HUNTLEY Football Club is celebrating promotion to Gloucestershire's Northern Senior League – but before next season they are going to have to make up some ground ...
Two yards to be precise, because their present pitch at the Recreation Ground is six feet short of that required to play at the higher level.
"We have had the pitch inspected and everything is in order. All we need to do is move the goalposts and we will be in business. And, of course, the players will now need to be that little bit fitter," joked club secretary Peter Antil.
Huntley clinched the North Gloucester League premier division title with a 0-2 win at Soudley last week. It was an unspectacular game at the end of a spectacular season for the village boys who have not lost a league game since last October and have been runaway favourites for the title for weeks.
Matt Curtis and Ian James tucked away the promotion clinching goals at Soudley – scored the night after the club's annual dinner at which Cardiff City and former Wales manager Bobby Gould was chief guest.
Premature celebrations may have dulled Huntley's edge at Soudley and for a rare change goal-scoring hit-man Marc Matthews failed to find the target. Matthews has hit 44 goals this season – almost half the team's total of 102 from 26 games.
Antil is hoping manager Marcus Anderson decides to hang up his hat at Huntley. He has struck up a good relationship with the experienced Ian James and between them they have guided a young team to promotion.
"Everyone connected with the club is delighted. If can keep the team together I'm sure we can do ourselves justice in the higher league next season," he said.
At Friday night's celebration dinner the Player of the Year award was presented to Jonathan Layzell while the Manager's Player of the Year award went to Kevin Vanston.