamshire Football Association (BBFA) has taken on the day-to-day management of the buildings and football pitches at Cantley Park in Wokingham under a new partnership with Wokingham Borough Council that began this month.
The move covers the operation, management and development of the pavilion, changing rooms, the seven grass football pitches and the 3G artificial grass pitch. The council will continue to manage the wider park, surrounding open spaces and other non-football buildings on the site.
What stays the same — and what will change
The borough council has stressed the park will remain open and accessible to residents at all times. The café in the pavilion is being refreshed and is due to re-open later this month, according to the council and BBFA.
- BBFA responsibilities: day-to-day management of football facilities, operation and development of pitches and pavilion.
- Council responsibilities: upkeep of the wider park, open spaces and other buildings on the site.
- Community access: the site will remain publicly accessible and available for community use.
The BBFA says it will focus on improving the quality of the playing surfaces and associated facilities, while also seeking to boost participation and ensure the site continues to support local grassroots football and community activities.
“We’re incredibly excited to take on the operation of Cantley Park. By working closely with Wokingham borough council, existing users and the local community, we want to ensure Cantley Park continues to grow as a vibrant, accessible hub that supports people of all ages to be active, engaged and inspired.”
The comment came from Liz Verrall, chief executive of the BBFA, who described the agreement as an opportunity to create a legacy for the area and an inclusive space where the community can come together through sport.
Wokingham Borough Council’s executive member responsible for sport, Cllr Mark Ashwell, welcomed the partnership as an “exciting new chapter for football facilities at Cantley Park”, saying the BBFA brings relevant expertise for grassroots provision.
What Cantley Park offers
Cantley Park, on Twyford Road, is a mixed-use recreational site used by a variety of local groups. The principal facilities referenced in the partnership are shown below.
| Facility | Notes |
|---|---|
| Seven grass football pitches | Main focus for BBFA pitch maintenance and development |
| 3G artificial grass pitch | Included in BBFA operational remit |
| Pavilion and changing rooms | Managed by BBFA; café due to re-open after refresh |
| Tennis courts, archery facilities and community rooms | Remain under council management as part of wider park |
Local consequences and the practical picture
For clubs and residents who use Cantley Park, the BBFA’s stated priorities — better pitch quality and more participation opportunities — could mean improved playing surfaces, more organised programming and potentially more coaching or development activity on site. The agreement does not transfer ownership of the land; rather it delegates the day-to-day running of football-related assets to the county FA while the council retains responsibility for the rest of the park.
Practical implications likely to be watched closely by local users include:
- how booking arrangements for pitches and pavilion rooms are handled going forward;
- whether hire charges or access rules change under BBFA management;
- the timetable and scope of planned pitch improvements;
- how community use of the pavilion and café is co-ordinated alongside football activity.
Club organisers, casual park users and parents of children who play football locally will want clear information from both the council and BBFA about booking processes, pricing and any planned works that could affect availability during the playing season.
Both partners say they intend to work with existing users and the local community. The success of the arrangement will be measured in part by whether it sustains and increases grassroots participation, and whether the changes lead to tangible improvements in facilities without reducing day-to-day access for residents.
Further details about how the partnership will operate and any short-term changes to bookings or opening arrangements are expected to be published by Wokingham Borough Council and the BBFA in the coming weeks.
