AFC Darwen are ‘back in the big time’ after being voted into the Vodkat League for the upcoming season.

The decision, made at Saturday night’s annual general meeting, has been hailed as ‘tremendous news for the town’ by the club chairman Derek Slater.

The re-formed Salmoners were demoted from the senior level last May when Darwen FC folded.

It meant the side had to spend a season ‘in the wilderness’ of the West Lancashire League.

A jubilant Mr Slater said: “Obviously it was a big loss to the town going out of the league, so to return in 12 months is brilliant news.

“It is very important to the town to have a decent football club.

"Now pre-season can start to be planned and the players will come back delighted for training on June 24.”

League members voted AFC Darwen back into the league at the AGM in Blackpool.

Mayor of Darwen, Coun Paul Browne said the news was a ‘big lift’ for the town.

He said: “Darwen is a bit like Accrington Stanley for size and we are very proud people.

"When we’ve had a successful football team we get right behind them.

“It’s magic news. Now that we’re coming back up the leagues again you’ll see more fans and it’s a big lift for the people.”

Blackburn with Darwen Council, which owns the Anchor Ground, transferred the lease to AFC Darwen last summer.

The ground had already been graded by the league committee, which approved the facilities and set-up.

The promotion means AFC Darwen will be able to attract more players to the club.

The club now has a thriving junior section with around 250 children, who were playing for Knuzden Juniors Football Club, now coming under the AFC Darwen umbrella.

In May 2009, 134 years of footballing history ended when the Darwen Football and Social Club Ltd was wound up over a £13,000 bill for beer and £9,000 for tools, related to the tenure of a previous boss of the club.