Hartpury graduate and title-winning footballer Scott Wilson is set to return to Gloucestershire next season.

That’s because he has just helped Macclesfield Town win the Vanarama National League which means they will be playing in League Two of the Football League which in turn means they will be playing Cheltenham Town and Forest Green Rovers.

Wilson has tasted success before because three years ago, he scored the decisive goal as Hartpury won the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) National Championship final.

Now, he will be stepping up another level in 2018 after finishing this campaign as the Macclesfield’s top scorer.

Wilson finished the season in grand style by netting both goals in the 2-0 victory over Dagenham and Redbridge, winning him a place in the official National League Team of the Weekend.

“It’s an amazing feeling to have won the title with Macclesfield,” said Wilson, who studied a Sports Business Management degree at Hartpury.

“The fact it wasn’t expected at the start of the season makes it all the sweeter.

“Having spent six years playing non-League, my aim has always been to get back into the League and it’s been brilliant doing it this way, winning the title.

“It’s definitely my biggest achievement to date and it’s something I’m going to cherish.”

Wilson explained that the decision to enrol on the Sports Business Management degree at Hartpury had proved a turning point in his football career.

He had started to become disheartened with football after being released as a teenager by Bristol City, but strong support from senior football managers at Hartpury went a long way to rekindling his enthusiasm.

“Hartpury – that’s what made me stick with football when I was going through my worst times,” he said.

“It started in my first year with Steve Guinan and then with Marc Richards over the next three.

“He played a tremendous part in my career, making me stick with it and giving me the confidence to go and achieve what I have done now.

“The guys at Hartpury kept saying, ‘Play with us and enjoy it again, and you’ll get to where you want to get to’, and that’s exactly how it’s worked out.”