EVERSLEY & California's promotion hopes may rest with an appeal with the Football Association after they were denied the necessary ground grading from the Combined Counties League.

An inspection committee ruled that the club's Fox Lane ground did not meet the necessary requirements for the Premier Division.

Eversley must now decide whether to appeal to the FA before the deadline date of April 23.

Combined Counties general secretary Alan Constable said he was 'disappointed' that Eversley did not meet the grading and hopes they will do so next season.

"There were various things but two major things were the pitch didn't have fencing around it and there is a lack of security for players when they entered and left the dressing room," he told the News.

"They have the right of appeal to the Football Association, but the grading was done on the day of inspection. I am disappointed for them because they have done a lot of work, hopefully we will have a happier ending to the tale next season." The news is a bitter blow for Eversley after all the work put in off the pitch as well as the gains made on it this season.

The Boars currently sit third in the table, with the top three winning promotion, and are the top scorers in the division with 96 goals.

In addition, their Sunday team have completed a league and cup double and their youth section is thriving.

Club secretary Martin McMahon said the first team have been 'superb' and that the club are addressing the issues to meet the ground grading standards.

"There has been a lot of hard work put in by myself, the chairman and members of the Eversley Supporters Association and we are working alongside the league to achieve the grading," he told the News.

Eversley did not confirm if they were going to launch an appeal.