Work on the expansion of a Gaelic Football Club could begin within months after it was approved by Solihull planners. 

New pitches and a clubhouse are among the plans at John Mitchels Gaelic Football Club in Hockley Heath, Solihull, where England football star Jack Grealish once played. 

Padraic Crehan, from the club, said work was likely to begin in the new year as officials were now in the final stages of preparation.

"It's exciting," he said, "Solihull is a hotbed for Gaelic football.

"The development is much-needed, we have been trying to get training facilities – it will really help. Local schools are on board too."

The plans include new multi-sports pitches across the Box Trees Farm site; the erection of a two-storey clubhouse including changing facilities and function areas; fencing and lighting columns to one pitch near the proposed clubhouse and car parking with improved landscaping features.

The application was unanimously voted for by Solihull councillors when it came before the planning committee earlier this year. 

During that meeting former councillor Jim Ryan, who was sitting on the committee at the time, said: "What is exciting about it for me is it's a multi-sport application – it doesn't just cover a minority sport, it covers a multiplicity of sports. 

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"Unless they get the facilities they need schools would not be able to use it because one of the standards for Ofsted is where children use sporting activity there must be changing rooms and showers. 

"This (application) covers that."

Manchester City and England international footballer Grealish played Gaelic football for the club between the ages of 10 and 14 before going on to make his name at Aston Villa. 

Solihull is also home to Páirc na hÉireann – the main Gaelic games sports facility in the West Midlands. That facility, near Bickenhill, has three full-size Gaelic Athletic Association pitches and regularly hosts hurling teams from Ireland.