EVESHAM United are hoping to move into their new stadium in time for the start of next season.

The Robins, who play in the Zamaretto League Premier Division, are due to see construction work start on the Cheltenham Road site in January.

Plans have been in the pipeline since the club left its Common Road home in 2006 but crucial funding — £850,000 in grants from the Football Foundation, Sport England and Football Stadia Improvement Fund — have only just been secured.

Costing £1.87 million, the 25-acre development will include eight full-sized pitches, a grass training area, facilities for mini-soccer and six changing rooms.

The main stand will seat 300 spectators, bringing it in line with criteria for the Southern League, a covered area behind one goal, parking and a multi-purpose function room.

It is expected to be completed by August, allowing Paul West’s team to kick-off the 2010/11 campaign in their new home.

Evesham are currently in their third season of ground-sharing at Worcester City’s St George’s Lane stadium, a deal believed to be worth around £15,000-a-year to the landlords.

United chairman Jim Cock-erton said: “Everything is in place, it’s just a case of crossing a few ‘t’s and dotting a few ‘i’s.

“We’ve still got a lot of work to do but it’s nice to get the fundraising out of the way and now we can concentrate our efforts on building the facility.”