MAJOR changes to Penrhyncoch’s football ground to help it grow and compete in the second tier of Welsh football have been approved by planners.

Penrhyncoch FC are hoping to access Welsh FA grant funding to complete an upgrade of Cae Baker that will see another 75-seat grandstand added to the ground along with renovated changing rooms and a new spectator block.

The plans were given the green light under delegated powers by Ceredigion planning officers.

The first team of Penrhyncoch FC competes in the Cymru Alliance League, and in order to maintain its Tier 2 Licensing Criteria needs to increase the seating capacity at the ground to 250 spectators.

Currently the club has 197 seats and a dedicated area for three wheelchair users.

A statement put to the planning application said it is the club’s intention to “add to the existing stand another 75-seater stand in exactly the same design and specifications as the current stand”.

Gari Lewis, Penrhyncoch FC manager, said: “If we want to stay in the Cymru Alliance, we will have to have this stand. We are in a relegation battle at the moment but, we hope to stay up.

“We have now also got new fencing because, for the licensing scheme, you have got to have all these things in place.”

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