ONE of the country's most celebrated amateur football clubs is looking forward to a home of its own after stadium plans were approved.

The plans for a football pitch, grandstand and terrace on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, means Bishop Auckland Football Club players and officials can start looking to the future.

Wear Valley District Council has welcomed the development, on a former pit heap north of the West Auckland bypass, at St Helen Auckland. The Two Blues, which won the FA Amateur Cup a record ten times, left their home of 115 years, Kingsway, in April 2002.

Since then, they have shared a ground with nearby clubs Shildon and Spennymoor.

Bosses have been developing plans for a move for the past 11 years.

Club chairman Terry Jackson said: "This has been an important part of the project for us. We are very pleased."

The project, which is expected to cost £700,000 was discussed by councillors on Thursday night. The proposed access for the site will be from West Auckland, and there will be about 100 car parking and coach spaces.

The club is also planning to encourage supporters to walk, cycle and use public transport to get to the ground.

A car parking strategy has also been created by the club, which will involve giving supporters details of alternative parking in the area and negotiating with local businesses to use their vacant parking spaces on match days.