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.
Denne historien er fra August 04, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra August 04, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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I'M READY FOR A NEW PROJECT
LEAGUE One, League Two, National League John Coleman doesn't care. He just wants to manage a club with scope for 'doing an Accrington'.
BEARNE'S DOUBLE IS A PITMEN TRIUMPH
HEDNESFORD Town marched on as this tie was settled in the first 21 minutes with a glut of goals in favour of the Pitmen.
STAG-DO SPOILED BY LIAM DOUBLE
AFC Totton and Basingstoke played out an entertaining draw at The Snows Stadium.
FOALLE'S THERE AT DEATH TO STEA IT!
A GOAL with almost the last kick of the game from Jack Foalle saw Ashton's unbeaten start to the season go up in smoke at Hurst Cross after they had hit the post in each half.
TUDORS STAY TOP THANKS TO AJAYI!
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN secured a crucial victory over Slough Town that solidifies their position at the top of National League South.
MOLS ON ROLL AS NASH GO SECOND!
CURZON ASHTON moved up to second place after doing a job on former boss Adam Lakeland and his King's Lynn Town side at the Walks.
REAL DEAL HEED KEEP PILING ON THE POINTS
GATESHEAD scored early in each half to strengthen their position at the top of the table after they stretched their unbeaten start to the season to seven games.
JOSH JOY DELIGHTS DAGGERS BOSS BEN
JOSH UMERAH marked his first league start for Dagenham & Redbridge by grabbing the goal that ensured a share of the spoils at Maidenhead.
DOGGED DALE WILL NOT BE MOVED!
ROCHDALE cruised to victory with a superb first-half performance which settled the age-old debate as Dale's immovable defensive object blunted Aldershot's previously irresistible attacking force.
SPITFIRES BACK IN THE GROOVE
EASTLEIGH bounced back from their last-gasp defeat at Gateshead last weekend as they edged past lowly Tamworth in a lackluster affair at the Silverlake.
