FOOTBALL fans who have worked tirelessly to save one of the region's oldest football clubs are celebrating victory.
Residents, businesses and supporters pulled out all the stops to raise vital funding for floodlights at Evenwood Football Club.
The 113-year-old club faced being kicked out of the Northern League after the floodlights failed a safety test.
Club manager Ken Houlahan said he had been amazed by the response to his appeal in The Northern Echo.
He said: " Right at the very start we received an anonymous donation of £2,000 and this gave us the enthusiasm we needed to raise the rest.''
Fundraisers have reached the £4,000 target needed before the club could qualify for a grant from the Football Association for the lights. The installation of the lights, which cost £40,000, was completed on Monday.
Fans will be able to see the lights for the first time today, when the team takes on Murton in a league game.
They will be switched on for the first time when the club plays Shildon in the Durham Challenge Cup on Tuesday, at 7.30pm.
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