It's coming home to Southall, maybe...

Southall Football Club could return home if residents choose to back its bid to relocate to the site of a local wildlife spot.

The local football club could return to its namesake town if residents approve a planned takeover of Warren Farm.

A survey on the future of the site has been launched by Ealing Council after the former sports centre fell into dilapidation over ten years ago.

Southall Football Club is based at the Robert Parker Stadium in Stanwell, Surrey, approximately 8 miles from Southall. The club was founded in 1871, making it one of England's oldest football clubs. Southall FC's interest in taking over Warren Farm has been endorsed by Labour MP for Ealing Southall Virendra Sharma.

Posting on his Facebook page on April 18 alongside a link to the council's consultation, Sharma wrote: "Warren Farm Sports Centre identified as possible (sic) suitable site for Southall Football Club.

"Ealing Council have opened a public consultation, we need outdoor sports facilities along with nature to rejuvenate Warren Farm."

Warren Farm was used for sports pitches until the 1990s before falling out of use. In 2009 football club Queens Park Rangers considered acquiring and relocating to the site.

Over the years, the lack of maintenance at Warren Farm has allowed the area to become overgrown and attract many forms of wildlife, which the council says it wants to find a way to preserve. According to campaigners hoping to make Warren Farm a nature reserve, animals including hedgehogs, skylarks, owls and toads have made the site their home. During the pandemic, Warren Farm became a popular site with locals to exercise.

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A decision was taken by Ealing Council to launch the survey into the site's future following a campaign from over 6,000 residents to see Warren Farm preserved as a local nature reserve last year.

The council's survey on Warren Farm will close on May 20, with draft plans for the site's future due to be presented to the public later this summer. Ealing Council, Southall FC and Virendra Sharma have been approached for comment.