It's onwards and upwards for ambitious Glossop North End.

Just days ahead of the deadline for promotion applications to be submitted, the Hillmen have announced they’ll be seeking to step up to the Evo-Stik League’s lower tier should they succeed in being crowned North West Counties League champions in the 125th anniversary season.

Surrey Street chiefs say they’ve sent the relevant paperwork to the FA, which means they can expect a visit from Evo-Stik League ground graders early in the New Year.

The news will no doubt delight the club’s supporters, who have seen Glossop rise to fourth in the NWCL’s top flight.

But fans will be praying the Hillmen don't ultimately go the same way as their High Peak neighbours New Mills.

Having won the NWCL last term, they were then forced to join Evo-Stik South rather than making their preferred move to its northern division, leaving them with many more miles on the road.

Confirming Glossop’s decision to apply, chairman Dave Atkinson said: "With new facilities in place and more ground development to come, we feel we’re in a better position off the pitch than we were when we last put in a promotion application three years ago.

"We therefore felt it only logical that we should give it another go.

"On the playing side, we have a management team with experience of working at a higher level and this can only be to our benefit.

"Gaining promotion is never easy, but we look forward to the challenges which will come in the next four months and face the future with confidence."

Glossop boss Paul Colgan welcomed the move, adding: "This decision provides me, my backroom staff and all the players here with a massive incentive to push on in the second half of the season.

"I firmly believe we have as good a chance as anyone of winning the league and the prospect of promotion as a prize for doing that can only spur us on.

"We’ve now passed the halfway point in our league programme and have so far done well, although there's still a long way to go.

"The support we have received from everyone here has made a huge difference and now we’re looking for our fans to carry on getting behind us as we attempt to take the club up to level four of the non-League pyramid."

Glossop’s title challenge suffered a setback on Boxing Day when they were held 1-1 by Maine Road, who denied North End with an injury-time equaliser after Sam Hind broke the deadlock with 12 minutes left.

The draw leaves Glossop six points behind the top two, Bootle and Ramsbottom, as they prepare to start the New Year with a trip to Alsager on Monday.