Department to build a clubhouse, along with day care nursery, next to Bernard Park where they play their home matches.

Village, without a clubhouse since vacating their former premises on North Shore earlier this year, want to have both the club and ground at the same location. They currently use the BPSA building for meetings.

The application, submitted recently, calls for a 5413 square foot building on the northwestern end of Bernard Park field where Village played their first match on November 17, 1991.

Included in the plans are a day care nursery for 40 children, conference room, office, changing room and gym. Also there would be parking for 20 cars.

The club suffered a minor setback earlier this year when they lost the changing facilities at the nearby Nichol Institute building which was part of the education restructuring scheme. As a result the club brought in trailers as changing facilities.

"We were able to secure some construction trailers which we renovated to make them comfortable for the players and officials,'' said North Village secretary Wendell Lindsay.

Village president Rudolph Hollis sees the new building as a necessity for the club's future plans.

"This building has been designed to accommodate our programmes, the community's needs in general and to raise revenue to support our activities,'' Hollis said in a letter to the Planning Department.

"This proposal will be of major benefit to our organisation, the youth of Bermuda, and the community at large. It has been designed to cater to your needs, reflect traditional Bermudian architecture and to have the least impact on the amenity of the park.'' Despite being one of the top clubs in Bermuda, North Village have long struggled to find a permanent home. Previously they have played their home matches at St. David's, PHC Stadium and BAA Field.

"...We are optimistic that the completion of this building will bring an end to years of frustration in not having adequate facilities whilst our programmes continue to grow,'' Hollis continued in the letter.

He pointed out that the club had nine junior and senior football teams, two cricket teams, three netball teams and a softball team and often hosted other sports and community events.

"Development has been in the making for over ten years,'' he stated.

"Our original proposal for a clubhouse in this location was deferred in 1985 pending negotiation with the Education Department for use of the Nichol Institute building located in the south-east corner of the park.

"The Education Department has now confirmed that this building will not be leased and as such we have reverted back to our original proposal. This site is zoned recreational with a portion zoned Woodland Reserve.'' Added the president: "In 1985 when the location of the building was chosen, this area was not zoned Woodlands Reserve and as such all utilities were placed in this location.

"The physical state of this site has not changed and as such our proposal will not be contrary to the general intent of the Woodlands Reserve zoning.'' Last season the FA Cup semi-final was played at Bernard Park and this Sunday the first leg of the Dudley Eve final will be played there.