A football club in Staffordshire is set to start work on a new base costing almost £1 million after being boosted by a grant from the FA.

Wyrley Juniors has more than 700 players, with 45 teams — four men’s teams, a ladies’ team, 29 boys’ teams and 11 girls’ teams.

It has a formal link with Walsall FC. Wyrley Juniors has now secured a grant of £235,000 from the FA to enable it to start work on a new community clubhouse at Long Lane, Essington, on January 10.

The club has been working towards having a new home for 10 years and has had to raise more than £900,000 in funding.

Chairman Keith Hardy said the facility will have four changing rooms, two referees’ rooms, a medical room, kitchen and a coaching development and community function room.

The village hall style building will replace the old community building that club members demolished a few weeks ago.

“We now need to push really hard to raise further funds to meet costs that undoubtedly will be seen,” said Mr Hardy

Funding bids have seen them secure £918,840 towards developing facilities at their Long Lane base in Essington, close to the Walsall FC training ground.

The Football Foundation, the grass roots sports charity funded by the Premier League, The FA, Government and Sport England have contributed £683,840

The additional £235,000 grant has come from the FA as part of their capital allocation within the Whole Sport Plan agreed with Sport England to support community clubs and create more opportunities to participate in sport within a high quality environment.

“This is tremendous news for the club, its 700 playing members and families and the local residents of Newtown, Essington. We are now close to achieving our vision, which has been 10 years in the making,” said Mr Hardy.

He added that the new facility would enable Juniors to continue with development plans, which include additional teams to grow the game at the junior end.

Paul Thorogood, chief executive of the Football Foundation, added: “We warmly congratulate Wyrley Juniors FC and the Staffordshire County FA for their hard work and dedication.”