AMBITIOUS plans to enable Warrington Town FC climb the non-league ladder - both on and off the pitch - have been given a near £100,000 boost.

Cantilever Park was buzzing this week with the news that the club had been given a £98,820 filip from the FA's Football Stadia Improvement Fund.

And while the team might currently be languishing dangerously close to the bottom of the North West Counties League Division One, officials are looking to the future.

Club chairman Harry Boden told the Guardian that the grant would bring the ground, which dates back to the 1950s, up to 21st century standards.

"This grant will enable us to move up football's pyramid and improve our community programme, especially for our younger members," he added.

The latest additions to the Wash Lane ground will be new changing facilities, a physiotherapy centre, office space and referees' room for both male and female match officials.

This will leave the way clear for an improved outlook for Town's thriving social club.

Home to both the town's rhythm and blues, and country and western clubs, among others, it provides vital support for the soccer operation.

The prospect of converting the away dressing room into a children's area, and creating new disabled facilities in the old referees' quarters, are just two ideas being mulled over.

More than three years of hard work have been invested in the redevelopment proposals, especially by club president Eric Shaw and secretary Barry Thorpe.

Planning permission was obtained for the revamp earlier this year and the club will now await final approval from the borough's building regulation experts before work begins.