FOOTBALL: Celebration time for champions North Leigh (From Witney Gazette)

FOOTBALL: Celebration time for champions North Leigh

11:53am Wednesday 30th April 2008

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Sport Italia Hellenic League

North Leigh were crowned the Premier Division champions in dramatic circumstances after title rivals Almondsbury Town lost 1-0 at Abingdon Town on Saturday.

They had to endure a nerve-wracking afternoon after completing their programme with a thumping 8-0 win at bottom club AFC Wallingford last Thursday.

That left Almondsbury needing a point to secure the title, but Richard Wells's 61st-minute strike shattered the Gloucestershire club's dreams and gave North Leigh the crown with a superior goal difference of two after they finished level on points.

North Leigh manager Mark Gee couldn't bear to go to Culham Road and watch the events unfold - instead choosing to attend the Oxfordshire Senior League title decider between Chadlington and Rover Cowley, which the Oxford side won 2-1.

"I didn't want to watch the game and see someone else pick up the cup," he said.

"People were sending texts saying they were 1-0 up and had missed a penalty and there were 20 minutes to go.

"I didn't think there was any chance of them holding on. My heart was beating like mad for the last 20 minutes. Everyone was phoning each other - it was incredible.

"Nothing beats us winning on the pitch, so it was peculiar," he said. "We are delighted. We knew we had to score the goals on Thursday which we did and it put a bit of pressure on."

The championship completed a brilliant double for North Leigh - who are celebrating their centenary year - following their 2-1 win over Banbury United in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup final.

"It is fantastic," added Gee. "It is a great achievement. The chairman (Pete King) works very hard - you couldn't ask for a better chairman."

Gee put their success down to a good squad of players - giving special mention to captain Stuart Huxley, James Mortimer-Jones, Andy McCabe, Chris Allen and Mark Simms.

It's the third time North Leigh have won the Hellenic League title since they were promoted from the Witney & District FA in 1990.

Their two previous title triumphs came in 2001-2 and 2002-3 - but unlike then, their Eynsham Park ground is up to scratch for the club to be promoted to the Southern League.

King was at North Leigh Res's 2-1 win at Finchampstead, but he was kept informed of events at Abingdon.

"The last seven minutes seemed like an eternity," he said. "I rang up at about 4.55 and they were still playing."

King was overjoyed when the news finally came through that they were champions.

"It was very emotional," he said. "I thought all along that we had got 96 points and we would end runners-up and that is one of the highest totals in the Hellenic League since we have been in it.

"We have an excellent manager in Mark Gee, who has taken the reins and gradually built the team."

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