A football club can demolish its "woefully inadequate" changing rooms and build a new clubhouse.
Worthing United's planning bid for new changing facilities and a shower room to replace its current pavilion off Hill Barn Lane has been approved.
The application received an outpouring of support from parents of players at the club who say the change is “well overdue”. One person said the current facilities are woefully inadequate.
Matt Rivers, who runs two teams at the club, said he is “constantly having to apologise to parents and opposition about the state of the existing structure”. Girls and boys currently have to use the same changing facilities.
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Matthew Stanley, a manager of the under sevens and under eights teams, emphasised the importance of the new clubhouse for female players.
He said: “Since I started managing my daughter’s team two years ago, I have seen an explosion in the popularity of girls' youth football not only in this town, but across the country.
“Last season we had 11 teams in our league/age group, next season there will be 35.
“The girls' game is growing. Worthing United are playing a huge role in that growth.
“However the facilities at Hill Barn are currently doing their best to undo all this good work due to the dilapidated state they are in at the moment. My team, under nines, are reluctant to go into the changing rooms or use the toilets due to their condition so don’t currently have anywhere to change or go to the loo.
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“Really hoping we can get cracking with this new project and keep the club at the forefront of youth and girls football in this town.”
One commenter who lives nearby raised concerns of “antisocial behaviour and vandalism” in the area, reporting that neighbouring containers encourage teenagers to climb on the roof of the current facilities.
The clubhouse development project manager, Doug Taylor, said that they were aware of this and have been a victim of the behaviour themselves, with equipment stolen and property vandalised on almost a weekly basis. He said the containers would be removed.
Jason Nicholls, chairman of Worthing United Youth FC, said: "We are very pleased with the outcome of the application."
The club is raising funds to pay for the new facilities.
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