The Bees are buzzing again... that's the great news from Gardiners Close after Basildon United shook off fears that they might lose their senior status.

They will be happily in action in the Foresters Essex Senior League in the coming campaign confident that there are better times to come for a club which once had a proud place in the Ryman League set-up.

Basildon, who have been planning a move to a new ground for approaching a decade now, had their Gardiners Close home shut by League chairman Robert Errington for a short spell last season amid concern that it did not conform to health and safety standards.

There were real fears that Basildon could lose their status as a senior club. But that threat was lifted this week after a three-man Essex FA delegation visited the ground and gave them the thumbs up.

Said Errington: "I'm really pleased. Basildon manager Steve Wheeler and chairman Dennis Taylor have worked tirelessly during the close season and have righted all the things that needed doing to ensure the club keeps its status as a senior side.

"In fact I would say that the whole place looks better now than it has done for many years.

"And, although Basildon were not allowed into FA competitions such as the Cup and Vase last season or this, there is absolutely no reason why they shouldn't be back for the following term," he added.

Now Basildon officials will be hoping that the huge soccer-loving population of the new town will show faith in the work that men such as Wheeler and Taylor have undertaken by getting out in big numbers to support them in the forthcoming campaign.

The season kicks off on August 18 but, before then, there's the little matter of the Senior League's charity clash on August 4 when champions Brentwood will host cup winners Southend Manor at their Brentwood Centre ground.

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