THE future of one of the country's most famous amateur football clubs was secured this week with the offer of a £250,000 grant towards their new out-of-town stadium.

Ten times FA Amateur Cup winners Bishop Auckland FC quit their historic Kingsway ground in April with the planned new development at Tindale Crescent still in doubt.

But officials are celebrating the Football Foundation's 'offer in principle' of a likely grant of £250,000, which is the maximum award available from its stadium improvement fund.

The club still has to submit detailed plans to the Foundation, but chairman Terry Jackson is confident their fortunes have changed.

Officials spent nine years planning the move after realising that Kingsway, which hosted some of the top teams in the land in its 115-year history, would not meet their future needs.

Delays meant that the Bishops', currently languishing at the bottom of the Unibond First Division, had to enter a two-year ground share arrangement with neighbours Shildon AFC.

Mr Jackson said: "This is fantastic news for Bishop Auckland Football Club and for the whole town.

"We could not go ahead without this formal recognition from the Football Foundation that they are behind us.

"It means we can press on with the project proper, draw up detailed plans and bring all the relevant people together, including potential commercial partners. There were people who said we would never move to Tindale Crescent but we have proved them wrong.

"We have a realistic project which we are confident will get the club established on the Tindale Crescent site where we can develop further.

"These are exciting times because the club has a secure future for the first time in many seasons."

The club have been negotiating with developers to sell Kingsway, which is shared with Bishop Auckland Cricket Club.

Durham Benevolence Ltd, from Sunderland, has applied to Wear Valley District Council to demolish the old Kingsway stands and build a 48-flat sheltered housing complex.