MEMBERS of a football club struggling with the loss of their former pitch hope plans for 200 homes will provide them with a new place to play.

More than 100 people turned out to a meeting in Chipping Norton Town Hall last Wednesday to discuss the future of the town’s football club.

The team has been playing in Enstone after former trustees fell into debt in the 2014/15 financial year and sold the pitch and clubhouse in Walterbush Road to Minotaur Group – which supports businesses struggling with financial deficits.

The previous committee and trustees then dissolved and a new committee was formed in July last year.

Minotaur Group demolished the old clubhouse and are constructing a new one nearby, which they offered to lease to the football club.

Talks between the two sides have now collapsed and Minotaur Group said it is in discussions with other sports clubs regarding future use of the clubhouse.

The football club’s new committee is now looking at Archstone Projects Ltd, a land promotion company, which is working on plans to deliver about 200 homes in Chipping Norton with developer Bellway.

An application has not yet been submitted for the proposals, which include football pitches and tennis courts, on land to the west of Burford Road.

In a letter to head of planning at West Oxfordshire District Council, the treasurer of Chipping Norton FC Adam Hunt and the treasurer of youth club Chipping Norton Swifts FC Martyn Walsh, said the new pitches could benefit the whole community.

Their letter reads: "Any new recreational space would be welcomed in Chipping Norton, particularly for football.

"We firmly believe Chipping Norton is crying out for additional grass pitches and we are certain they would be used to their fullest potential in conjunction with the existing Swifts pitch at Greystones.

"The Swifts and the men's team are both in agreement that such a facility would enable our clubs to prosper for many years to come.

"With so many new houses being built and the expected population boom, additional facilities are absolutely necessary."

Director at Archstone Matthew Gough said: “We identified a need for people in Chipping Norton. With our proposal we would effectively gift football pitches and tennis courts to the town.

“We’ve given presentations to the town council and councillors have been very positive. Both of the football clubs are very interested.

“No application has been submitted yet because we’re trying to assess the support at a district level.”

Chipping Norton Town FC was established in 1893.

The club, known as The Magpies has two teams and about 40 playing members.