Glassboys set goal to double capacity

The Northern Premier League club has submitted plans for new stands and to alter existing areas for spectators at the War Memorial Athletic Ground thanks to a cash boost from their FA Cup exploits.

The ground, which the team shares with Stourbridge Cricket Club in Amblecote High Street, already has a 2,000-capacity to meet current league rules.

But officials need to upgrade areas around stands to improve standards. A revamp programme is under way costing £50,000 on re-laying areas around the ground to improve hard-standing.

And if the club is promoted to the Conference Premier, bosses have long-term ambitions to double the capacity of the ground to 4,000 to meet standards.

This would involve putting seating in the Shed End stand, which is currently a covered terrace.

There would also be a 250-seat stand put at the Church End alongside a standing area for 900 fans.

Club chairman Andy Pountney today said that the works were only possible thanks to the club's thrilling recent runs in the FA Cup which brought in tens of thousands of pounds.

The Glassboys made the First Round Proper of the FA Cup during the 2009/10 season before losing out to Walsall 1-0. And the club beat League Two outfit Plymouth Argyle 2-0 at Amblecote to reach the Second Round Proper in 2011/12. The run was finally ended by League One side Stevenage who won 3-0 in front of an attendance of 3,067 at the War Memorial Athletic Ground. The club boosted capacity for the home cup games with temporary stands.

Mr Pountney said: "The cup runs have been a massive boost and they have helped us a lot as there had been no developments at the ground for 40 or 50 years. These plans for the extra stands are early days and are only if we are successful and win promotion."

A statement from the club contained in the planning application that has been submitted to Dudley Council said: "Stourbridge FC are an ambitious club and aspire to reach higher leagues in the 'pyramid' and thus, these even higher leagues will have a larger requirement regarding numbers of spectator capacities."

The site already has a clubhouse, toilet block, fast food cabin, turnstiles and cricket pitch, which will all be retained.

The new stands have been designed to provide all round vision for the spectators and to ensure the structure does not block their view of the pitch, while at the same time retaining a sensible height.