A £1MILLION indoor football centre could be constructed in the Ribble Valley.

Clitheroe Wolves FC is behind the plan to redevelop part of the Roefield playing pitches in the town.

The club’s 36 teams, made up of around 500 youngsters, are forced to travel to Blackburn, Darwen and Burnley during the winter months to play their games as the grass pitches are not usable because of the poor weather.

The money is being provided by the club and the Lancaster Foundation.

The plan would be subject to approval by Ribble Valley Borough Council.

Chairman Ross Hibbert said: “This would be unbelievable for the club.

“We are one of the biggest in East Lancashire and trying to get enough pitches for everyone has always been a juggling act.

“Using places like high schools is not ideal and it would be massive for us if we were able to stay in the town.

“This has been a project that we have been wanting to do for the last 25 years but never had the financial backing to start it.

“Four of John Lancaster’s grandchildren play for the club and he got in contact with us and helped us put this play together.”

Mr Hibbert, whose dad George is the club president, said he hoped the centre would be completed by winter 2018.

The plan, which also includes improving the 3G pitches at Roefield Sports Centre, is to be debated by the council’s community services committee on Tuesday, May 16.

In a document a council spokesman said: “The project would require the council agreeing to lease some of the land adjacent to the outdoor tennis courts to the club, so they could apply for planning permission to build an indoor football centre incorporating a new artificial 3G pitch area.

“This would facilitate indoor training during winter months and provide a year round facility as well for football and rugby teams.

“At this stage the project is a proposal and details such as charges which the club would pay for a lease, programming and ongoing maintenance liabilities have not been discussed.

“They would form part of further discussions if committee approves in principle the idea.”

The committee has been recommended by council officers to approve the plan in principal ahead of a formal application being submitted.

Clitheroe Wolves was set up in 1992 with just two teams but is set to have 40 next season.