The following floodlighting criteria principles are required by 31 March in the season in which a Club applies for promotion to Step 6:
Clubs competing in a Feeder League must comply fully with the minimum requirements of Grade 8. To be considered for promotion to Step 6, Clubs must meet the requirements of Grade 7 and attain Grade 6 by 31st March in the year following promotion. Clubs can be promoted from Feeder Leagues to Step 6 without floodlights, provided that that all other requirements of Grade 7 are met by 31st March in the Playing Season in which the Club wishes to gain promotion and that the Club has the following in place:-
- Planning permission granted for floodlights.
- That by 30th September following promotion that floodlights are installed and in working order.
- A development / business plan
- Quotations / estimates for the work to be carried out.
- Funding applications submitted, if required.
Failure to install floodlights in working order by 30th September following promotion will result in a sanction being imposed at the discretion of the League of which the Club is a member. If by 31st March in the year following promotion the floodlights are still not installed then the Club will be a relegated Club and be dealt with accordingly.
The reason that the requirements above are to be provided by 31 March is on the basis that The FA's Leagues Committee are reassured that all requirements are in place should the Committee be deciding whether or not to promote the Club. This decision is ordinarily made in May.