A south London football club is set to install a new pitch and extra seats after winning the National League and securing promotion.

Work on upgrading Sutton United’s Gander Green Lane ground is now in full swing.

The football club, formed in 1898 and made famous by the ‘pie-gate’ FA Cup scandal will make its debut in the English Football League’s second tier (EFL) next month.

EFL rules state that games must be played on grass, meaning the club is currently replacing its artificial pitch, installing new turnstiles and a new stand.

The plans were given the green light by Sutton Council bosses last week.

The upgrade will see segregated home and away fans meaning League Two Sutton United will be adding a new grandstand – boosting the capacity at the ground from 500, mostly standing, to just over 4,000 on match days with a higher proportion of seats.

Chair of Sutton Council’s Planning Committee, Councillor Drew Heffernan said: “We are all proud of Sutton United for their promotion, so it was a pleasure to grant permission for the changes they will need as they begin this next chapter in their history.

“My committee and the whole of the council would like to congratulate Sutton United on their successful application and wish them all the best for next season and beyond.”

But the pitch upgrade means the club is having to find alternative training ground for its teams.

Sutton United’s disability team has will start training at Cheam Sports Club from next month.

In a video from SUFC TV vice chairman, Adrian Barry, said: “[We are] ensuring that we house the many teams we’ve got here, not just the first team in terms of training ground facility as we won’t be able to train on this pitch here.

“But our other teams that we have here too, juniors, women’s disability section and walking football they need to be housed and finding alternative venues is an ongoing job.

“Obviously one solution, Cheam Sports Club, but we’ve got three or four other venues we are looking at in that regard.”