ONCHAN Football Club has submitted plans for a football pitch and clubhouse in Blackberry Lane.
And it has started a fundraising drive to raise £100,000 to cover the cost of the development.
The club currently has an agreement with the district commissioners to use Onchan stadium for its senior teams, but between April and September this is not possible due to contractual reasons.
The club’s president, Onchan MHK David Quirk, described the junior teams as ‘nomadic’. Mr Quirk said: ‘It has always been the goal in the club’s centenary year to try and pick the club up and move it to bigger heights.’ He described the plan as a ‘fitting legacy’ for both the club and the community.
He said the facility was needed because of a growth in membership over the last six years – it now has about 100 youngsters aged between seven and 16 who play at various levels.
He said the club would still use Onchan stadium for senior games, but added: ‘With the demands on the club at all levels we do require a permanent home so we can deliver our plan towards the future.’
Under the plan (12/00016/B), currently under consideration by the government planning committee, a full-sized pitch would be created in two fields on the east side of Blackberry Lane, above Douglas Old Boys Football Club’s ground.
The land, currently open space owned by the government, straddles the Douglas/Onchan boundary but the club is keen that the pitch is wholly in Onchan.
There would also be a clubhouse and additional parking created. For the community, there are also plans for an orchard, for children to plant soft fruit trees.
‘Eventually, each generation throughout the years will provide a habitat for wildlife,’ he said.
Last year, the club had plans to create a pitch on the west side of Blackberry Lane, but decided to submit new plans after objections from nearby residents, who indicated they would be happy if the development was on the other side of the road. The plan is supported by the IoM FA.