A YOUTH club in Knutsford has applied to build three stands, toilets and turnstiles in a bid to see its football club climb up through the leagues.

Egerton Football Club, which plays its matches at Egerton Youth Club, has applied to build the stands, one with 50 seats, which would meet the Football Association's ground grading requirements.

The club currently plays in the Cheshire League but is in discussions with the North West Counties League to enter both the men's and women's teams in that competition.

That would mean the club entering the lowest level of non-league football but with the ability to progress through the divisions after becoming part of the footballing pyramid.

A board of trustee's looks after the Egerton Youth Club site, which was a requirement of Lord Egerton's will, when he died in 1958.

Tom O'Donnell, chairman of Egerton Football Club, told the Guardian the plans were not 'necessarily for now' but were for helping the club in the future.

"It could be 10 years until we get to the stage where we need all of it but we thought we may as well plan for it," he said.

"We have our first team pitch already, it's on the right hand side (as you drive in) and we will move that to the left hand side of the site.

"The key for us is to make the first teams aspirational for our youth teams so they feed through, giving them an aspirational pathway for the club.

"It means the same number of pitches as well.

"The only thing we are looking at is a 50-seat capacity stand and a path around the pitch for anyone who wants to watch for the first stage. This application is about complying with the FAs ground grading requirements.

"We are doing our application to the North West Counties League for our men's and women's teams for the season after next. If we are approved then we will have to have the ground requirements in place for that.

"We've spoken to our land owners Tatton Estate, and spoke to Knutsford Football Club and there has been no adverse reaction from anyone."

Tom added the club would be applying to the FA for grants to enable the work to take place.

Egerton Football Club is part of Egerton Youth Club and is organised by a separate chairman and committee structure.

Egerton Youth Club offers a range of sports, including; gymnastics, Muay Thai Boxing, badminton, table tennis, netball, basketball, yoga and rugby.

Knutsford Town Council discussed the application at its latest planning meeting and decided to object to the plans.

"The council considers that the application is premature and that there is insufficient information with the Design and Access statement and as such the application should be withdrawn and resubmitted," it said.

"Notwithstanding this view, the council objects on the grounds that the development is unattractive, utilitarian in design and the height of the stands is inappropriate in the Green belt.

"Furthermore the construction of the spectator’s stands and associated facilities would result in a loss of existing facilities for the young people of Knutsford, as these pitches would no longer be freely available.

"Additionally, there has been a lack of community engagement with respect to these plans.

"Furthermore the extremely high lighting columns would have a detrimental impact to both residents’ amenity and to wildlife over a wider area as would the increased noise disturbance and traffic such a facility would attract."