Windsor & Eton Football Club, in conjunction with the Crown Estate, have submitted a planning proposal for an artificial pitch to be installed at the clubs historic Stag Meadow ground.
The club has one of the highest regarded grass pitches in the county, regularly playing host to County Cup Finals, while the ground itself enjoys impressive views of Windsor Great Park.
Windsor & Eton, formed in 2023, took on the lease of Stag Meadow from Windsor FC, as well as the historic Windsor & Eton name, and joined forces with Windsor Youth FC – at the time a club with 550 players and almost 50 teams.
From the outset, the club, under Chairman and former player Mark Cooper has aimed to provide an artificial surface at the club to provide improved – and importantly more – football facilities for the area that enables not just senior men’s football, but the growth of youth, women’s, disabled and veterans’ football at the club.
Whether it is for the benefit of teams wearing the red of Windsor & Eton, or the area as a whole. According to the PitchFinder website run by the Football Foundation, there are just seven artificial pitches in the immediate vicinity of Windsor and across the Thames in Eton Wick. The website also says only two of those are open to public bookings.
Shift your gaze to Slough and the same website suggests their are 10 facilities with only one not open to public bookings. Bracknell meanwhile has 15.
These numbers will change here and there, and we’re relying on a website being completely up to date. That doesn’t change the reality though for not just football clubs, but clubs of all sports that their is a severe lack of facilities available for kids and adults to train, particularly when winter sets in and games are postponed and training cancelled because of the weather.
If you want to get kids and adults out and active, involved in team and community activities that keep them fit and health, the answer is simple, we need more up-to-date, modern facilities.
The statement in full
Windsor & Eton Football Club (WEFC) is delighted to confirm that it has submitted a joint planning application with The Crown Estate, as landowner, for a new state‑of‑the‑art 3G football pitch at Stag Meadow. The proposal represents a significant step forward in the club’s long‑term vision to create a modern, inclusive and sustainable community sports hub at the heart of Windsor.
The new pitch will provide year‑round access to football for hundreds of local players, supporting one of the club’s greatest success stories: its fast growing and diverse participation. WEFC now supports more than 600 boys and girls across its youth section, alongside a thriving programme of men’s, women’s, and veterans’ teams, as well as regular use by local schools and wider community groups. By providing a high‑quality, all‑weather facility at the heart of Windsor, the proposed development will ensure these diverse user groups can train, play and participate safely, consistently and close to home, removing many of the barriers created by weather, pitch availability and travel.
The application follows an extensive programme of public consultation and community engagement. More than 1,250 residents signed a petition in support of the proposals, and over 80% of respondents backed the plans through the public consultation process. Feedback from residents has played a central role in shaping the scheme, alongside detailed technical assessments covering traffic and parking, environmental impact, lighting, drainage and biodiversity.
Throughout the process, the club has worked closely with The Crown Estate, the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead and the Football Foundation to ensure the proposals meet all relevant standards and respond sensitively to the needs of both the community and local residents.
A facility for the whole community
The proposed 3G pitch would transform Stag Meadow from a largely single‑use grass pitch, often unavailable during the winter months, into a high‑quality, multi‑use, all‑weather facility. This change will unlock far greater community benefit while reducing pressure on existing natural grass pitches.
The 3G pitch would enable:
- Expanded opportunities for boys’ and girls’ football
- Continued growth of women’s and girls’ teams
- Increased access for local schools
- New and enhanced provision for disability football and inclusive programmes
- Greater opportunities for adult participation and wider community use
A long‑term investment in Windsor
The proposals align with local and national strategies that identify a shortage of 3G pitch provision and the importance of increasing access to grassroots sport. Windsor & Eton FC has committed to ensuring the development is delivered responsibly and sustainably, including:
- A Traffic & Parking Management Plan developed with resident input
- Measures to support biodiversity net gain
- Modern LED lighting designed to minimise light spill
- A safe, high‑quality design to support long‑term community use
Looking ahead
The planning application has now been submitted and is available for public review via the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead’s planning portal: https://www.rbwm.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/find-planning-application application reference: 26/00788.
Windsor & Eton FC and The Crown Estate have reiterated their commitment to ongoing transparency and engagement and will continue to provide updates as the planning process progresses.
