Sharpness are looking forward to getting back into the County League after their impressive Northern Senior League Division One title win.

It is the third time they have won the title in the past nine years and this time they are confident that everything is in place ground-wise to ensure that they will be playing at the higher level in 2019/20.

And if their form this season is anything to go by they should do very well next season because they’ve won 19 and lost only two of their league games this season.

“We’ve had a very strong second half of the season,” said Tom Paterson, who has captained the side for much of the campaign.

“I think we’re unbeaten in the league since November.”

Paterson, who is also the club’s secretary, took on the captaincy duties after injuries to regular skipper Ben Gibbs and then vice-captain Ryan Collard earlier in the campaign.

The defender was a member of the two previous title-winning teams so knows what it takes to win the division and he said: “It’s been one of those years when everyone has played well.

“Ben John’s return was a big factor. He had a long-term knee injury but when he came back he scored something like 16 goals in 18 games.

“He’s a big lad and he’s good in the air, he scores a lot of goals with his head. He’s been brilliant for us up front.”

And Sharpness’ promotion is brilliant for someone like Paterson, a Sharpness boy who apart from a short spell with Frampton United has always played for the club.

It will be the first time that the club, who won the Hellenic League back in the mid-80s, have played at the level since the early 90s and Paterson said: “It’s fantastic for the club, it’s been a long time coming but now we’ve got everything in place we can try to push on.”

By ‘push on’ Paterson means try to get back in the Hellenic League which is the division above the County League.

“I think we could sustain the club in Hellenic League Premier Division,” he said. “This season has shown what we can do, it’s been brilliant for all the people who have been involved with Sharpness for so many years.”