CINDERFORD Town last night won the Southern League Division One South & West title with a 2-0 win over Taunton Town.
The victory, which came in Cinderford’s last home game of the season, ensured an unbeaten league record at the Causeway.
Top scorer Ethan Moore scored in the 50th and 60th minutes to secure the championship and automatic promotion to the Southern League Premier Division – the highest ever competition for any Forest of Dean side.
Manager John Brough, for whom this is a first coaching honour, praised the commitment of his players from last summer up to this point.
“The shift that they put in from day one in pre-season and the hard work is the foundation,” he said.
“I’m really pleased for the players first, the supporters and the board. The chairman’s been here a 1,000 years it seems like so it’s a great day for everyone involved.”
Ashley Saunders, the club’s long-serving chairman, called winning the championship the club’s greatest achievement and hailed Brough and the players.
“I’m speechless,” he said.
“It’s been a fantastic season for us. Behind the scenes there are a few problems but the players and manager have kept going and been a very good side for the club.
“John Brough has been a big, big turning point for us. It’s unbelievable what he’s done for us in two seasons.”