TICHBORNE PARK, denied a Southern Electric Premier League slot at the end of the 2003 season because their off-field facilities were not up to scratch, are celebrating promotion at the second time of asking.
They will join Fair Oak and Andover 2nd XI in SPL Division 3 next summer after finishing third in Hampshire League County Division 1 in 2004.
But Itchen Valley neighbours Easton & Martyr Worthy, whose players spent much of last summer battling against relegation from Division 2, find themselves demoted after failing to meet the Premier League's youth accreditation requirements.
Tichborne Park were given the green light to fill the vacancy created by the demise of Winchester KS after confirming they are to carry out extensive renovations to the historic old pavilion at their rural ground on the outskirts of Alresford.
"We are planning to gut the inside of the pavilion, extend the visitors changing rooms, provide new toilets and showers, and a separate room for the match officials," confirmed Tichborne chairman Andy Joyce.
"We are even going to give the traditional old scoreboard a tv make-over."
Among Tichborne's opponents next season will be Easton & Martyr Worthy, who lost their Division 2 status after falling foul of the SPL's youth accreditation criteria.
Their place in Division 2 in 2005 will be taken by Hungerford, who are promoted alongside SPL3 champions Rowledge and Havant 2nd XI, who finished runnrs-up.
Even though they only finished fourth, Hungerford were promoted ahead of third-placed Portsmouth & Southsea, whose ground at Drayton Park is not considered suitable for Division 2 cricket.
Leckford and South Wilts 2nd XI have been relegated into the Hampshire League.
Southern Electric Premier League and Hampshire League constitution 2005.
ECB Southern Premier League, Division 1: Andover, Bashley (Rydal), BAT Sports, Bournemouth, Hampshire Academy, Havant, Hursley Park, Liphook & Ripsley, Portsmouth, South Wilts.
Division 2: Alton, Calmore Sports, Havant II, Hungerford, Lymington, Old Tauntonians & Romsey, Rowledge, St Cross Symondians, Sparsholt, Ventnor.
Division 3: Andover II, Bashley (Rydal) II, Bournemouth II, Burridge, Easton & Martyr Worthy, Fair Oak, Gosport Borough, Hambledon, Hartley Wintney, Hook & Newnham Basics, New Milton, Paultons, Portsmouth II, Portsmouth & Southsea, Purbrook, Tichborne Park, Trojans, United Services.
Hampshire League, County Division 1: BAT Sports II, Bramshaw, Eastleigh & Otterbourne, Fawley, Fareham & Crofton, Flamingo, Hursley Park II, Langley Manor, Leckford, Locks Heath, Lymington II, Old Tauntonians & Romsey II, Redlynch & Hale, Sarisbury Athletic, St Cross Symondians II, Petersfield, South Wilts II, United Services II.
County Division 2: Amport, Andover III, Basingstoke & North Hants, Burridge II, Cadnam, Calmore Sports II, Compton & Shawford, Ellingham, Hamble ASSC., Hook & Newnham Basics II, Hythe & Dibden, Liphook & Ripsley II, New Milton II, Portchester, South Wilts III, Waterlooville, Whitchurch.
County Division 3: AWE Tadley, Bedhampton, Bishop's Waltham, Easton & Martyr Worthy II, Kingsclere, Liss, Midhurst, Mudeford, Old Basing, Pylewell Park, Ropley, Rowledge II, Rowner, Ryde, Shrewton, Steep, Sulhampstead & Ufton.
County Division 4: Chawton, Emsworth, Fair Oak II, Farley, Gosport Borough II, Hambledon II, Hartley Wintney II, Havant III, Highfield, IBM Hursley, Longparish, Owslebury, Paultons, Portsmouth & Southsea II, Purbrook II, Ransdell, Sexton Gould, Sparsholt II.
Regional 1 (South): Ampfield, Brading, Bramshaw II, Bursledon, Fareham & Crofton II, Fawley II, Locks Heath II, Michelmersh & Timsbury, Nomansland, Portsmouth III, Ringwood, Sarisbury Athletic II, Twyford, Vospers, Waterlooville II, Wellow & Plaitford, Wildern, Wickham.
Regional 1 (North): Basingstoke & North Hants II, Breamore, Crown Taverners, East Tytherley, East Woodhay, Four Marks, Holybourne, Hungerford II, Littleton & West Hill, Old Alresford, Over Wallop, Penton, Rotherwick, South Newton, St Cross Symondians III, Steeple Langford, Stockton, Four Marks.
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