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Story courtesy of
Gresley Rovers have been denied promotion to the Beazer Homes Midland Division – because their ground is not up to scratch.
The Moatmen, who had pinned their hopes on promotion after ten seasons in the Banks’s Brewery League, formerly the West Midlands League have been told their application has been rejected.The Joint Liaison Committee, which decides relegation and promotion issues turned down Gresley and instead promoted Midland Combination team RC Warwick to take the place of relegated Mile Oak Rovers.
Gresley treasurer Peter Jenkinson confirmed he had be told of the decision, by phone but preferred to reserve comment until he received a letter from the Beazer Homes League, saying: “I have heard but I haven’t had it in writing. I am supposed to get a letter which should have arrived on Saturday morning.”
“I am expecting it. It hadn’t arrived this morning. I want to read the report and find out the reasons why. It may be that they consider the ground is not up to the standard of the Beazer Home Premier Division.”
However, he admitted the decision had left him puzzled: “Especially after we were recommended by the Banks’s league. After they inspected the ground they recommended that we should be promoted. We want to know why we have been refused after the Banks’s League sent a report recommending us for promotion.”
Only hours after the decision Rovers celebrated the end of a successful season with the annual dinner at which Richard Denby was awarded Player of the Year.
On show at the awards night at Bass Social Club was the Derbyshire Senior Cup – won for the second year in succession – the Banks’s Brewery League Cup and the Banks’s Brewery League Runners-up Trophy.
