GREAT Harwood are free to play FNWTL First Division football again next season following a successful inspection from the league's ground-grading committee.

The Reds were in danger of being kicked out of the FNWTL's top division had their Showground failed to meet the required standards.

But club officials were celebrating today after hearing they had been given an A grading following an inspection on Sunday -- which means they are now free to carry on in the First Division next term.

"This has been hanging over us for a while so it's a weight off my mind," said Harwood chairman, Bill Holden.

"If we hadn't made the necessary improvements then they could have appealed to the member clubs to have us relegated to the Second Division.

"But the ground-grading committee were quite happy with the work that we've done.

"And to get the A grade is a big boost for us, especially after the succession of problems we have had over the last four or five years." The Reds have spent £!3,000 on upgrading their facilities, which has included a new toilet block, perimeter fencing and improvements to the existing changing facilities.

"We've worked very hard to get everything ready," added Holden.

"And the First North Western Trains League officials also said we'd probably only need to install about another 20 extra seats to get ourselves back up to UniBond standards."

Meanwhile, Harwood are back in action tonight when they travel to in-form Ramsbottom United in the FNWTL First Division.

The Rams thrashed Abbey Hey 7-0 on Saturday and manager Ken Bridge will add new signing Paul Cameron -- a deadline day capture from Salford City -- and keeper Jon Parrott to his squad.

In the UniBond First Division, Chorley entertain Gretna at Victory Park (kick off 7.45pm).

And in the FNWTL Second Division, Bacup take on Formby at West View.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.