RUMOURS that a village football club is planning to sell its ground to make way for a national supermarket chain have been confirmed this week.

Officials at Cheddar AFC have revealed plans to sell their Bowdens Park ground to Tesco and use the money to move to a new purpose-built site.

The new facility will be open to the public and will have separate pitches for adults and juniors as well as a clubhouse, artificial all-weather pitch and changing rooms. Other sports clubs, as well as schools, will be able to use the new ground in Labourham Drove, Cheddar.

Tesco plans to open a new store, creating jobs in the village.

Steve Bayliss, Cheddar AFC chairman, said: “We are delighted to see this potential project take shape and are now keen to get the local community more involved in the plans. The proposed new facilities will play an important part in sustaining the football club and enable more local residents to enjoy sport.”

Tesco corporate manager Emma Heesom said: “We are still in discussion with Cheddar AFC and are excited about this potential agreement.

“We are keen to invest in facilities that will directly benefit the local community, as well as creating a significant number of local jobs and offering greater retail choice and value in Cheddar.”

A series of public consultations will take place if an agreement between Tesco and Cheddar AFC is finalised.

Jenny Fox, joint owner of Fox’s caf�, which is based at the club’s current ground, said that the caf� will move with the club to its new site.