Larne FC chief Kenny Bruce has hailed the club after it was granted a UEFA Licence for the first time in its history.
The licensing success allows the Inver Park club to compete in European competition next season.
Larne were sitting sixth in the Danske Bank Premiership before all football was suspended due to the coronavirus crisis, just three points outside the top three.
Paying tribute to the players, staff and volunteers at the club, Larne chief Bruce said: “The award of this license is the culmination of a huge amount of commitment and effort by our players and everyone at theclub.
“When I purchased the club in 2017, I set out an ambitious plan to deliver first-class facilities, a team that we are proud of who are competing for top domestic honours and playing in Europe, and to have a thriving relationship with Larne Youth.
"We have made huge progress to date, and this UEFA licence takes us one step further to fulfilling that ambition.”
Bruce also thanked Mid and East Antrim Borough Council in helping the club achieve its UEFA Licensing success.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the councillors, CEO Anne Donaghy and her team of officers for their continued support and the faith they have shown in the Club," he added.
Mid and East Antrim Councillor Paul Reid, a former chaplain of the club, added: “Club licensing is now an established part of the football landscape in Northern Ireland, necessitating exceptionally high standards being consistently maintained.
“This UEFA licence is well-deserved recognition of Larne’s commitment to promoting and continuously improving the standard of all aspects of football at the club.
"Underpinned by a significant amount of investment, in recent years we have seen the complete transformation of the club – not least in terms of the tremendous new facilities at Inver Park and its youth development programme."
