CLUB secretary Brendon Rice hailed the ‘Herculean effort’ from everyone involved at Malmesbury Victoria following their promotion to the Toolstation League.

Malmesbury were forced to withdraw from the Hellenic League in 2014 for financial reasons but after two seasons in the Wiltshire League, Step Six football will return to the Flying Monk Ground for 2016-17.

It was always Vics’ intention to move back up the football pyramid and Rice is delighted that those plans have come to fruition so swiftly.

“There were financial reasons for stepping down before and there was always a two-year plan to get back to a level where we thought we deserved to be,” said Rice.

“It’s taken a Herculean effort from everyone involved for us to achieve this. We’re on much surer footing financially now.

“Over the last two years, we have run lots of fundraising events and the club has taken on more of a town personality, and it’s great to see how everyone has responded and reacted to that, and I’d like to thank everyone who has got behind us.”

Vics’ Flying Monk Ground has been affected by flooding in the past due to its proximity to the River Avon but work has been carried out to help prevent that. A move to another location has been mooted by the club but is unlikely in the near future.

“Obviously, you can’t always beat nature but we have put a lot of things in place. The pitch has been improved dramatically and is now at a certain standard where it is far more capable of taking more games,” said Rice.

“There is a wish to take the team somewhere else in the town that might be better-suited but it is very much a wish and not a plan.

“If someone had a magic wand and said 'here’s £2million to do it' then we’d love to but there’s certainly no firm plans in place.”

Gareth Davies resigned his position as Malmesbury boss following their withdrawal from the Hellenic League before Wayne Kibble took over and led them to the Wiltshire League title in 2014-15.

Kibble stood down after one season, to be replaced by Alan Griffin but he departed the club mid-season after being re-signed as a player by Southern League side Chippenham Town.

Kevin Bridgeman and senior player Allan Webb took on the reins and guided Vics to a third-place finish last term, a position high enough to secure promotion.

“A lot of plaudits have to go to Wayne,” said Rice. “When we took the decision to drop down, he was the man to really step forward and lead us and put a focus on local players from the town, and that’s really what’s got us in the position to go back up.

“Kevin and Allan (Webb) are the men to lead us forward and the playing squad are massively excited about playing at a higher level.’’