By Bill Wilson BBC News Online

Since the 18th century Gretna has been famous as the Scottish town where starstruck English lovers headed to get married in the face of disapproving relatives.

At the old blacksmith's shop couples young and old still tie the knot over the smithy's grimy anvil.

But the town's Raydale Park football ground may come to match that simple whitewashed building as the most popular venue in Gretna.

To the disbelief of some football commentators north of the border, the club was successful in its bid to join the Scottish Football League.

You have got to muck in, there is no room for people to waltz around... if you do then you will get shown the door

Rowan Alexander Gretna FC manager

On Saturday a sell-out crowd of more than 2,000 fans will see the club play its first Scottish league game, against Greenock Morton.

Six weeks ago, when the club won entry to the league, chairman Brian Fulton was sunning himself in Turkey.

He said: "Our treasurer phoned me up and said 'get the champagne out' - it was absolutely tremendous."

Building work

Everyone at the club is pulling together to make sure the ground is up to Scottish Football League standards, with the installation of new turnstiles, gates, and facilities for disabled people.

The dressing rooms have been upgraded, a new referee's room built and 200 seats installed for visiting fans.

They have only had a few weeks and they have done a great deal in that time

Peter Donald Scottish Football League

While painters and joiners put the finishing touches to the stands, team manager Rowan Alexander did his bit in by cutting the grass.

He said: "You have got to muck in, there is no room for people to waltz around... if you do then you will get shown the door."

Formed in 1946, Gretna FC had previously been the only Scottish club to play in an English league, plying their trade in the Unibond League.

Community club

After their foundation in July 1946, the club spent a year in the Dumfriesshire Junior League, before transferring their membership from the Scottish Football Association to the Football Association in London.

Now, after an absence of more than half a century, they are back playing in Scotland again.

Peter Donald, Scottish Football League secretary, said: "Most clubs get six months or a year's notice when we have recruited new members in the past.

The blacksmith wedding venue is famous

"They have only had a few weeks and they have done a great deal in that time.

"I am sure they will complete the tasks they have to do. Everyone from the chairman to manager is quite literally mucking in - it is a sign of the type of community-based club we are happy to have in the Scottish Football League."

Gretna's success has been built as much by good management off the field, as success on the pitch.

A thriving car boot sale on land owned by the club outside the football ground has brought in much-welcomed revenue.

Overseas interest

And a full programme of social events in the bar at Raydale Park has kept the club at the forefront of the local community.

Inside the clubhouse there are as many English accents as Scottish, highlighting the way the club has straddled the playing border over the past 56 years.

Commercial manager Steve Barker said: "The phone hasn't stopped ringing. We had someone ring from America, they have booked their hotel room and are coming over just for the match.

"We have also had inquiries from Ireland, Holland and Norway.

"There are 350 programmes that have been ordered, ready to go out. I hope the game is a sell-out."