HELSTON Athletic Football Club is eligible to enter both the FA Vase and FA Cup competitions after Kellaway Park ground was passed by the FA.

The ground has been awarded Grade G status after meeting the necessary qualifying standards.

Chairman Paul Hendy said: “This is a tremendous achievement for both the club and the town of Helston. It has cost approximately £120,000 in improvements and over 12 months of hard work to ensure that the ground meets the appropriate Grade G standard. I would like to thank all the organisations, companies and individuals who have supported us with grants, finances and their time in making this a reality. Although we will need to wait at least another year before we can enter the FA Cup, we hope that we will be FA Vase eligible for the 2016/17 season.”

First team manager Sid Taylor added: “In just a few years the club has come from being near the bottom of the Cornwall Combination League, to a team that has shown it is more than capable of holding its own in the Carlsberg South West Peninsula League Premier Division.

"We now need to reward all the hard work that has gone on off the pitch, by ensuring that next season's squad has the capability and strength in-depth to demonstrate we are good enough to compete in the FA Vase, whilst also being serious contenders for both league and county cup honours.

With 1 games left to play this season Helston AFC currently sit in seventh position in the South West Peninsula League Premier Division.

To be eligible for the FA Cup the club must compete in the FA Vase for a least one season, finish in the top half of the Carlsberg South West Peninsula League Premier Division and achieve at least 50 league points.