TODAY signals the start of a new era for March Town United after the football club received planning permission for a £140,000 clubhouse at the GER.

Fenland District Council have given the green light to the Hares’ proposal, which will see a club room and changing facilities built next to the grandstand.

The clubhouse will have a bar, community room, medical room, kitchen, toilets and changing rooms as well as a front entrance on Robingoodfellow’s Lane.

Chairman Phil White received confirmation of planning permission this morning.

“I’m absolutely over the moon,” he said. “We can get it all moving forward now - the Hares are on the move!”

March, who have one of the oldest wooden stands in the country, have not had a clubhouse since 1994.

The plans for the new £140,000 building emerged after a long-running dispute with their landlords, the GER Sports Club, ended in an out-of-court settlement in February.

The feud resulted in a package which could see the football club receive £40,000 - to be paid in instalments - and a new 30-year lease from their landlords.

March have held meetings with the Football Foundation with a view to securing funding, and they hope that the clubhouse could be finished as early as September.

Planning permission was granted on several conditions - including the submission of plans for external lighting and CCTV.