Hard work starts as Alcester Town submit promotion application
ALCESTER Town have officially applied for promotion to step six of the non-league pyramid.
The Romans currently ply their trade in Midland League Division Two which sits at level seven and is classed as a regional feeder league.
To be considered for promotion to step six, the FA states a club must finish top of their respective feeder league at the end of the 2022-23 season. If a club finishes as champions and does not wish to be promoted or fails to meet the entry criteria, then the team that ended as runners-up will be considered to move up a level.
If this club does not seek promotion or fails to meet the entry criteria, then those down to fifth position may be eligible for promotion.
Clubs finishing below fifth will not be considered for promotion and only one club will be promoted from each feeder league, the FA states. Currently, the Romans are fourth in the Midland League Division Two table, 16 points behind leaders Sutton United with three games in hand.
To be considered for promotion, the sport’s governing body says clubs must comply with requirements of ground grading seven as of 31st March 2023.
Those without floodlights, like Alcester Town, will be eligible for promotion but they have to comply with the requirements by that date.
The requirements to be promoted into step six are as follows:
- Planning permission for the provision of floodlights must have been approved by the local authority.
- Evidence provided that funding applications have been submitted.
- Evidence provided that the balance of any funding required is in place.
- Evidence provided that quotations have been obtained from appropriate contractors (three quotes).
- Provide a copy of an appropriate development/installation plan.
Floodlights must be installed and in working order by 30th September 2023. In Alcester’s case, they must install ones with a minimum of 200 lux as part of the guidelines.
The FA makes it clear that step six leagues can impose a penalty on any club that fails to comply with these requirements. Clubs that do not erect floodlights by 31st March 2024 will be classified as relegated regardless of their finishing position at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.
Speaking to the Herald about their promotion application, Romans chairman Steve McAdam said: “We’ve applied to go up based on our current position. We’ve now got to start making improvements so our facilities are compliant for step six. We’ve already spoken to a company about floodlights and it’s one the Midland League actually recommends.
“After some initial conversations, they believe it’s feasible to get the planning permission, funding and floodlights installed for the season ahead.
“You can’t apply for funding for floodlights until you’re actually in step six. So, if the FA say our ground is OK for the level above apart from the floodlights, we will be promoted but then we have a task to get the floodlights installed.”
He added: “The space behind the goal already ticks the box for hard standing. From a seating perspective, we would have to have a 50-seater stand in place by the end of the 2023-24 season if we were promoted. There are a few other cosmetic changes we need to make to the changing rooms but they are encompassed in our clubhouse extension plans.”
The Romans entertain Bolehall Swifts in the second round of the Midland League’s Les James Challenge Cup on Saturday (2pm).
