Cockermouth Junior Football Club hopes to raise £600,000 to cover the cost of creating three pitches and a clubhouse on its Tarn Close site.

Members are hoping to raise the money with the help of local businesses and funding bodies.

The club moved on to the site in January last year and has secured a 30-year lease with the town council.

A member of the Football Association visited the site this week to offer expert advice.

Club chairman Des Wright said: “The visit was largely aimed at looking at the pitch and advising us on the maintenance needed.”

The club plans to remove the running track and create three pitches for 11-a-side, nine-a-side and seven-a-side.

“At the moment we only use the central area of the running track, this would almost double the playing area we have,” said Des.

The club has 300 players aged between seven and 18.

“It has grown significantly over the past couple of years. We have a close relationship with Cockermouth School and use their pitches too, this will continue to happen,” said Des.

“Regarding the clubhouse, at the most basic level it would include toilets and changing facilities. Ideally we would like to create some sort of home for the club with a function room and kitchen area so that we can provide better services. At the moment we have a portable building and very basic toilet facilities.”

The club has not yet fully costed the work, which is expected to be part of a five-year plan. “I think it will be about £600,000. The funding strategy would involve engaging with local businesses and funding bodies,” said Des.

The club recently hosted the town’s annual football tournament, run by the Rotary Club.

“We are looking to try to engage with the community as much as we can,” said Des.

“We are all excited about the plans - and a little bit daunted, it’s a big step for us.

“We have more than 40 volunteers involved with the club and hope to attract even more.”