A £2-million proposal to build the biggest outdoor public sports complex in West Devon has been lodged with the Football Foundation in London. The scheme, for a comprehensive new football complex at Crowndale on the edge of Tavistock, is for six new pitches, a new grandstand, five new sets of changing rooms, a community room and a car parking area. The plans also include a separate access road through the existing football club. Land adjacent to the site at Tavistock College is earmarked for a full size all-weather pitch. The scheme has been drawn up by local groups over the last 15 years and organisations behind the plans have raised money locally over that period to realise the dream. West Devon Borough Council, Devon County Football Association, Crowndale Recreation Association, Tavistock Football Club, Tavistock College, Devon County Council and local junior and ladies? football teams have all played a major role in the project. An application has now been registered with the Football Foundation for a £1.5-million grant, the maximum possible. It is hoped £500,000 will come from other sources. An earlier application involving the same site went into the Football Foundation in 2004 and has been revised in consultation with Foundation officials. Part of the bid also includes a football development management scheme which will see a dedicated officer appointed to develop football in the area over the next five-year period. West Devon Borough Cllr Nick Morgan, who has been on the co-ordinating committee for the project, said: ?We sincerely hope that if the bid is successful, this will produce one of the most significant new football complexes in Devon and will change the face of football in the area. ?A lot of people have worked very hard indeed to bring this scheme forward over the years and after a lot of negotiation with a series of very helpful people, we are quietly confident that the bid will be a success.? John Warne, chairman of Crowndale Recreation Association, said: ?Tavistock has always been famous for its meadows and this scheme will provide a further recreational green lung alongside the River Tavy which will be enjoyed by future generations to come. ?For CRA members this will be a vision they have held firm to for more than 15 years. I am so happy for them and our many supporters over those years.? Derek Pethick, chairman of Tavistock Football Club, added: ?The town has produced many outstanding young players over the years and as this is predominantly a youth project I am sure that it will bring forward many, many more. ?It gives everyone a wonderful opportunity to play local football, whether just for the fun of it or to aim for the highest level.? Colin Eves, Tavistock College principal, said: ?I am absolutely delighted that we have finally got these bid proposals submitted to the Football Foundation. ?While I understand this has been a long-running issue in the area, I feel certain that these proposals will provide a much better outcome for everyone in the whole community and we believe there is a very strong chance they will be successful. ?Everyone involved has worked very closely with the Football Association in Devon, which is fully supportive of the detail of the bids and Hannah Buckley of Devon FA has provided invaluable support to us. ?We hope a successful outcome will provide far greater opportunities for our more talented footballers and their future progression, both male and female, younger and older, as well as being of tremendous benefit to the wider community.? The application will now go before three Football Foundation Panels in the next four months and a decision is expected by early spring. It is hoped the scheme, which will have a construction period of one year, will start in the summer of 2008.