A FOOTBALL club is finally within shooting distance of building the first phase of its new dream facilities.

AFC Portchester has been fundraising for more than six months to boost the coffers for a new £1m football training complex including gym, changing rooms and clubhouse, at Wicor Recreation Ground.

Now the first phase of the plans - to build a new floodlit senior pitch - is in line to be approved at Fareham Council's planning committee this week.

Having faced obstacles such as the possibility of endangering rare Brent geese on the site and having to revise some of the plans on advice from planning officers - the project has not been without testing times.

Objections have also been lodged by Portchester Civic Society that the new club could promote litter in the area.

Club secretary Paul Kelly is optimistic that it is just a step away from starting construction.

He said: "We are hoping it will all go through. We have had a good response from local councillors and the public have been great with helping us do all the fundraising. We have had one objection about the possibility of it causing more litter but we always clear up after our matches. We are confident that the plans will be approved."

The 500-strong club was awarded the county's first FA Community Club Award last year.

It means that the FA will provide 65 per cent of the total cost of the new facilities if the club can come up with the rest.

Since then, the club has held fun-runs, quiz nights and music gigs in bid to get nearer the goal.

Paul said: "If all goes well at the planning committee then we are hoping that the new pitch will be ready for next season. It's been a slow process to get this far but the next step is a great step forward and then we can start thinking about the clubhouse and everything else."