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 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 Steps 5&6 Operations 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.