FOOTBALL fans in Wellington could soon be enjoying matches from a new stand, if plans are approved.

Wellington AFC has applied to Somerset Council for permission to build a new 100-capacity ‘standing’ stand at the club’s North Street home.

The application comes after an inspection by the Football Association which showed the current stand was not suitable for the club to play at ‘level 5’ of the football pyramid, which includes the Premier Division of the Western League – where Wellington currently reside.

The club – nicknamed The Tangerines – said the application after an inspection this year.

“Applying criteria set out by the Football Association, the subsequent report received revealed a number of areas where the club’s facilities at the Playing Field, Wellington, failed the required standard for the club to play at level 5 which includes the Premier Division of the Western League, a status that they currently enjoy,” it said.

“Clubs were given until March 25, 2025, to carry out improvements to meet the required standard.

“Wellington’s covered ‘standing’ stand, which had previously been accepted to meet the minimum required standard of having a capacity of 100, had failed this criteria as it was deemed that not all spectators could see all four corner flags of the pitch.

“The assessing officer, however, agreed it was suitable for 50 spectators to do so.”

As a result of the inspection, the club said it was required to provide “additional covered ‘standing’ accommodation to meet the criteria”.

“Pre-planning advice was sought and it was agreed that a site situated at the northern end of the pitch to the east of the existing ‘seated’ stand would be the most acceptable location,” the application went on.

“Specialist firms were contacted and quotations received to provide a 100-capacity, open-ended, steel-framed cladded stand with a two-tiered concrete base.

“The club will need to complete installation by March 25, 2025, to maintain it’s level 5 status.”

The scheme will now be considered by planners at Somerset Council. For more details, and to comment on the scheme, log on to somerset.gov.uk and search application reference 43/24/0113.