THE FUTURE OF FOOTBALL AT REPTON
MESSAGE FROM THE HEADMASTER
The Repton Strategic Plan is our manifesto for the future and lays out our commitment to becoming outstanding in every aspect of school life. Rather than grow bigger, we strive to continue to grow better. Strong academic achievement is underpinned by an exceptional offering in sport, the arts and music, with the wellbeing of pupils at its heart.
To realise this vision, we have a number of development projects planned. Some have already been delivered: the new Digital Priory interactive classroom and refurbished Design & Technology Centre. For others, work will commence soon: converting the cloisters underneath Pears School into a Sixth Form Centre and wholeschool social space.
Sporting success carries our brand across the country and across the world. One of our most exciting
projects, therefore, is the planned development of two dedicated 3G floodlit artificial turf football pitches (subject to planning permission). These will allow play in all weather and at all times of year, dramatically improving the efficiency and effectiveness of training and coaching for girls’ and boys’ football. Furthermore, additional changing facilities for teams and officials and a covered seating area for spectators with parking, will make possible the hosting of FA Youth Cup, National League and Premier League Youth games. Future plans on the site also include four padel tennis courts.
Not only will this development foster sporting achievement at the highest levels of performance, as well as participation for pupils at any level, but the School will also open up the facilities to the local community, when not in use.
We hope you will join us on this journey, as we look to raise money to bolster the capital funds already reserved by the School for this key project.
Mark Semmence , Headmaster
MESSAGE FROM THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
If you had told me back in 1985, when I was in The Abbey, that I would be back working at Repton forty years later, I think I would have been astonished –especially as I have spent 25 years living and working overseas. It is wonderful to be back as an OR, a member of staff and a Repton parent with two girls in Upper Sixth and O Block – one of whom is a keen footballer.
I have fond memories of watching the Boys 1st XI Football Team play on The Square when I was at school, and now I have the privilege of watching the Girls 1st XI Football Team also grace the hallowed turf – how times have changed! It has also been fantastic to witness the OR Football Club bring football home to Repton with their repeated success in both the Arthur Dunn Cup and the Arthurian League.
As Development Director of the Repton Foundation, I am proud to witness
the extent of the School’s ambition to ensure the Reptonians of today have the very best learning environment in which to thrive – across academics, sport, music and drama. As we look towards our 475th anniversary in 2032, the School’s Strategic Plan outlines a number of capital projects, of which the all-weather 3G football pitches form a key plank. This is a very exciting project and will truly be a game changer for both girls’ and boys’ football at Repton. Throughout the years, Repton has benefitted from the generosity of Old Reptonians, parents of current and former pupils and other Friends of Repton. This generosity has kept Repton at the forefront of independent boarding and day schools, with a campus which is the envy of many, and a cohort of pupils built on talent and diversity of thought, rather than just financial wherewithal.
Repton has a proud footballing history which continues today with the success of both our School and Old Reptonian Football Club teams. Together, we can ensure the future of football at Repton remains bright – I hope you will consider supporting us.
Juliet Wolfe (Abbey 1983-85 & Foremarke) Development Director Repton Foundation
THE BEAUTIFUL GAME
Football Through The Ages At Repton
Repton has always been a football school and has a long history with the game, producing some exceptional players. In recent years, Repton has won numerous trophies, including the Hudl Independent Schools’ League three times (more than any other school) and the U18 ESFA Cup twice. Reptonians have gone on to play professionally for Premier League and other clubs, as well as receiving international call ups for England, Northern Ireland, Gibraltar and Bermuda.
Beyond the hallowed turf of The Square, Reptonians continue to enjoy the beautiful game playing with other Reptonians socially or competitively. The Old Reptonian Football Club (ORFC) was founded in 1902 and over the years has won the prestigious Arthur Dunn Cup fourteen times including winning it consecutively for the last three years. The ORFC also won the Londonbased Arthurian League Premier Division in 2024, achieving the impressive double of winning both the Cup and the League title in the same year.
Repton 1st XI Football Team 1872
1932 Yard Football
CB Fry (Cross 1885-91), seated second left, was a sensational sporting all-rounder, playing football for Oxford University, Southampton and England.
Harry Cursham (Hall 1875-76) played for Notts County and England, and still holds the record for the number of goals scored in the FA Cup: 49 goals in 44 games.
ORFC Winners of the Arthur Dunn Cup and the Arthurian League 2024
Will Hughes (New 2008-11) now plays for Crystal Palace
Repton Boys 1st XI Football Team 2024
Repton Boys ESFA Cup Winners 2018
Repton Girls 1st XI Football Team 2024
1987 ORFC Arthur Dunn Cup Winning Team
1991 ORFC Arthur Dunn Cup Winning Team
Gillman & Soame Photography
A WORLD CLASS FOOTBALL PROGRAMME AT REPTON
Luke Webb, Technical Director of Football at Repton
Repton’s Technical Director of Football, Luke Webb, played professionally for Arsenal, Coventry City and Hereford United, before becoming a teacher, gaining his UEFA A Licence in coaching and creating a nationally acclaimed football education programme in independent schools.
Luke’s passion is education through football, combining academic, social and sporting excellence. Luke is one of the most innovative football coaches in the sports and education space, and plans to create the number one football education programme in the world for both girls and boys at Repton.
The vision is to create a ‘School of Football’ run by and for the School, Alumni and the Community. A school football programme where the focus would be not only on developing the talent of a player, but also on nurturing their all-round holistic development and education as a person, as all pupils benefit from at Repton. This would then connect to external stakeholders to enhance the learning in the local community and further afield nationally by becoming a hub of all things football: playing, coaching, refereeing, grounds, administration and leadership. With this facility and system of education we can enhance the provision and access for all levels and categories of participation and socio economic circumstance.
The Programme would offer football and futsal for boys and girls at performance, competitive and participation levels:
• Performance Level: The U18 1st XI teams will play against other football clubs, compete in the National League Games Programme (Girls) and enter the FA Youth Cup (Boys)
• Competitive Level: U18 2nd XI and Junior A teams will have more access to the best coaches and compete in national cups and local leagues
• Participation Level: B and C teams from the Senior School and the Prep School teams will have regular access to better quality playing surfaces and high level coaching
At Repton we have an outstanding academic institution. We have a boarding school culture with caring and compassionate pastoral care. And with this proposed facility, the outstanding coaching staff and an unrivalled syllabus of football education, we will have a world class football education programme – all in one place. No need to travel to a club miles away and eat in the car while doing your homework on a clipboard after a tough training session at 9pm at night. A place where your friends are, a place where you can be yourself, and feel safe. A place where every day you wake up and know that your educators are there to help you go beyond your potential. A place where you can walk to class and training and be excited about the developmental progression in both your talent and character.
WHY IS IT NEEDED?
Facilities at Repton
Nationally, schools and universities are starting to offer sporting facilities with modern 3G pitches and Repton is no different in its desire to provide its students – and the local community – with the very best quality playing surfaces.
The new all-weather pitches with lighting, will allow the School timetable to accommodate higher demand and a more productive sporting/academic balance. From a football perspective it will provide better training and playing facilities for a wider range of girls and boys, as well as providing an outstanding all-year round facility for the surrounding community. The covered seating for 50+ spectators and changing rooms for teams and match officials will allow the hosting of FA Youth Cup, National League and Premier League Youth games.
Girls’ Football at Repton
The School has a commitment to developing an outstanding Girls’ Football programme as well, with Technical Director of Football, Luke Webb, brought in to lead both the Boys’ and Girls’ programmes. Currently, Repton has Under 18 and Under 15 Girls’ teams with a programme of fixtures. The proposed new facilities will enable the School to build on this programme and offer girls’ football to a larger audience and the broader community. It is anticipated that the additional pitch capacity and yearly use will increase the number of girls participating at all levels, and foster exceptional performance at the highest level.
DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL
Subject to planning permission, this world class football space will comprise:
• 2 all-weather floodlit 3G artificial turf
Football Pitches (Pitch One 105m x 68m; Pitch Two 100m x 64m)
• Pavilion building with changing rooms for players and match officials
• Covered Spectator Stand for 50+ spectators
• 4 Padel Tennis Courts
• Car Parking
This new development will complement the existing grass football pitches, indoor futsal court and the facilities already offered in the Sports Centre, including video analysis room and hospitality area.
Future options could also include the provision of a learning centre to be let out commercially for the training & development of football officials.
Architect’s impression
LATHAM HOUSE
Padel Tennis
Padel Tennis is a rapidly growing and popular pastime with people of all ages and abilities. The Lawn Tennis Association’s LTA Padel Strategy 20242029 sets out a vision to grow Padel by making it accessible, welcoming, enjoyable and inspiring. A key element of this is increasing the number of Padel courts throughout the country.
From a Rackets Club community perspective, there is currently very limited availability of Padel courts in Derbyshire, so this will be a fantastic initiative for both Repton Tennis Club and the wider community.
Parking
The proposed new car park will provide an additional 50+ car and minibus spaces. This will primarily serve the local community, as the Repton Sports Centre on Willington Road is used for coach parking for teams. In line with the School’s ethos to encourage sustainable transport, the plans include electric vehicle charging points, bicycle racks and easy access to the public bus stops on Burton Road.
HOW WILL THIS BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY?
The high demand for such facilities is well documented and the community benefits will be felt by not only Repton but Willington, Egginton, Hilton, Etwall, Barrow-upon-Trent, Newton Solney and many more schools and communities. The pitches and changing facilities will help to create new local groups and build grassroots football, allowing youngsters from the local community to effectively gain access to a Repton education through football.
• Gresley Rovers
• Repton Casuals
• Willington Football Club
• Burton Albion Academy
These clubs currently use a variety of winter training facilities, including sports halls some distance away. They often reduce their training hours due to a lack of provision. During the summer, due to a lack of space, pitches are hired at additional cost and travel. The provision of 3G pitches at Repton will present a far more sustainable solution, allowing training and matches to take place within the village.
By providing alternative facilities for South Derbyshire’s clubs, the proposals would relieve pressure on, for example, the ageing pitch at Robert Sutton in
Football brings people together. Connecting with the community through football not only ensures we meet our obligation in our privileged position to enhance our community, but also allows us to learn from our community. A reciprocal, symbiotic process of education.
As well as other local schools, we have engaged with a number of local clubs, many of whom have expressed an interest in using the proposed facilities. These include:
• Ashton Village
• Etwall FC
• Derby County Community Trust
neighbouring East Staffordshire, which is currently relied upon. Initial assessments of the running costs of the facilities show that they can be rented out at a comparable rate to existing 3G pitches in the wider area, and it is the School’s intention to offer a discounted rate to local clubs.
Repton already has a history of developing state of the art facilities for joint schoolcommunity use, as is evidenced by the success of the Repton Sports Centre. The pitches will be available for community use outside of school hours, including during evenings, weekends and holidays.
PROJECT INVESTMENT
ESTIMATED PROJECT COST
(including professional fees, exclusive of VAT)
3G Football Pitches (x2)
Changing Room Facilities, Spectator Stand and Seating
Parking and Road upgrades
Other facilitating works
£2,140,000
£2,000,000
£630,000
£215,000
SUB-TOTAL £4,985,500
Padel Courts x4 ( 2 covered, 2 open)
Contingency (including biodiversity net gain)
£360,000
£150,000
TOTAL £5,495,000
(Costs correct as of October 2024)
Drainage and irrigation improvements to the existing grass pitches may also be required in the future, but do not form part of this current proposal.
Architect’s impression
