PLANS to upgrade the ground at Taunton's premier football club have been unveiled - to ensure the club would be ready for National League level football.

Taunton Town, who are riding high in the BetVictor Southern League's Premier South division (Step 3 in the National League System), need to carry out improvements at their home ground to comply with FA regulations for Step 2 of the pyramid.

To that end, a planning application has been submitted to construct a new turnstile and to install a canopy roof over the raised viewing stand at the Cygnet Health Care Stadium, at Wordsworth Drive.

A statement accompanying the application to Somerset West and Taunton Council says: "Due to the club's recent and ongoing success, the FA stipulate the stadium must comply with their national ground grading for a category B stadium appropriate to NLS Step 2 - National League North and South."

The turnstile entrance would enable opposition spectators to be segregated, while the canopy roof would allow the club to accommodate the required 500 covered seats.

Kevin Sturmey, the Peacocks, chief executive, chairman and head groundsman, said the ambitious club was preparing to get things in order ahead of hopefully achieving its aim of getting promoted to the national leagues.

As things stand Taunton would go up if the club won promotion from the Southern League, but would need to have three turnstiles and 500 covered seats in place by March 31 of the first season in the national league.

Mr Sturmey said: "Everything we're doing is geared to promotion to the national league and beyond."