Football crazy? Snap up ground for £800k

But for just a fraction of that price – 0.4 per cent to be precise – a prospective football entrepreneur could own their own club in South Staffordshire.

The site of disbanded Wyrley Rangers Football Club is up for sale and new owners are being sought.

For £800,000 the buyer could land themselves two floodlit pitches, a 100-seater covered stand and even a caretaker's bungalow.

Wyrley Rangers disbanded eight years ago but the site is still used by owner Nadir Imamoglu, a former Turkish professional footballer.

It is rented out to teams at the weekend and with good road links to three motorways, Mr Imamoglu thinks the eight-acre site will make an attractive proposition to an ambitious football businessman.

The 67-year-old is retiring after being involved with the club and the site since 1988.

He said: "I think it's time to call it a day.

"The site is a great opportunity for somebody and a really attractive proposition.

"It could be ideal for an ex-pro footballer. There a number of people already interested.

"I designed and built the clubhouse which is purpose made and there are a lot of very good facilities."

The club is based in Long Lane, Essington and is listed by Skitts Estate Agents for £795,00.

As well as the pitches and stand, the listing includes a function room, bars, kitchen, changing rooms and car parking.

Willenhall Town play there on Saturdays and FC Reedswoods Ladies on Sundays, with both teams renting pitches on a season-by-season basis.

Mr Imamoglu, who has also been a football manager and referee during his career, said the site could have many uses, including an equestrian centre.

"Someone could start a football academy or there could be an equestrian centre," he added.

"It's in a nice quiet area in the Green Belt and there are very good road links.

"The Wyrley Rangers team was disbanded in 2007 because of the costs involved but we have maintained the facilities." Mr Imamoglu owns the club along with his son Greg. It has been on the market before, with controversial plans to transform it into a housing development withdrawn in 2009 after a flurry of objections.

Proposals for four bungalows were thrown out by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles after being rejected by Essington Parish Council and South Staffordshire District Council.

Residents in Long Lane campaigned to stop the application because of concerns over the green belt and the loss of a community sports facility. Mr Imamoglu, a former Wyrley Parish Council chairman and Staffordshire county councillor, also listed the club in 2007 before it being temporarily taken off the market a year later.

Founded in 1988, Wyrley Rangers joined the West Midlands Regional League. After one season, the team left to play in the Wolverhampton Combination, rejoining the West Midlands League in 2001. Two years later, they absorbed Marston Wolves.

The listing for the Long Lane site reads: "The club has been run successfully for over 17 years under the name of Wyrley Rangers FC Limited by the original owners who are now looking to retire.

"The sale offers an excellent opportunity to continue the existing use or redevelop the complex for a variety of alternative activities including corporate offices, function rooms, wedding banquets, restaurant, equine centre, veterinary clinic, educational facilities or activity centres subject to appropriate change of use and consents."