A SUFFOLK club are looking ahead to the new season after securing five successive promotions.

Mutford & Wrentham won a league and cup double, adding the Cyril Ballyn Cup to the Fosters Anglian Combination Division Two title.

It continues the remarkable rise of the village club, who will now be playing in Division One for the first time next season after winning the league by 16 points.

Mutford & Wrentham clinched the title with a 3-0 victory at Dersingham Rovers, who finished runners-up, thanks to goals from McCauley Westoby, Sam Clay and Tyler Hall. The players are pictured above celebrating after the game.

Committee member Barrie Atkins said the togetherness of everybody at the club was key to their success.

“The team just keeps giving and I am not certain what the limit is; we thought getting to Division Two was the level only to be surprised. It was such a proud moment for the club lifting that trophy,” said Atkins.

“The main secret is the togetherness of everybody at the club, some of these players have played together since they were seven-years-old and they lost a top player in a car crash (Sam Jaggard) a number of years ago and I believe that loss gives them some inner strength to want to achieve more for Sam.”

Atkins said it would be ‘a big ask’ to win Division One and make it six successive promotions, but with the addition of a few new players and the odd player retiring the new mix could be what is needed.

Mutford & Wrentham defeated closest rivals Norton 4-2 in the final of the Cyril Ballyn Cup, Harley Thompson scoring twice, with Westoby and Clay also on target.

The first team’s success on the field also saw them win the sporting award and was mirrored off it, with Aaran Mills winning the league’s secretary of the year award.

“It is always nice to win cups for the players and supporters, but to also win the sporting award shows we continue to play and win in the right spirit,” added Atkins.

“Aaran Mills winning the secretary of the year for the Anglian Combination league was special for him and everybody who is involved in the ‘team behind the teams’ that make sure everything gets done and to the correct high standards we set ourselves.”

The one disappointment for the first team was losing 2-1 at home to eventual winners Thurston in the third round of the Parkers Pitches Suffolk Junior Cup after reaching three successive finals.

Atkins said: “The Junior Cup has eluded us and it is disappointing not to have won this with the group of lads we have.

“Thurston are a very good club and a nice bunch of lads, and we look back and think at least we went out to the eventual winners.”

Promotion means Mutford & Wrentham will play in the CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup for the first time next season.

“Some things you just don’t win for many various reasons, but we have a can-do attitude and will move on to the Senior Cup.

“This is a new adventure for us and we look forward to playing in this competition for the first time,” added Atkins.

Asked if there was a ceiling as to how high the club can go, Atkins replied: “We take each season at a time. When we were in the Lowestoft and District League this seemed like our level and at the time this was the club’s level in terms of administration, pitch, changing rooms, finances, grants, etc.

“We got ourselves ready to compete in the Anglian Combination, although ideally, we would have liked to have done it a few seasons earlier, and we very much live within our means.

“We have a small group of volunteers that make it happen so the players can concentrate on the football.

“Some people who the club must thank on the journey they continue to have include Peter Dyer (RIP) who was a lifelong supporter and had been secretary and treasurer for many years and never missed a match.

“Then there’s Paul Rose, the Chairman, who set out the standards he wanted the club to achieve and surpass and Robert McMaster, who was secretary for many years but did so much more for the club.

“I joined the club from Kirkley & Pakefield some five years ago, mainly to support my youngest son and help with some of my experience in running a club to get them ready for the Anglian Combination, and then there’s Aaran Mills, the current secretary, who does a great job keeping all the admin in place.

“Last but not least is Ryan Grimmer, who took over as first-team manager at the start of last season.

“With many seasons of watching Paul Rose manage the team, Ryan has taken over and has his very own unique way of doing it, but with winning the sporting award in his first year of management just shows the club is in safe hands for many years to come.”