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Rovers had reached Wembley in the FA Vase final – losing 3-1 to Guiseley in the replay – and won the West Midlands League handsomely.

Gresley’s ground, failed the Beazer test on a handful of technical counts, and the League committee added a ps questioning the ground’s geographical location.

But it’s good to report that while Bass may be flowing, the tears have long since dried up.

Now there is a tremendous determination to ensure that the club will not be rejected again on the ground inadequacy issue.

The man given the brief to see this aim achieved is Frank McArdle, a local government lawyer, a Rovers devotee who was once a reserve goalkeeper for the club.

He’s not on the committee – ‘nor do I want to be’ – but he joined the team last season to properly market the club when they reached the Wembley final and has now taken up the cudgels on the tricky ground issue.

He spells out the progress so far. “All the necessary works to bring the ground up to standard have been done or are being done,” he says. “The really contentious factor is our geographical position. We have written to the Football Association stating our belief that this is an anomalous situation.

“We have asked them to use their good office to make a judgement on this matter.”

Fairly obviously, McArdle and Gresley are not at all keen to get involved in a slanging match with the Beazer decision-makers but the geographical question has surprised and disturbed them.

It is believed that there may be pressure from more southerly clubs to be admitted to what once was, after all, the Southern League.

But with clubs such as Burton Albion, Leicester United and Tamworth long ensconced in the set up, it does indeed seem unfair to think about shutting the door at this stage.