Hardwicke chairman Matthew Griffiths is worried that the rules preventing them from climbing the Non-League ladder will lead to a mass exodus of players from Green Lane.

Warren Evans' sealed their second successive title when they finished 15 points clear at the top of Hellenic League Division One West this season. But they will not be promoted as their ground does not meet the Premier Division's requirements and after a series of knock backs from Hardwicke Parish Council, Griffiths is justifiably concerned. "You need things like a permanent barrier, floodlights, hard standing and a certain number of seats for the Premier Division," he explained. "We have applied to get those changes made a few times but we keep getting turned down. It is a concern for us because if you can't go up there is always the worry that you might lose players who want to have a go at a higher level."

If Hardwicke continue to meet resistance in their plans to develop they might have to consider a groundshare with one of their more fortunate neighbours. Harrow Hill, who will be playing against Hardwicke next season, are potential landlords as they meet the grade after spending three years in the Premier Division before their demotion this season .

Griffiths said he has considered that option and discussions have already taken place but taking their rightful place for the 2009/10 season is out of the question. "We might have to look at a groundshare because that would probably the only way we can go up," he added. "But if we wanted to be playing in the Premier next season we would have had to let the league know about any groundshare a long time ago so promotion is not going to happen just yet. We've had a chat with Harrow Hill in the past about sharing their place and maybe something will come of that. But we'll have a look around and see if anyone else will want to help us out because we're desperate to go up."

Hardwicke manager Evans echoed his chairman's thoughts about the danger of losing players but he remained confident that the championship-winning squad would stay at Green Lane. "There's always a worry that you're going to lose players when you are doing well," he said. But I'd hate to think anyone would leave a club that has won two successive leagues for the sake of £20 or £30. Most of the lads we've got have only played for one or two managers and some of them have only ever known just me in charge. They would be in for a shock at another club's dressing room after all that spent time with me."

League General Manager Brian King has responded directly to the media regarding this news item stating; “Your story is inaccurate as Harrow Hill does not have the required FA Grading Level for Step Five football, Hellenic League Premier Division. They would have been relegated irrespective of their final placement as they have not carried out the work to bring the facilities to the standard required”.

Title No Surprise - 3rd May

Hardwicke manager Warren Evans was not surprised by his young side's canter to a second successive league title. The Green Lane club followed up last season's Gloucestershire County League success by winning the Hellenic Division One West championship by 15 points. It capped a meteoric rise for the club who looked in danger of relegation from the County League when Evans took over midway through the 2006/07 season.

Evans commented, "Maybe we surprised ourselves a bit but it has happened before, When I took over we were bottom of the County League and ended up finishing halfway. In my first full season we started with something like 13 wins out of 14 and I said to my assistant Ian Davis 'I think we can win this' and we did." The same thing happened this season and we won our first nine, beating a lot of the teams who would finish in the top six, so it was no surprise after that."

It was not all plain sailing for Hardwicke and they suffered a blip as November turned to December when Letcombe joined them at the summit. But their challenge faded away, as did those from Malmesbury Victoria, Purton and Oxford City Nomads with Evans' men eventually winning the title four games to spare - and the boss picked out a vital signing for their change in fortune. Evans continued; "We had a worrying spell when the injury situation got bad but once we got Andy Varnham in he was immense, We had nobody fit up front at one point so I got Andy in with Jody Taylor and Carl Palmer. Then Rich James came back from injury so we went from having no strikers to having four. We were never going to concede many goals but once we started scoring again that turned the season around and we were fine after that."

Despite shipping two soft goals in their final match of the season, Hardwicke conceded just 18 times in 32 games. Goalkeeper Dave Evans, who was part of the Gloucester City junior set-up under Evans for a number of years alongside half of the current Hardwicke squad, also conceded just 18 in their County League success. He warranted a special mention from the manager, who admitted it would be hard to pick a player of the year.

"Dave's out of this world and he's still the only goalkeeper I've seen save three penalties in one game," said Evans. "The defence deserve an award of their own for that goals against tally. There's just too many to mention. "Paul Carter has played in three different positions and done brilliantly while Shane Anson has played in about six without any problems. They're an amazing bunch of kids and the average age of our squad is only 23," he said. "I'm so proud of them and words cannot express that enough. They think they're the lucky ones for winning two titles but I'm the lucky one because I get to work with such a great bunch of lads. If we can keep them all together who knows how far this squad can go?"

Hardwicke AFC won the Hellenic League Division One West Championship last night after defeating Lydney Town 3 – 1 at Swan Road.

The evening started with both teams pleased to be playing, as the previous two attempts to play the match had resulted in an abandonment during the August 28th 'HL Ground Hop' and was then postponed due to the weather problems.

Though the gremlins were back in force as the floodlights went out just before half time and referee Andy Davies took the teams for an early cup of tea. With another postponement in sight it was a welcoming sight to see the lights back on for the second period.

Hardwicke then cruised to their second successive Championship.

Hardwicke need 10 points from their last seven games to secure the Division One West title.

They will expect to collect three of those tomorrow when they entertain a Pewsey Vale side who have only stayed off bottom spot on goal difference.

Hardwicke have won eight consecutive games while Pewsey have only two victories in their last 19.

An eighth successive win for Hardwicke when they entertain Clanfield tomorrow would put Warren Evans' side within touching distance of the FTL Futbol Hellenic League One West title.

The Green Laners, who will also meet Clanfield on the last day of the season, are three points clear at the top but they do have three games in hand on second-placed Malmesbury Victoria.

Bottom-half Clanfield are on a four game unbeaten run but a Hardwicke team that have conceded just 12 goals in 24 league games will start as favourites.

Hardwicke can move a step closer to the FTL Futbol Division One West title with a seventh successive victory.

The league leaders travel to Wood Marsh tomorrow where they take on a Trowbridge Town side they have already defeated this season – 2-1 at home in September.

Trowbridge are in the bottom four, but have enjoyed a mini-revival in recent weeks with four wins a draw in their last six.

Hardwicke need 20 points from their last 10 games to seal their second successive title and the FTL Futbol Hellenic League Division One West crown.

The Gloucestershire side, promoted from their County league as Champions this season, look to be favourites to take the Division One West title, after holding off challenges for the top spot from Letcombe and Purton. Malmesbury Victoria have emerged as the latest contenders to their place at the summit following a 10-game unbeaten run.

But tomorrow's opponents Woottton Bassett Town could also provide a threat as they also have 10 games left, more than other promotion rivals in the top half and are just nine points behind the leaders.

Hardwicke, who have won their last five, beat Bassett 2-0 in August and completing a double tomorrow could be their most important result of the season.

The top two meet in Division One West as Purton look to leap-frog Hardwicke with victory at The Red House. Purton have climbed up to second after collecting 19 points out of 21 since mid-December.

Hardwicke, who have managed to hold off a challenge at the top from Letcombe for most of this season, are now faced with new rivals for their crown.

They drew 1-1 at home to Purton at the start of a winless three-game blip that preceded their current run of three successive wins.

Hardwicke are two points clear at the summit and have played three games less than Purton.

In Division One West, Hardwicke return to league action after their top of the table clash with Letcombe was abandoned after 10 minutes last week.

Letcombe's Mark Denny sustained a serious leg injury and with daylight running out after he received lengthy treatment and was airlifted to hospital the referee decided to halt proceedings.

Hardwicke now meet an Easington Sports side who have lost their last three and the Green Laners are set for a double following a 1-0 home win in November when Steven Jackson scored the goal.

Ftl Futbol Hellenic League One West leaders Hardwicke take a break from league action when they host Premier Division Ardley United in round one of the Soccer Kits Plus Supplementary Cup.

The Green Laners ended a run of three games without a win by beating Lydney Town 4-1 two days after Christmas. They remain one point clear at the summit, although Warren Evans' side have played a game more than second placed Letcombe.

Ardley, who are fifth in the Premier table, won their last two games 4-0 in December and have only lost once on the road this season. They were Supplementary Cup winners in 2006-07, beating AFC Wallingford in the final, and runners up last season against Shortwood.

Hardwicke can extend their lead at the top of Division One West with a 14th win in 15 games when they entertain Purton.

The Green Lane outfit, whose only defeat came at the hands of second placed Letcombe, meet a Purton side who have managed to stay in the top three despite winning only once in their last four league games.

They were losing 2-0 at Easington Sports last week while Hardwicke beat Winterbourne 3-1, conceding their fourth goal of the season in the process.

FTL Futbol Hellenic League Division One West leaders Hardwicke have the opportunity to complete a double over last season's champions when they meet Winterbourne United at Parkside Avenue.

Hardwicke, who won the last meeting 3-0 on October 11, have a five point advantage at the top of the table after winning 12 out of 13 games.

The Green Lane outfit, who beat bottom club Cirencester United 5-0 last week, will be confident of maintaining their 100 per cent record on the road with a 13th victory.

Evans Look For Response - 7th November

Warren Evans will be looking for a response from his Hardwicke players after last week's SBJ Insurance Challenge cup exit at the hands of Wootton Bassett Town.

Bassett squeezed home in a competitive match when Shaun Terry netted in the 72nd minute.

Division One West leaders Hardwicke have conceded only three goals in 11 games this season but tomorrow's visitors Easington Sports have an impressive away record with 15 points out of 21 on the road.

Hardwicke manager Warren Evans can judge how far his team has come this Saturday when they entertain Letcombe F.C.

The visitors currently lay 5 points behind Hardwicke in 2nd place in Division One West of the FTL Futbol Hellenic League after finishing 3rd last season. They are currently the League’s highest goal-scoring club having scored 36 goals in 9 games and will provide a stiff test for Dave Evans & his defence that has only conceded one goal in 9 league matches.

Last week Hardwicke beat current Champions Winterbourne United 3 – 0 and will be hoping to continue their unbeaten start to the season. Evans will be without his influential central defender Michael Taitt but welcomes back leading goal-scorer Richard James to his squad.

Hardwicke Going For Three More - 2nd October

Hardwicke return to league action this weekend with a re-arranged home fixture against Headington Amateurs in Hellenic One West.

Manager Warren Evans welcomes back Captain Ben Wood and forwards Craig Harris & Paul Carter from the side that beat Clanfield in the Cup last week and will be hoping they continue their unbeaten start to the season.

Leading goalscorer Richard James (picture) is still an injury doubt but otherwise Evans can pick from a full squad. Saturday's visitors Headington Amateur's have been involved in two high scoring matches this season, winning 9 -2 at home to Oxford City Nomads during the Hellenic Ground Hop weekend and losing 10 - 3 to Flackwell Heath in the SBJ Insurance Brokers Challenge Cup last Saturday.

Hardwicke have a break from Hellenic League action this weekend as they host Clanfield 85 FC in the SBJ Insurance Brokers League Challenge Cup.

After seven straight League wins Warren Evans' men sit proudly at the top of FTL Futbol Hellenic League Division One West and are the only unbeaten side in the Hellenic League.

Whereas, visitors Clanfield have only won two of their eight League matches so far this season, but they provided an FA VASE shock on Wednesday when beating Premier Division side Milton United on penalties. Reaching the 1st Round Proper of the Carlsberg FA Vase and will be hoping for another shock on Saturday.

Evans will have to fully utilise his squad this weekend as influential club captain Ben Wood plus strikers Paul Carter and Craig Harris are unavailable. With top goal-scorer Richard James also carrying a slight injury, club stalwarts John Leccacorvi and Jason Pritchard have been drafted into the squad.