Onchan AFC has plans for two pitches on the edge of the village which would include a clubhouse.

The application (20/00180/B) to develop fields at the top of Blackberry Lane, has been submitted by David Quirk and the Onchan Pensioners’ Social Club, which is listed as a community partner of the football club.

Onchan had previously been granted permission in 2012 for one pitch with a clubhouse on the same site.

The entrance to the site would be through the existing Old Boys entrance, with the existing car park remaining in use.

The two pitches would be built across the fields from the Summer Hill Glen end towards Blackberry Lane. The lower pitch would be near the clubhouse next to Old Boys with the other in the field which has the footpath running parallel to it.

Chairman of Onchan AFC James Duddy said the club plans to use the pitches for junior football ’at this stage’.

Onchan’s plans to enlarge its proposed club house comes at the recommendation of the Football Foundation, which directs funding from England’s Premier League, FA and the government into improving grass roots sport.

Lewis Qualtrough, senior development officer at the Isle of Man FA, said the club had the FA’s ’full backing’.

He added: ’Onchan have grown to be one of the largest FA community football clubs in the island, from U6s through to veterans, and this facility project will help maintain and further grow membership within the club.’

Brian Callow, chairman of the Junior Football League (JFL), has also written to planners in support of the application.

Mr Callow said: ’The club in the last 10 years has grown into the largest membership in the JFL and we know that they are struggling to accommodate the number of members they have and that these facilities will alleviate these issues.’