Major plans for a new football stadium have been submitted to Gloucester City Council - which could draw the sports minister to the city, no less.

After more than a decade in exile from its former Meadow Park ground off Llanthony Road, Gloucester City Football Club could finally be coming home.

It will not be news to fans of the Tigers have eyes on developing their former ground, but submission of a planning application to help make that possible is new.

So new, in fact, that the details might be with the local authority but not yet on its public planning portal for all to see.

BREAKING NEWS - We can confirm that, this evening, the full planning application for the new @GCAFCofficial stadium layout revisions has been submitted to @GloucesterCity. The application will be validated in due course...#MPUpdates

— Meadow Park Stadium Updates (@MeadowPark1883) January 25, 2019

Alex Petheram, director of Gloucester City, is one of the team of individuals carefully built by businessman and Keyway Group owner Eamonn McGurk, who has been financially supporting the club during its exile and making its continued existence possible.

Mr Petheram, who was born in Gloucester, joined the board last year and is also managing director of Soldi Construction, said, "This is a massive and necessary step forward in the journey back to Gloucester.

"Following consideration of all options, we believe that these revised proposals provide the best opportunity for the club to return during the 2019/20 season."

The development caused a flurry of activity on Twitter from fans and Gloucester MP Richard Graham also joined in the excitement and revealed he has raised the club's situation at the highest level.

Good news. Have asked Sports Minister to come & visit @GCAFCofficial at Meadow Park soon. We need whole city as well as govmt to rally behind club for Football Foundation bid & make 2019 #TheYearFootballComesBackToGloucester https://t.co/PkW3chzNmm

— Richard Graham (@RichardGrahamUK) January 25, 2019