STOURPORT Swifts' historic victory in the Midland Football Alliance was a fitting triumph for the club who had to struggle so hard to gain entry to the league.

In the mid-1990s the club was twice denied promotion to the Alliance due to the state of its ground although many at Walshes Meadow used the words 'stitch-up'.

But after finally securing a place in the Alliance from the Banks's Brewery League Premier Division in 1997-98 the club consolidated with 12th place and then sixth spot before clinching the title and promotion to the Dr Martens League Western Division.

On the final whistle at Bloxwich Town, champagne and tears flowed in equal measure and for the backroom staff especially it was the culmination of years of hard work.

Excitement

"Former manager, Richie Leach, was there and he was virtually in tears with excitement," said club secretary, Nigel Green.

"It was an emotional night and most of the people involved in the club had tears in their eyes.

"Former club secretary, John McDonald, doesn't show a lot of emotion but even he had a lump in his throat because over the years we have had a lot of doubters and people knocking us so it was good to prove people wrong.

"But to be fair since Thursday we have had letters from managers in the Midland Alliance congratulating us.

"But that is how it is in this league. Everybody is at each other's throats during the season but when it is all done and dusted people can ring up and congratulate you."

Swifts' rise to the Dr Martens Western Division is the high point in their 119-year history. The club was formed in 1882 when players practised in a field near to the Station Hotel, which is now the Brindley Arms in Minster Road.

They later moved to Bewdley Road near the New Inn and in 1906 to Olive Grove but had to wait until the 1912-13 season for their first honours when they won both the Worcester and Bromsgrove Charity Cups.

Between 1925 and 1927 they achieved a hat-trick of County Cup wins but had to wait 20 years after that to lift it again and another 35 years and 1982 to reach another final.

In 1993-94 they finished runners-up in the Banks Premier but failed to get elected as they did in 1996-97 but Swifts made it third time lucky a year later to gain entry to the Midland Alliance.

This season has also seen them achieve best-ever runs in both the FA Cup and FA Vase.