FOOTBALL is coming home, subject to planning permission.

For the first time in nearly two decades Wokingham’s football team could be given the chance to play their home games for their desired league in the town.

Currently playing their ‘home’ fixtures in Henley, Wokingham and Emmbrook FC will be hoping plans to set up floodlights for their games will be approved by the borough council.

The Emmbrook Sports and Social club have put in a plan to build a grandstand along with new parking area for 70 cars and floodlights for matches.

Mark Ashwell, trustee of Emmbrook Sports and Social club, and director of Wokingham and Emmbrook Football Club, said if approved the plans would allow the team to play matches in their league at their Lowther Road base.

“We are looking at a 100 seat grandstand and create more formal parking arrangements that will be a large benefit to the local residents, getting cars off the road.

“The league our first team aspire to requires floodlights. We will need them next year for our under 18s, who are thriving and can play home games in the evening.

“We use floodlights for training etc and we have had informal lighting there for 20 years.

“Right now the first team are playing in Henley, who have been fantastic but it costs £250 per game, which is a bargain, and we lose on proceeds over the bar of around £200.

“We held a public meeting in June but we’re holding another one on Tuesday, February 2 between 8pm and 9pm in the club house.”

The ‘Sumas’ currently play in the Hellenic Premier league, where they sit in bottom place with just nine points after 27 games.

Wokingham FC left the town in 1999 when their previous base was sold for housing. Since then they have ground shared with teams across Berkshire before joining to form Wokingham and Emmbrook FC in 2004.

The plans on Wokingham’s planning portal have more than 50 comments including one from Luke Mullen, chairman of Hartley Wintney FC.

He writes: “ I wholeheartedly support this application. This club has a tremendous history and should be (again) part of the local community.

“Football is a sport that embraces all genders and races. Clubs give a lot and deserve all the support that the council can give.”