ELATED Mark Fell has hailed Nelson’s historic title triumph as a true team effort.
The Admirals, roared on by members of their loyal support, sealed the North West Counties League First Division championship on Monday with a 3-1 derby victory at AFC Darwen.
It is the first time Nelson have won a league title in 62 years.
Their previous success was in 1952 when the legendary Joe Fagan led the Admirals to the Lancashire Combination crown before going on to manage Liverpool to a then unprecedented treble of the European Cup, First Division and League Cup in 1984.
Fell has followed in Fagan’s footsteps.
But he insists this latest triumph is the result of everyone associated with the Victoria Park outfit.
Fell, who took over the Nelson hotseat in November 2012, said: “I’m absolutely elated for everyone.
“The boys have been magnificent and they’ve made me very, very proud.
“So it’s for them and it’s also for the chairman, who has been magnificent, and I think we work really well together.
“So it’s him, for the boys and for everyone who supports Nelson. They’ve waited a long, long time for us to produce something.
“I always felt we were the best side in this division. People wrongly think we’re spending a load of money when we’re not.
“But I think it’s just adds fuel to our fire.
“League tables don’t lie after 35 games. We’re the champions and we’ll definitely be playing Premier Division football next year.
“And that’s for everyone.”
The Admirals, who have scored an incredible 131 goals in 35 matches, complete their campaign to remember away to Rochdale Town tomorrow (7.45pm).
But Fell already has his eye on next season.
He said: “We have to forward plan and we’re already doing that.
“From players to the way the club is structured to the ground – absolutely everything.
“We’re well on and the chairman is very proactive.
“What we do is a little bit easier now as we know where we will be playing our football next year.
“So we’ll continue that work over the next few months but first of all we’ll go Rochdale on Thursday and then enjoy ourselves with a great party on Friday night.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here