At least that’s the recollection of manager Josh Brehaut, who made sure to look around him and marvel at the joy on faces in a bumper crowd at Harrison Park.
“Those are memories to last forever,” he told The NLP. “It was only in that moment that it dawned on me how big an achievement it was for the club.”
When a new NPL Premier campaign kicks off on Saturday and Stockton arrive in town, the Staffordshire outfit will host a Premier Division fixture for the first time in 16 years.
It’s been a while coming.
Relegated from the top flight in 2008, the Blues have contested the promotion play-offs six times since – losing twice in the final.
They also occupied top spot in the then NPL South East Division, winning 23 of the 28 games they played, when the FA decided to curtail, later declaring null and void, the 2019-20 term because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Brehaut said: “When you see what it means to people who have been here long before I arrived – players, volunteers, and supporters – then it sinks in.”
His side reached their objective in style, making sure of top spot in the West Division with four games to spare following a 2-1 win at Newcastle Town on Easter Monday.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 04, 2024-Ausgabe von The Non-League Football Paper.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 04, 2024-Ausgabe von The Non-League Football Paper.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
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ENSIGN TEEN IS TAYLOR MADE!
WHITE Ensign boss Aaron Bloxham has hailed teenage talent Taylor Jacobi after his stoppage-time winner created history.
RAMADAN A RHYTHM IS BACK IN AT BLUES!
CEMAL RAMADAN reckons Bury Town have got back into their rhythm- but knows the Isthmian North title race is going to be a long haul.
DECRUZ IS SINGING THE BLUES FOR DREAM TIE
MERSTHAM manager Jamie Decruz says it would be \"crazy\" not to stage his side's glamour FA Youth Cup tie with Chelsea anywhere other than Stamford Bridge.
GLASSBOYS'JORDAAN IS A SCROOGE FOR BUCKS!
STOURBRIDGE snatched a dramatic stoppage time equaliser to seal a share of the points following a pulsating contest with promotion rivals Telford.
CLINICAL CALLUM HITS THE BULLSEYE
DARTFORD their D place in the play-off places as a 79th-minute goal from Callum Jones gave Adrian Pennock's side all three points.
ARDLEY'S OFF TO A WINNER!
NEAL Ardley got off to a winning start as Woking boss with victory over play-off chasing Altrincham and then admitted the Robins have set the mantra he would like the Cards to follow.
MADINE'S A MARVEL AT POOLS
GARY Madine's third goal in a Hartlepool United shirt fired his team to within two points of the National League play-offs after a dramatic victory over Yeovil Town.
BEES RATTLED BY TOP TOWN
BARNET slipped behind York City at the top of the National League after they were held to a draw by FC Halifax Town - a result thoroughly deserved by the Shaymen who battled for the whole game and gave the Bees barely a sight of goal.
Rovers denied by resilient Shots
DISAPPOINTED Steve Cotterill believes that his side had enough chances to beat Aldershot Town after dropping two points in their title quest.
KEEPER JOS REVELS AS GOAL HERO
IF you think goalkeepers never score, you must be Bark-ing mad.
