IAN LONG spoke of his pride – and relief – after Alvechurch secured the Midland League Premier Division title.
Having missed out on the championship last season, despite a record points haul, the Churchmen started the season poorly but then a remarkable run of 21 wins in 22 league matches from October meant they charged ahead of their rivals.
They clinched the crown – and promotion to Step Four for the first time since their Southern League days ended in 1992 – with a 1-1 draw at Shawbury United on Saturday.
Fittingly, their top scorer Josh March bagged the equaliser to ensure Coleshill Town, who had beaten Alvechurch earlier this month, could not catch them.
Manager Long said: “I’m relieved more than anything to get over the line. We’ve stumbled home a little bit rather than sprinted across the line but we’ve got the job done.
“It’s a great credit to this group of players. At the start of the season, I think there was little bit of a hangover from last season after we were runners-up to Hereford, but we made some changes and the new players gelled quickly and we had a fantastic run.
“I always thought we could be champions. Now to prove it is a wonderful achievement for all the players, staff and everybody connected with Alvechurch.”
The Churchmen, who will be presented with the title trophy at Saturday’s home game against Rocester, are still chasing a treble.
They face Sporting Khalsa in the JW Hunt Cup semi-finals at AFC Wulfrunians next Wednesday (7.30pm) and meet St Andrews in the Polymac Packaging League Cup final at Walsall’s Banks’s Stadium on May 15.
Read this week’s Redditch Standard for more reaction from Lye Meadow.
