Rundown and dilapidated changing rooms used by around 200 young footballers every week could be replaced if a £1.6m bid gets the go-ahead.

For the past 40 years, Oxford Blackbirds football club have been forced to use changing rooms at Blackbird Leys Park which have no showers, heating or separate rooms for boys and girls teams.

They also have to share the building with Blackbird Leys Bowls Club and were locked out of the changing rooms at the start of the season following a dispute over changes to a contract between clubs and Oxford City Council.

Now the city council is meeting the Football Foundation to bid for funds to build new changing rooms and three all-weather football pitches.

Chairman Nigel Medlock said: "The dressing rooms at the moment are not brilliant. They are functional but we haven't had any showers for 40 years.

"They are dilapidated and old so there's no point spending money on repairing them.

"It is not going to be a five minute job. It will take a long time to get through. We would welcome new changing rooms."

The Oxford Blackbirds, based in Blackbird Leys, have nine football clubs and 200 boys and girls ranging from six- to 14-years-old.

Two months ago, the club launched a Save Oxford Blackbirds Campaign when their sports equipment was locked out of the changing rooms following disagreements with the council over a new contract demanding more money from youth football clubs.

They have since returned to the changing rooms.

The city council will meet with the Football Foundation in November to discuss a bid for money to build new changing rooms and all weather football pitches in Court Place Farm and Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre.

A council report presented to the south east area committee earlier this month claims the current facilities are no longer fit for purpose and require replacement.

Full plans include a synthetic full-sized pitch at Court Place Farm in North Oxford costing up to £600,000 and changing rooms in Blackbird Leys Park with two all-weather outdoor pitches at Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre worth £1m.

Fergus Lapage, city council south east area co-ordinator, said: "We are going to meet with the Football Foundation in November.

"We will have to decide on how we should contribute funds during the next financial year and go through the project in much more detail."

It could take 12 months before the bid is agreed.

Some funds provided out of the city council coffers may be taken from £160,000 development contributions earmarked for providing an all-weather football pitch in Spindleberry Park in Blackbird Leys or £300,000 from taxpayers money.