A football club in the area is looking forward to playing in a higher division next season after a late decision has seen them promoted.

Prudhoe Youth Club Seniors for the 2021/22 Northern Alliance season will move up to the Premier Division after a position in the league became available following the resignation of Shankhouse FC from the league.

"We were delighted with the news which we received on Friday, it was a massive boost to the lads," said the club's secretary and chairman Duncan Graham.

"Everybody was pretty down really after the cup final incident when we conceded in the last minute of extra time after a floodlight failure.

"The news we get on Friday was a massive, massive boost to the club."

Duncan went on to add that although the news has come as something of a surprise, Prudhoe have been aiming for Premier Division football for a number of years.

"We're looking forward to competing next year," added Duncan.

"We originally set a five year target of getting in the Premier Division when we first formed our senior side six years ago.

"We were sort of on target for that but obviously the Covid curtailed season put pay to that a little bit so we have eventually got the chance to go in the Premier.

Prudhoe also have another target that they have set themselves, with hopes of another promotion also on the horizon as Duncan explained.

"When we first set up the team we did set up a five year target to reach the Premier and another five years to reach the Northern League so we've got four to five years to get there and put the right things in place.

"That's the target anyway. We realise its going to be a very competitive year - every year its a good standard and a lot of good teams are in this year. But that's what we want, that's what we're looking forward to.

"We'd like to think we can finish in the top half but realistically we've got to build and as long as we make a good account of our ourselves and remain competitive I think we'll be happy."