A rugby club has unveiled ambitious plans to transform its grounds into “the best in Kent” with an overhaul worth more than £1 million.

Ashford Rugby Football Club hopes to build a new kitchen, changing rooms and car park spaces alongside a wholesale revamp of its clubhouse.

Based in Canterbury Road, Kennington, the current building was last modernised in 1985 and now bosses want to “grow and improve”.

Club president Mick Stanley explained: “We want to make sure future generations can continue to play at a club that's fit for purpose.

“Particularly the facilities around the changing rooms - we want to cater for different types of players including unisex playing.

“We want to create a diverse range of things happening at the club.

“I would say we will have the best club facilities in Kent.

“Being a president myself and having been around every club in the area, I can make that comparison and I think we can pull ourselves up to the top.”

The club hopes to raise the sum through sponsorships as well as fundraising events such as firework displays and food festivals.

Following an influx of new players, the time has come for a bigger, better clubhouse, chairman John Norman explained.

“Our current facilities have been there since 1985 - obviously the game has changed a lot since then,” he said.

“The club has grown incredibly, with an influx of minis and junior players, especially with the girls and the women’s sides, and our facilities no longer suit everything that we need.

“We need to grow, we need to improve, we need to provide facilities for everyone that’s playing.”

The grounds already have “great” outdoor facilities and it is time the indoor amenities meet the same standard, Mr Norman added.

He continued: “We want to start as soon as we can.

“There’s huge sponsorship opportunities for the project, for small or large donations.

“If anyone would like to sponsor, please email arfcbigbuild@gmail.com.”

The project is expected to cost just under £1.5 million, and is expected to be completed in four to five years.

Ashford Rugby Club was founded in 1885 and has been based at Kinneys Field since 1980.

It caters for players from six years old with no upper age limit.