Basingstoke Town FC are set to play their first home game in the town for more than a year next weekend.

The club were kicked out of their Camrose home in summer 2019 and were forced to play their home games in Winchester.

But that is set to come to an end next weekend, after their new stadium in Winklebury officially received ground grading at the second time of asking.

The Hampshire FA complex in Winklebury Way was deemed by the Southern League and the FA to meet their grade D standard, meaning it can be used for the remainder of the club's home games.

And fans won't have long to wait until seeing their team back playing in Basingstoke, as the table toppers welcome third-placed side AFC Totton next Saturday in what promises to be a tight game.

Reacting to the news, vice chairman Kevin White said: "It is fantastic news and that isa the first stage of the club's growth completed, getting football back into town.

"Now we can turbocharge our community projects by having our club back in Basingstoke.

"We still have our long term goals to look at which encompass hopefully saving the Camrose but this is great news because now we can show what the club can do."

As previously reported, the stadium had failed its ground grading on Tuesday with a minor alteration to the meshing that goes around the stadium being required.

But the rescheduled appointment on Friday saw the club finally get the seal of approval.

The Dragons have only played three games at 'home' so far this season - winning twice.

They beat Bournemouth FC on penalties at Reading in the FA Cup before following that up with a shootout defeat to Chichester at Winchester City.

They were back in the Hampshire capital last Tuesday where the beat Sholing to keep up their unbeaten league record.

Today (Saturday, October 17) they travel to Moneyfields in the second qualifying round of the FA Trophy.