Champions pass muster to play in top flight

Peacehaven & Telscombe are looking forward to life in the Ryman Premier after getting confirmation that they’ve passed their ground grading review.

Shaun Saunders' side clinched the Ryman South championship on Saturday with five games to go after nearest rivals Leatherhead lost and the Magpies beat Whitstable Town 4-1 at home to ensure they couldn't be overhauled.

With a second successive promotion looking increasingly likely for last season’s Sussex League champions since the beginning of March, the club’s officials and volunteer fans have been toiling to bring The Sports Park, pictured, up to standard with major works including the installation of new gates and the relaying of a fragmented paved road.

In a statement on their official website confirming the news, the East Sussex-based champions said: "We were pleased to have confirmation that the ground has been passed to allow promotion to the Ryman Premier. This is great news for our club who didn't even have a grading four years ago.

"We will need to do lots more work over the next 12 months for the next stage of the grading which would include increasing the total covered seating and standing capacity from the current 300 to 500 by April 2015. A busy year of fundraising lies ahead."