NEWLY-PROMOTED Romsey have soared have launched a campaign to revitalise soccer and improve youth facilities for the town - but they need to win support from local businesses and councillors.

The club heard at the weekend that they have been promoted to the Premier Division of the Sydenhams Wessex League and this week manager Trevor Holmes unveiled plans to develop a youth framework and upgrade the club's facilities.

That youth framework, he said, is for girls' as well as boys' teams and the aim is to create a new all-weather training ground complete with floodlights.

"We are also looking to demolish our clubhouse and build a brand new, two-tier one, with a bar and football club facilities downstairs and an area upstairs where youth teams can go.

"We are also planning a balcony overlooking the pitch as well as the possibility of a snooker, pool and games room," he said.

The town manager has already enlisted good support from local companies, including Ace Liftaway and SES Autoparts, and is looking to build on that with firms like builders' merchants Elliotts and coach operator Avensis showing an interest.

"But," he said, "I feel it is time our Hampshire County Councillors and Test Valley Borough Councillors and our MP began giving us some support.

"The rugby club has two teams at Romsey Sports Centre but there is nowhere in the town which is really suitable for youngsters to go and kick a ball about; and there is nowhere for youth teams to train."

Romsey have won promotion after finishing third in Division 1 of the Wessex League and the reason they went ahead of other clubs was that they had progressively brought their facilities up to standard.

They are now in the same division as Totton, who reached this year's FA Vase final at Wembley and Holmes said: "It is a good league and we want to consolidate now we've got there.

"But we need help from our businesses and support from our councils and we have drawn up a business plan. We would probably need to spend around £90,000, which would include floodlights for the training ground, and we are keen to hear from anyone who is interested in helping the youth of the town and the football of the town."

Holmes and his fellow committee members look after the facilities, the upkeep of the pitch and the running of the teams fore nothing and the players.

At present, the club is funded by the fees paid by firms for advertising boards around the ground and that covers such things as the electricity, water, wazhing the kit and general maintenance.

Anyone who is interested in helping the club can contact manager Trevor Holmes on 0791 628 6516, his deputy Julian Waters on 077 161 4953 or chairman Ken Jacobs on 0785 055 0561