Cirencester Town Football Club


Location:	Cirencester, Gloucestershire, UK

Building Series:	TITAN® Low Slope

Building Size:	138' wide x 200' long (42m x 61m)

Application:	Indoor Training Facility

The Need

Cirencester Town Football Club (CTFC) is a non-profit organization owned and operated directly by the local community and is the only non-league football club in the United Kingdom. Non-league football refers to football in England played at a level below the FA Premier League and The Football League. It takes a strong community to make such an initiative successful especially in a town the size of Cirencester (c19,000).

The purpose of a Community Club is to promote participation in the local community and ensure the players and volunteers enjoy the activities; however, running a community-based football club is definitely not an easy task. Much time, volunteer work and local funding is put into this initiative by the local community. Because CTFC is a non-profit organization, every penny generated by the organization goes directly into the football club. Members do not have direct ownership of the club, nor are there shareholders to satisfy.

To generate revenue and meet the needed dollar amounts to keep the organization running, CTFC developed several activities to fund this community initiative. Sponsorship packages and opportunities, club memberships, facility rentals and volunteer work all contribute to meeting their goals.

The Solution

As part of the ongoing development program, the CTFC needed an indoor solution to extend the practice season as well as generate additional revenue by renting out the facility to local organizations. CTFC decided to proceed with a Summit Structure based on what they had seen at premier football facilities around the United Kingdom. The structure is the first facility of its kind outside the professional league in the United Kingdom.

The translucent fabric-membrane allows natural sunlight inside the building, creating the perfect playing environment. This is improved by: zero-echoing from the sound dampening properties of the cover making the facility ideal for training and coaches; the high peaked roof for more air volume resulting in fresher air; and clear-span space that can be adapted to meet changing needs and demands.

"The atmosphere is superb! There can be up to 50 people playing at once in the structure so it provides us a great atmosphere," says James French, Arena Manager, Cirencester Town Football Club.

The Project

Constructed in November 2004, the 138' wide x 200' long (42m x 61m) Summit Structures TITAN® Low Slope was erected and completed in two months. The facility provides the professional football clubs and local players with a training facility in adverse weather conditions. The white and green PVC fabric membrane color scheme provides an aesthetically pleasing exterior appearance.

The flexibility of the clear-span Summit Structures building is a key feature of the facility as the playing area can be adapted to suit the needs of the players. CTFC also promotes the rental of this facility for local community events.

"The facility has obviously created more business for us as we are open to the public and offer scheduled practices for professional clubs. We are taking private bookings for special events and children's birthday parties so we are financially starting to reap the benefits. All the business coming in is stemming off the erection of the Summit Structure," says French.

Customer Feedback

Cirencester Town F.C. is pleased with the outcome of their indoor facility.

"The response to the facility has been excellent. Players absolutely love the environment. They can train all year round regardless of the conditions outside," says French. "The facility requires little to no maintenance. Summit Structures has been quick to respond to our requests after the structure was delivered. Very impressed - a good indoor training facility."