HOLTON-le-Clay FC's manager Dave Allen has heralded the club's meteoric rise up the Sunday league – and paid tribute to the players, supporters and sponsors who have made it possible.

Only established in 2003, the team has progressed from division eight to the top level of the Grimsby, Cleethorpes & District Sunday League in just seven seasons.

Speaking after another successful campaign – which saw the team promoted to division one – boss Allen was quick to thank everyone involved with the club.

He said: "We have to say a big, big thank you to everyone that have stayed loyal throughout the last seven seasons.

"We have achieved virtual back-to-back promotions with some championship promotion years amongst them. From division eight to two the club was captained by Martin Mann, and from division two to one it was captained by Matty Powell and Andy Blackbourn.

"In that time, Mann, Blackbourn and Chris Chalk have all exceeded 100 appearances which is a great achievement in itself, by playing and staying loyal to one Sunday League team for seven seasons."

Off the pitch, PMC Safety Netting has sponsored all the team's kits and DKM Construction Centre has supplied its tracksuits.

And Allen added that a whole host of entities have been key to the Holton success story.

"We have to thank all the players, sponsors, supporters and local businesses from Holton-le-Clay," he commented.

"These include Tim's the Chemist, Oasis the Hairdressers, Coulbecks hardware store, Royal Oak Public House and Holton Sports, who have all kindly sponsored trophies for all the presentation nights since the club started.

"Everyone involved has shared my enthusiasm and quest to reach division one of the Sunday League, where all the hard work really starts now."