An unexpected grant from Shepway District Council means that vital improvements to Folkestone Invicta’s home ground are starting this week.

Invicta have until March 31 to bring the Fullicks Stadium up to standard for Ryman League Premier Division football.

Neil Cugley’s side are odds-on to feature in the Division 1 South play-offs but wouldn’t be eligible for promotion if the stadium didn’t meet ground grading requirements.

However, club chairman Jim Pellatt met council officials on Monday to agree a grant of £7,500 towards the work. That’s helped reach the total cost of £15,000 needed to improve walkways and surrounds at the ground on Cheriton Road.

Supporters’ contributions of more than £3,000 as well as donations to the club had got Invicta well on the way to reaching their target but the award of the grant is huge.

Mr Pellatt said: "We were not expecting it all and were, in fact, in the process of applying to one of the football grant bodies, on the advice of our local MP, Damian Collins, who has links with the FA.

"To obtain such a grant, however, we needed a longer lease than the five-year agreement we signed with Shepway DC just over 12 months ago but rather than allowing us to extend the lease, they have voted to give us this grant.

"Having confirmed the terms with the council, we can now go ahead and start the work, in partnership with SDC, and should have it finished by the Ryman League’s deadline of March 31."

He added: "We never once even considered asking the council for a grant but we are even more grateful to have been given it because of that."