AN AMBITIOUS football club is hoping to make it to the "big time" this season after a triple boost.

Prestwich Heys suffered a huge setback in April when the Football Association said ground improvements were not up to the required level to allow it to move up to non-league status, and join the North West Counties League.

The club has since received a financial injection from the organisers of Parklife Weekender by way of thanks for allowing event stewards to camp at the club during the festival in June.

Sedgley councillor Alan Quinn also arranged for the team he supports, Moston-based club FC United of Manchester, to play Heys in a pre-season friendly on July 21.

The match, at Sandgate Road, attracted a bumper crowd of 500 fans, giving Heys a second cash bonanza ahead of the start of the new season later this month.

A third sign of encouragement is that the Football Association has ruled Heys can get promoted to the North West Counties League next season if their ground is up to scratch — as expected — regardless of where they finish in the Manchester League.

The club's vice chairman Neil Sankey said: "I would say that, when it comes to facilities, we probably have the best in the league and so our chances of promotion are high.

"We've got new changing rooms and the ground looks good. There are one or two things we need to change, but we can do everything before the deadline."

He added: "The FC United friendly was a great night and we were delighted with the attendance. It was a great boost for our players and winning 1-0 helped.

"Cllr Quinn has been a tremendous support for the club in recent months and we are thankful for his assistance.

"We've had more than our fair share of ill fortune in recent years and it would be wonderful to be talking about promotion next May."

Cllr Quinn said: "The friendly match was an enjoyable night and I am thrilled it has done Heys some good.

"I've always been an advocate for Parklife Weekender putting more money into the local community and their partnership with Heys is a good example of what they need to do to keep local businesses and residents on side."

* THE funeral of Prestwich Heys chairman John Carroll was held at East Lancashire Crematorium in Cemetery Road, Radcliffe, on Tuesday, followed by a wake at Heys’ clubhouse.