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Shell Cove have officially been awarded conditional approval to be promoted into the Illawarra Premier League for the 2015 season.
The District League champions were given the first crack at promotion for winning the second-tier competition and received confirmation of their successful bid on Tuesday.
The club has been working hard behind the scenes for several months to present a bid that would be impossible for the governing body to turn down.
The key sticking point was making the move from their current ground, Myimbarr Park, to Barrack Heights Oval.
After months of hard work, the club was able to get the go-ahead for the switch, while ticking all other boxes.
Shell Cove President Goran Georgievski said it was the perfect reward for their sustained efforts.
"We have been negotiating with council since April this year to get the ball rolling [for the move] whether we qualified or not. Us finishing first and finishing so early, put the feather in the cap for us," he said.
"We have built a bond. Shellharbour juniors has been fantastic. The help they have given us, we just can't thank them enough.
"Shellharbour Council and the juniors, it has worked very well."
Cove were runaway winners of the District League, beating their nearest rivals by 10 points on the competition ladder.
Georgievski said they were hoping to eventually become a similar force in the Illawarra Premier League.
"We want to build a pretty strong club and strong future," he said.
"We are not planning on coming down to first division next year.
"We want to be competitive and where we finish, we finish, as long as we don't finish last."
The club has already began strengthening their roster for the rigours of the top grade.
"[Coach] Robert Mihailov has already started talking to a few players, we are just waiting to get pen to paper," Georgievski said.
"I think Robbie's idea will be to keep the core of the squad with a few additions. Obviously we have a few tired legs there still deciding whether they are going to play or retire ... We are planning our future on the young kids, so we will be trying to develop a strong youth grade squad."
Cove will be the second Shellharbour club in the Premier League, joining Albion Park.
"To have a second team down south, I think it will give the Shellharbour community a bit more top quality football. I am not saying that the first division isn't top quality but to get two Premier League teams in the Shellharbour District [is great]," Georgievski said.
Cove's promotion assures Fernhill's relegation, with the Foxes already offered a District League spot.
