TIVIDALE have staved off the threat of forced relegation by winning their ground grading battle.

The club's appeal against an initial inspection report, which stated The Beeches was not up to scratch, has been upheld.

Tivi were facing demotion from the Northern Premier League Division One South after an inspection team deemed their ground didn't meet grade D status.

However, following the club's appeal to the Football Association on Tuesday, an independent inspection took place and found in the club's favour.

A club statement reads: "Tividale Football Club are delighted to announce that our appeal against the initial rejection of our Ground Grading (Grade D Specification) application has been upheld following an Independent Inspection at The Beeches.

"We welcome the decision that's been reached following our appeal hearing at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday.

"Tividale Football Club stated from the very outset that we would not consider appealing against the conclusion of the final inspection report from Wednesday, April 1, unless we felt we had a very strong case of evidence which would potentially result in the decision being overturned.

"We'd like to place on record our sincere thanks to Mark Ives (Head of Judicial Services, The FA Group), the Football Association Technical Panel and Alan Allcock (League Operations Manager, Northern Premier League) respectively for their assistance through this process.

"Manager Ian Long, the coaching staff and our squad of players have shown terrific professionalism throughout this period of uncertainty, and our extremely good run of form on the field reflects that notion.

"Tividale Football Club have already started preparations for a second season playing Step 4 Football, having endured a terrific inaugural year in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League, Division One South."