IT has been an uphill struggle, but finally plans for the first stage of a new £1m football training complex in Fareham have been submitted to council planners.

AFC Portchester has patiently reworked blueprints for its dream new clubhouse and facilities planned for Wicor Recreation Ground after planning officers bombarded it with changes that needed to be made.

Now potential planning glitches have been ironed out and club staff are hopeful of being given approval to start making their dream a reality.

Club secretary Paul Kelly said: "We are delighted. It hasn't been easy getting to this point but this is the start for us and we have every belief it will be approved by the planners. We have had a lot of support from the council."

Plans for the new purpose-built facility - which would eventually comprise a floodlit all-weather pitch, clubhouse, bar, boardroom, training gym and changing rooms - came about after the 500-strong club was awarded the county's first ever FA Community Club Award.

It means the FA has pledged to provide 65 per cent of the total cost of the new club if it can come up with the rest.

Despite massive local fundraising support, club staff have suffered a few setbacks along the way, including a gaggle of rare brent geese who were thought to be taking refuge on the prospective site.

Fortunately English Nature and the council have confirmed this is no longer a problem - but the delays have been hard work.

It has also meant that the club has decided to submit plans for the all-weather pitch first so it is ready for the new season.

Mr Kelly is confident that the rest of the plans will be pushed through soon afterwards.

He said: "It certainly has been a rough ride so far. We've been pushed from pillar to post and suffered a couple of knocks. But there is light at the end of the tunnel now."

A fundraising quiz to stump up more cash for the new complex is set to take place at Portchester Community Centre at 7.30pm on March 18. To take part call Mr Kelly on 07802 605507.