Double celebration on the cards for champions

Ryman League Chairman and President Alan Turvey will present Peacehaven & Telscombe with the Ryman South Championship trophy on Saturday after they take on Merstham in East Sussex.

Turvey, who'll be accompanied by League Secretary Kellie Discipline, could also be congratulating Magpies manager Shaun Saunders and his side on setting a record new points total if they can avoid defeat at The Sports Park, pictured, against the Surrey play-off hopefuls.

The champions took the title to set up the chance for a double celebration last weekend when they equalled Dover Athletic's total of 98 points in 42 games set in 2008 with a 4-1 win over Whitstable and their nearest rivals Leatherhead lost.

The club's officials are now looking forward to life in the Ryman Premier after getting confirmation earlier this week that they’d passed their ground grading review.

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 their ground up to standard with major works including the installation of new gates and the relaying of a fragmented paved road.

In conjunction with the Big Parks project, work is also starting this summer to transform the outside of the ground and surrounding park land into new community space. Like many Ryman League clubs, the Magpies are also investigating the potential for installing a 3G artificial pitch the following season.