NORTHWICH is set to become the home of a state-of-the-art centre of excellence for women's football, with a £70 million complex planned for the town.

The exact location of the site, which will play host to two FIFA standard Grassmaster pitches – one of which will be flanked by a stadium of up to 3,000 capacity – is to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Further developments include three 3G pitches, six grass pitches, a youth zone and luxury hotel and spa.

In addition, the Cheshire FA is in talks with a club from the top flight of the women’s game – WSL1 – to move their operation to the site.

Players from Everton women's team were at the press briefing at Moss Farm today. 

The county FA is working in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Council and ION Developments.

Th centre of excellence will be for the ‘whole pyramid’ of women’s football, with some emphasis on development from grassroots.

Dave Edmunds, chairman on Cheshire County FA, said: “The proposal will see Cheshire at the forefront of County FA Football Development at every level of the game.

“Our aim is to provide a fantastic facility that will significantly increase opportunities and experiences for all participants within the game, be they individuals or clubs.

“At a time when the Football Association is targeting the doubling of participation in the women’s game, this will also give Cheshire and our partners the chance to lead the way, and create a lasting legacy not only for women’s and girl’s football, but the whole game throughout the county of Cheshire.”

The site is currently agricultural land in council ownership along the A556, one mile from the Cheshire FA base at Moss Farm.

It is hoped that planning permission will be lodged with CWAC by January, from which point there are ambitions for an 18-month build period.

As things stand, the project is not being directly funded by the FA, and the scheme is not in conjunction with the men’s centre of excellence at St George’s Park in Burton.