Scholars map out £1m plan for stand

Chasetown Football Club today revealed its reward for its money-spinning run in the FA Cup - a new £1 million stand.

The ambitious non-League team is to submit revised plans next week for the 500-seater covered structure behind the bypass end of the Scholars Ground.

The stand would include a function room for more than 100 people, private boxes, dressing rooms, a manager's office and a gym.

The plans come on the back of the club's astonishing FA Cup run which saw it play 10 ties and become the smallest side ever to reach the third round before going out to Championship side Cardiff earlier this month. Chasetown made more than £250,000 from the two Cup runs after reaching the first round proper in 2005-06.

Initial plans for the stand were turned down because the site is on green belt land.

But the club is hoping for a positive outcome this time. Chairman John Donnelly said: "It's costing a lot more than we originally planned but we believe this is a facility that will be beneficial for the whole area."

Exclusive by Tim Nash