AMBITIOUS Stourbridge Football Club has been given the green light to increase the crowd capacity of its War Memorial Athletic Ground.

Plans have now been approved to allow the Glassboys to double the size of their existing capacity from 2,087 to just over 4,000.

The improvements will enable the club to play at the highest level of non league football.

Already considerable work has taken place on the ground over the past 12 months to maintain the current level three status.

Improvements to the floodlights and changing rooms, together with work at the church end of the ground has already cost the club in the region of £160,000, of which £85,000 was provided by the Football Foundation.

Now the club is looking to increase the capacity of the shed end of the ground by installing 250 tip-up seats at the front of the stand, with crush barriers behind the seats, further standing accommodation, a terraced gangway and gated access.

No time scheduled has been put in place for the improvements, but club director Ian Pilkington confirmed: "It shows we are serious about taking the club up to the next level of non league football.

"If we can obtain promotion on the pitch, then there is nothing holding us back and we know exactly what work needs to be done.

"Our current crowd capacity is only acceptable up to level three of non league football, but if we need to improve matters we can now react quickly without having to seek planning permission."

Progress is also taking place at the club's training ground and junior development site in Oldswinford.

The Glassboys have brokered a deal with King Edward VI College, The Football Foundation and the ECB to develop Greenfields in Swinford Road.

The facility is set to cost in region of £450,000 and will have six pitches to cater for all levels of football in addition to a brand new pavilion, with four changing rooms, referees' changing facilities, kitchen, classroom and storage area.