Bexhill hope to make the grade

Bexhill United are hoping to lay paths made of a matting-type material behind the goals at The Polegrove. Picture by Simon Newstead

On the pitch The Pirates are targeting one of the three promotion places in Sussex County League Division Two and off it they must ensure their Polegrove ground ticks the necessary boxes for Division One.

Bexhill chairman Bill Harrison said: “We’ve got two jobs to do. One is very minor; not a problem at all. The only real problem we’ve got is with paths behind the goals.

“Poole Town have got hard-standing - a matting-type material which rolls up - and if they’re allowed to use what they’ve got, it makes our job a lot easier because we just need something we can roll out during the football season so as not to interfere with the cricket (Bexhill Cricket Club uses The Polegrove in the summer).

“If it’s thrown out, we’ll have to look again at what else we can do. Until then, though, we can’t do anything. The council (Rother District Council, which owns the ground) have been on our side with it; they’re going to help us all they can.”

Bexhill are required to have hard-standing on two-and-a-half sides of the ground. At present they only have it on the southern side of The Polegrove, but they would be compliant with the regulations if they fulfil their intention of laying paths behind the goals.

Bexhill are also hoping to play in the FA Vase next season if they achieve the grading.

Little Common missed out on promotion to Division One for ground grading reasons despite finishing in the top three last season.

Common vice-chairman Daniel Eldridge said: “We’re aware of some things we’ve got to do. Our main issue is the temporary enclosure (the sheeting which Common put up every matchday alongside the pitch); the league aren’t really sure whether that’s acceptable.

“We’re going to get someone from the FA to come along and give us a yes or no. At least that way we feel it would put our mind at rest a little bit.

“We would need another 50 seats, but we don’t see that as a big thing. We don’t feel that we’re too far away, but it depends on how people interpret things. Like all documents, things can be interpreted in different ways.

“We’ve received information from the council (Little Common Recreation Ground is also owned by Rother District Council) that they’re not going to allow too much more work to be carried out as it’s a public recreation ground.”