THE wheels are in motion for Grays Athletic Football Club to come back home.

The Ryman League division one side are preparing to meet planners at Thurrock Council in the next fortnight to show their preliminary plans for a £3million stadium and multi-use sports development off Long Lane, in north Grays.

The club hopes to submit the application within six months and to be playing football in the town again within two years.

Within the 77-acre site, currently a farmer’s field behind Thurrock Rugby Club, owner Andy Swallow wants to see capacity for 750 to 1,000 fans, with the option to bolt on more seats as the team progresses up the football pyramid.

There are also plans for a club bar, shop, function suite and offices.

Mr Swallow’s other ambition for the development is to replicate the success of his Loughton Academy in Grays.

The £1.8million facility has ten five-a-side astroturf pitches, as well as floodlit seven-a-side pitches, a James Degale boxing gym, gymnastics and Shotokan karate, a bar and a function suite.

The academy is big on supporting youth football and hosts numerous five-a-side leagues, soccer schools and camps, tournaments and other special events.

Mr Swallow said: “We could spend £1million on the new ground in Grays, or as much as £3million if we bring the academy concept with us.

“We don’t want to build something that gets left there as a white elephant, it has to be practical for community use.

“I think we need something like this in the area. We don’t want it to be just a stadium, but a whole development, with a building that has multi-surfaces for hockey, football or rugby, for when the weather is bad.”

Until then, Grays are set to lease the former Ford United ground, in Rush Green Road, Romford, from owners West Ham for the next two years.

The Blues have invested around £30,000 in getting the facilities at the ground up to scratch, while West Ham have paid for the pitch to be completely resurfaced, a new sprinkler system and lights.

Grays have spent the last two seasons ground-sharing at East Thurrock FC, in Corringham.