I’m still pinching myself as to what we all achieved this year, says Ashford United coach Shaun Holland

ASHFORD UNITED coach Shaun Holland says he is still pinching himself after winning the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division title on the last day of the season.

The club had their promotion to the Isthmian League Division One South confirmed by The Football Association today and will be one of 11 Kent clubs in the division next season.

Phoenix Sports, Thamesmead Town and VCD Athletic have switched from the Northern Division, while Chatham Town’s relegation has been confirmed, with the club expected to swap places with Ashford United.

“What an amazing season we have all had at Ashford United, I’m still pinching myself as to what we all achieved this year,” Holland told www.ashfordunitedfc.com. 

“I have never doubted the squad’s ability and desire to go on and win this league, although I did have a little lump in the throat one afternoon in Bearsted.

“Hats off to Danny Lye and Shaun Welford, because they have been absolutely unbelievable in what they have done in such a short space of time.  The footballing world is their oyster and I’m sure they will continue to push this club higher and higher.

“Even when (the club suffered from well-publicised off-the-pitch issues), Lyzee kept everyone focused on football and football only.”

The club has confirmed that goalkeeper George Kamurasi, midfielder Ben Davisson, winger Rory Hill and record breaking 48-goal striker, player-assistant Welford, have all agreed to stay next season.

Hill played 90 minutes for champions Lewisham Athletic yesterday in their shock 3-1 home defeat to Orpington Reserves in the Andreas Carter Joma Kent County League Division One West.

Lye’s men clinched the league title with 92 points in the bag from their 38 league outings, followed by Crowborough Athletic (90), Sevenoaks Town (84) and Cray Valley (75).

Sevenoaks Town won the Macron Southern Counties East Football League Challenge Cup after beating Sheppey United 2-0 at Longmead Stadium in Tonbridge – it was the club’s highest league position in their history and their first major senior trophy.

Cray Valley defeated Ryman Premier League side Metropolitan Police 2-1 to win the London Senior Cup (Sponsored by Coventry Scaffolding) for the first time after beating higher league clubs Welling United, AFC Wimbledon and Dulwich Hamlet en-route.