Oxford City Football Club have revealed plans to support grassroots sport with a £2m redevelopment of their ground.

City are seeking planning permission to develop Court Place Farm, in Marsh Road, Marston.

Plans include providing an all-weather pitch – similar to the one played on by England against Russia in Moscow for their Euro 2008 qualifier – six netball courts, four grass pitches and new changing rooms.

Club managing director Colin Taylor said the project would build on the club being named the 2008 Community Club of the Year by the Football Foundation.

He added: “This is something that will be for the whole community. We’re just the ones that are looking to get the funding for the project.

“We have already spoken to a number of schools in the area about using the facilities once they’re up and running.

“The whole design for the project has been focused on making the site as accessible as possible for people living in Marston, Northway and the rest of Oxford.”

Public consultation meetings were held earlier this month, allowing people to see the designs for the first time.

Oxford City Council has also agreed to lease more land to the club, to provide the space needed for the development.

It is hoped the project will get planning permission early next year with work completed by 2010.

A grant of more than £1m will come from the Football Foundation and the club aims to raise the remainder from various charities.

The Football Foundation is the UK's largest sports charity, funded by the Premier League, the Football Associa-tion, Sport England and the Government.

“This isn’t just about football, but local sport in general,” said Mr Taylor.

“We’re working closely with the Oxfordshire Netball Association on the project.

“And the netball courts can also be used by disabled athletes from Oxsrad. We want to do everything to nurture sport in the community.”

Sue Blackshaw, facilities development co-ordinator for the netball association, said: “We don’t currently have any dedicated netball courts in the entire county.

“At the moment there are 1,000 girls who play in Oxfordshire, but have to use sports halls and courts laid out for other sports.

“These new facilities will become the new home of all the leagues in Oxfordshire and allow us to host championships in the county for the first time.”

Mr Taylor said the operation of the site would be overseen by a board representing those using the site, the city council, the Oxford Schools Sports Partnership, Oxford Sports Partnership and the Oxfordshire FA.