Non-league side buys stand for £5,500 on eBay

The stand will now be deconstructed, and moved via truck from the Isle of Wight

Following promotion, non-league Brightlingsea Regent have found a strange way to increase their seating capacity.

Now needing to have a seating capacity of 150 to meet league requirements, the Essex club bought a 107-seat stand off the online site, eBay, for £5,500.

"We actually spotted the stand on eBay two years ago and we've been tracking it ever since," club chairman Terry Doherty told BBC Essex.

"Luckily it was still there and we're hoping to pick it up from the Isle of Wight."

The stand will see the team reach a seating capacity of 157, which will not only beat current capacity requirements, but should they get promoted, will continue to cover them.

Currently in Eastern Counties League Premier Division, the ninth tier, the team needed to meet demands of the new league by March, or face punishment.

"After getting promoted, we realised we had to do something," said Doherty.

"Thanks to the Vase run and sponsorship and some fundraising, we've managed to find the money to pay for it.

"We will easily fill it. It's more comfort for the fans and you want to make it a good day out for them."

The stand will now be deconstructed, and moved via truck from the Isle of Wight to the its new home, 10 miles south of Colchester, and put up on Friday in time for the weekend's game.

The R's, who current sit sixth in their league, face Bodmin in the forth-round of the FA Vase on Saturday, with victory seeing them through to the last 16.

With the club expanding though, Doherty also hopes to continue improvements with the purchase of turnstiles from the old Walthamstow greyhound track, which closed in 2008.