NON-LEAGUE Nelson Football Club has unveiled ambitious plans to expand its Victoria Park stadium - with a nod to a famous former boss.

The Admirals plan to raise £20,000 to fund a new 150-seat covered stand, which will be named after club legend, Joe Fagan.

Mr Fagan started his managerial career as Nelson’s player-boss in 1951 before going on to lift the European Cup and Football League First Division title with Liverpool in 1984.

Nelson’s commercial director Neil McGuinness said plans to upgrade the facilities at Victoria Park, off Lomeshaye Way, would allow the North West Counties Football League Premier Division side to move up the non-league pyramid.

The stadium, also known as Little Wembley, curr-ently holds up to 2,000 spectators, with 100 covered seats.

A sponsored walk from Liverpool to Nelson will be held in December to kickstart the fundraising campaign.

Mr McGuinness said: “The plan is for a hard-core of 16 walkers to make their way from Anfield, the home of Liverpool FC, to Victoria Park.

“The 62.8 mile journey will start on Friday, December 12, and go on through the night to arrive at Victoria Park in time for kick-off for the game with Runcorn Linnets on Saturday, December 13.

“The walk will be split into a series of 16 legs with an opening ‘open’ leg from Anfield to Goodison Park and a final ‘open’ leg in Nelson for everyone to join in with.

“The walk will take in nine football stadiums along the way; Liverpool, Everton, Wigan Athletic, Bolton Wanderers, Radcliffe Borough, Bury, Accrington Stanley, Burnley and Nelson.”

The club said it had already held discussion with Pendle Council and received the blessing of Mr Fagan’s family for the proposed stand, which would be situated at the bar end of the ground.

The club, which won the North West Counties Football League First Division title last season, opened a new matchday hospitality lounge last weekend.