THE Western League will be joined next August by Bishops Lydeard FC, who will be playing in the highest grade of football in their 103 year history as they take their rightful place in the First Division alongside the likes of Wellington, Chard Town and Welton Rovers, writes Kerry Miller.

They did it the hard way by winning four matches in seven days, scoring 25 goals and beating both the other contenders as well as the winner takes all match on Saturday with Nailsea and Tickenham.

It was a breath taking end to what has been a tortuously long campaign but Lydeard took to the task and came through on Saturday in front of a big crowd, described on one non-League forum as ‘most of the village’.

Last Saturday week’s 4-2 home win over reigning champions Shirehampton came courtesy of Joe Chamberlain, Mark Clunie, Ben Hebditch and Charlie Wilson and with it came the fact their destiny was in their hands as three wins would bring the title and promotion.

Tuesday saw the side make the awkward trip to Clutton and the home side were in no mood to make things easy as they took the lead but Lydeard did not panic and cruised to a 7-2 win.

Pat Sherwood with two, Clunie, Jack Adams, Andy Butler and substitutes Jack Kelly and Wilson were on target.

Two days later the whole season threatened to descend into farce as the fixtures had meant Bristol side Cutters Friday were forced to travel for a 6.45pm kick-off, having won one game all season and having recently lost a midweek derby at Fry Club 23-0. To their credit they arrived with a full squad of men, of whom not all were footballers, and within seven minutes Lydeard were 4-0 up and threatening to eclipse even Fry Club’s record total. Cutters refused to buckle but with half the first team rested Lydeard still scored 12 with Hebditch (4), Chamberlain (3) and Wilson (3) all netting hat-tricks before substitutes Travis Mackie and Ashley Phillips made it a round dozen in the gathering gloom.

It meant that Saturday’s home game with Nailsea and Tickenham was the title decider with Lydeard just needing a point to be champions. Nailsea made it difficult for the home side and enjoyed much possession but Chamberlain and 16-year old substitute Ryan Brereton scored the goals which triggered the post match celebrations and set off a long summer of work at the ground.

The main pitch will be widened which means uprooting the fence along the far side and rebuilding the dug outs and floodlights are expected to be in place by August. Seating is also due to go in and the whole process will be finished in time for Bishops to claim their rightful place in the Western League.