Locks Heath Sports and Social Club has lodged an appeal against the restricted use of the floodlights at their ground in Warsash Road.
The appeal is against condition four of the decision from a planning application heard by Fareham Borough Council earlier this year which states the floodlights should not be used on more than one occasion from Monday to Friday during any one week.
The club can currently use the floodlights on 25 occasions in a calendar year for training but not matches and wanted to increase that to 72 times for both – and more than once a week.
However, nearby residents concerned about swearing, noise and light pollution affecting them complained and the council gave a compromise decision.
Approval was given for a trial period of 12 months for the floodlights to be used 50 times in one year, although only 25 times for matches and only once during the mid-week period for either training or a match.
The club, which won the Hampshire Premier League last season and was on course for promotion, sought planning permission to use the floodlights more often to meet the requirements of the Wessex League, which is where they had hoped to be playing in the upcoming season.
But without the promotion and a restriction on the floodlights, chairman of Locks Heath FC Dougie Leask has lodged an appeal.
“The appeal went in because only being able to use the floodlights once a week is so restrictive that we’ve had to put on hold the idea of having a ladies league this season,” he said.
“Games would be a Thursday night but we’ve already got teams scheduled for mid-week fixtures.
“We have four teams and three who could be given a mid-week fixture.
Locks Heath recreation ground
“If we were allowed to have the freedom to use the floodlights as we need, but obviously taking due care and attention of the pitch and the local residents, that would be good.
“If we were allowed to use them up to the maximum of three times a week, the chances of us using them three times each week would be remote. Using it more than three times wouldn’t happen.”
A concern for the club would be that restricted used of the floodlights would not allow the first team to move up a league next season.
Mr Leask added: “It would not be the deciding factor. But providing the additional games would strengthen our case because we’d be allowed to play when we need to so we’d be in a stronger position for promotion.
“We’ve tried to do a lot of work with the community about this. I feel we’ve got a good facility being under-used – the whole sports and social club not just the football pitch. The sports and social club is there for anyone who wants to use it, not just the footballers or the cricketers.”
The deadline for comments on the appeal application is August 8.
A government inspector would be appointed to carry out the appeal and a decision would be made within six weeks.