AN ambitious football club has applied for permission to build a new stand and floodlights as part of its campaign to join the elite of the region's amateur sides.

Darlington Railway Athletic Club is hoping to carry out the improvements at its Brinkburn Road ground.

The Wearside League side has been told the pitch-side floodlights are essential if they hope to be promoted to the Northern League.

Club secretary Martin Jackson said: "Our main team have improved considerably over the past four years and the standards of the Northern League requires us to have the floodlights and spectator stand.

"We are also working hard to make the club as attractive as possible and the new equipment would really enhance its facilities."

The club is gaining the proposed equipment second-hand from the Cleveland Bridge Social and Athletic Club on Neasham Road.

A spokesman for Darlington Borough Council said: "We are in contact with the club regarding the new stand and lights. There are certain details, such as the size and height of the lights that need to be considered."

Schools would also benefit from the new equipment. Mr Jackson said: "We already hold all the school's football finals at the club and hopefully this will continue. We want to see the children of the future playing here."

The club has already had permission from the council to build an all-weather pitch and changing rooms to replace the ones in use since the club opened in 1913.

There is a large demand for all-weather playing surfaces in the area, because the other all-weather pitch is at the Eastbourne Sports Complex on the other side of the town.

Tim Paver, co-ordinator for the project, said: "The all-weather pitch will provide a community facility for everyone to use, especially schools and sports clubs."

They are in the process of putting an application together to Sport England to fund the £400,000 project.

Mr Paver said: "The club will have to fund about a third of the cost itself and would be grateful for sponsorship from companies in the region."