POWAY, Calif. -- Soccer players came out in Poway to support a plan to turn on the lights at a local soccer field, which was approved by the Poway City Council at a meeting on Tuesday.

Soccer players like Grant Beatty did homework while waiting for the council to decide whether to install lights at Arbolitos Field to accommodate the more than 1,500 children who play during the fall league.

"There's very limited field space and once the time change happens in the winter it's very difficult to fit all of the players onto the fields," said Edward Beatty, whose son plays soccer.

Soccer coach Reiner Bilawa said, "My wish is that the leaders of our city acknowledge this problem and will allow the lighting of the Arbolitas Sports Fields as this well enable a safe play environment for the kids in the fall and winter months."

But the people who live in the homes above the fields want no part of it.

"It's not going to look like the city in the country when eight 70-foot poles are lit up on one of the busiest intersections in town," said homeowner Yvette Reidy.

Opponents of the lights said the lights will create a nightly glare in their homes, along with excess noise. They said they were furious with Poway for even considering the lights, since the council has already rejected them twice.

"As parents, when our children come to us and we say no and we say no again, and we say no again. No means no and you shouldn't be having to do this again," said Kerry Araiza, who opposes the lights.

Players and their parents watched the council proceedings on a television monitor outside chambers and when they didn't like what they heard, they booed.

The decision was made well after most of the children were home and in bed, but if they had been there, they would have cheered.

Tuesday's decision was unanimous, with the exception of Marilee Boyack who recused herself because she lives in the neighborhood.

However, the plans are not final yet and council will be back next month when it's likely they will finalize them.