With things going so well on the field it looks like we should be able to maintain our push for a play off spot.

I'm clueless about such matters, but, does anyone know how much work would be required on the ground (if any) to meet the requisite standard for the division above?

The capacity of the ground would have to be increased. The minimum capacity for Grade C (applicable to National League System Step 3) is 1950 but the ground must also have the potential to increase to 3000 at some time in the future.

There must be at least three entrances with revolving turnstiles.

We need at least 250 covered seats and total covered accommodation for 500. The grading document states that covered accommodation should preferably be on at least two sides of the ground. It also says that in the document for the level we are at at the moment, but whether they get more stringent the further up you go is anyone's guess.

Segregation comes into play at Step 3 and Clubs must be able to demonstrate that visiting supporters can be segregated when necessary.

I haven't been in the toilet block at Church Lane so I don't know if it comes up to scratch. Minimum requirements are two WCs in the Ladies and four urinals and 2 WCs in the Gents.

If segregation is in place, there must be toilet and refreshment facilities in each area.

The requirements for changing rooms are no different to those at our current level, i.e. 12 square metres excluding the shower and toilet areas, except that it is pointed out that at the next level up (Conference North/South), this increases to a minimum of 18 square metres.

These are the main things of which I am aware. There may well be others.

It says on the club site that we currently have 200 seats and room for 300 to stand under cover. That means we need 50 seats from somewhere.

We'd also need to up the capacity from 1400 (info from club site). Anyone have any thoughts as to how this might be possible? In fact, anyone know how they come by the figure of 1400? Do the league estimate this?

In terms of the segregation issue, I guess it depends on how you define segregation. In the true sense, segregation means no contact with opposition support from the second they enter the ground to the second they leave. This means seperate entrances, toilets and refreshments for away fans. The only place I've encountered that in non-league football was with Buxton at FC U****d where you have no contact with the home support, save for the continual barrarge of abuse and threats coming from a section of their support. Obviously, this is only possible for them due to their groundshare with a league club. Using Buxton as an example again, there is no way they have the facilities to cater for 'true' segregation and they have been knocking around at step 3 for donkeys years.

I assume that it wouldn't be too much trouble to sort another entrance at the bottom end of the ground? There is already a gate there.

Think we will need some more khazi's too.

So with the lack of funds around at the moment it's safe to assume New Mills won't be pushing too hard for promotion.

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Lack of ability is forgivable, lack of effort is not!

Well generally speaking, should we be promoted, we would be allowed until March 31st 2014 to get the ground up to the required standard, or face the possibility of relegation.

Oi! We do! We have separate turnstiles, refreshment bar (no alcohol though) and toilets (admitted rented porterloos) and then there's a barrier between fans, usually filled with pointless amount of stewards/police.

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