The phrase “happy days” tends to be overused in all walks of life but it can truly be used to describe Upton St Leonards Football Club’s season.

That’s because they have just won the Stroud and District Football League Division One title for the first time in their 98-year history.

It is a remarkable turnaround for the club who only 10 years ago were forced to disband their first-team because of a shortage of players.

Jeff Willerton has been with the club 25 years, initially as a player, before becoming the club’s secretary – a post he held for 15 years before becoming the club’s treasurer.

He told The Local Answer: “We pulled our first team out of the league and started back in Division Five with what had previously been the second team.

“Since then we’ve climbed back through the divisions and we’ve been back in the top division for the past five seasons.

“We’ve always finished in the top half but we’ve never come close to achieving what we’ve done this season. It’s been amazing.”

Much of the credit for their change in fortune must go to manager Mike Jennings, who has been with the club as a player and then manager for 30 years.

He took over as boss 10 years ago when the club were at a crossroads and has been the driving force behind their renaissance

The club won 15 of their 24 league games this season, losing only two, and Willerton said: “He’s done an incredible amount for the club. It means so much to him and me because we’ve been with the club for so long.”

So how would Willerton describe him as a manager?

“He’s very passionate,” said Willerton, “but he’s very measured as well. He’s not a hands-on coach of individuals but he’s a good team motivator and a very good organiser.

“He helps out on so many levels because he’s also the club’s chairman.”

Jennings has a good playing pedigree, having played semi-professional football in Germany back in the day.

That has stood him in good stead as he has moulded Upton into a title-winning outfit. He will be the first to admit that it’s not all down to him, of course, and that his cause has been greatly helped by having some good players, and with Willerton and Rod Gardner by his side.

“Quite a few of the players have been here for four or five years,” said Willerton. “Daniel Creed was the top scorer in the league this season with 24 goals.

“He could play at a higher level. He’s not big but he’s got good athleticism and can sniff out a goal.

“He’s not a lead the line player, he moves all over the place, a bit like Wayne Rooney.”

Creed has played up front on his own this season, supported by two wingers in a 4-3-3 formation.

“Sean Gatfield has played on one wing – he’s a real speed merchant – and Jamie Webley has played on the other side. He’s a smaller, more technical player,” said Willerton.

“Dan Smith can also play out wide although he normally plays in the middle. He’s scored about 13 goals this season.”

The Newell brothers – Rhys and Lewis – have pulled the strings in the middle of the park.

“Rhys is a holding midfielder and has been fantastic for us,” said Willerton. “He’s got the most man-of-the-match awards this season.

“Lewis has been our player of the year for the past two seasons. He’s got oodles of ability and is another who could play at a higher standard.”

Jennings’ son John, another who does a tremendous amount of work for the club and is the current club secretary, provides the ballast at the back alongside central defender and captain Ash Bick.

“John is the stopper of the two,” said Willerton. “Ash is more of the ball player. He reads the game very well and is very good at playing the ball out from the back.”

Other players of note are Newbs in goal, full-backs Luke Smith, Andy Tetlow and Rob Birch, along with hard tackling Nick Thorne and Joel Davies.

Willerton is confident that the Northern Senior League – the club will play in Division Two of that league next season – should hold no fears for them.

“I’m sure we’ll be okay,” he said. “Hopefully we can keep hold of all our players and we’ve had quite a few players from other clubs saying they want to come and play for us now that we’ve been promoted.”

It’s not just the first team that have enjoyed success at the club this season. The second team go into their final Division Four game at leaders Ramblers on Saturday in third place and know a win could earn them a top two finish.

“Their manager is Lewis Scott,” said Willerton. “He’s only young but he’s done a fantastic job. He’s turned a relegation-threatened team into one that is chasing promotion.”

Willerton, who also doubles up as fixtures and results secretary for the Stroud Football League and Stroud Charity cup secretary, was as versatile on the pitch back in the day as he is off it today.

“I played all over the place,” he said. “I started off as a winger, then played up front with Mike before dropping back as I got slower. I ended up as sweeper and I even played in goal on a few occasions. I kept playing until I was 50 when my knees said they’d had enough!”

He played football during his time at Beaufort School and played for adult Sunday teams Wotton Fleece, Warden Hill, Pikemen and Pike and Musket. He also played American football for Gloucester Boars and Cotswold Bears – “I was a speedy winger,” he said – and in his 20s became a member of the 92 Club after visiting every Football League ground in the country.

These days he only has eyes for one ground – Upton St Leonards Recreation Ground – where Upton play their home games. And the pavilion at the ground will certainly be the place to be on Saturday 13th May when the club hold their AGM and annual presentation evening to round off their season of all seasons. It should be some party.