Windsor & Eton savour 'special feeling' after clinching league title

Windsor & Eton’s title-winning squad savoured the ‘special feeling’ as they celebrated being crowned Combined Counties Division One champions.

The Royalists have been working towards the goal of winning promotion from Step 6 since their first pre-season sessions way back in June.

And on Wednesday, their ambitions were finally realised as nearest challengers Westside failed to secure the win which would have prolonged the wait for Matt Angell’s side.

News of Westside’s 1-1 draw against Brook House led to hastily arranged celebrations at Windsor & Eton’s Stag Meadow ground.

Boss Matt Angell could not contain his delight for the club and the wider community.

He said: : “I feel really ecstatic for the fans and the community and the club overall.

“It’s never really been about just us as a team.

“It’s been about the club and the community that’s involved with it.

“Without that, some of the results we’ve got, we wouldn’t have got over the line. We’ve had a phenomenal following home and away.”

Windsor & Eton’s support has ranked among the highest at Step 6 with hundreds coming through the gates at Stag Meadow to roar the side on.

The title is the first of Angell’s six-year managerial career and the first for many of his young playing squad too.

He recalls how at the start of the season he asked his players to put up their hands if they’d won a trophy. Only two did.

That’s now changed.

Angell added: “Our goal at the start of the season was always to win it.

“We felt we had the squad to win it but the group we’ve got have just been phenomenal. They’ve got this mentality about them which just doesn’t know when to give up.

“Winning a league title, it doesn’t happen to everyone. This is my first ever trophy as a manager.

“To win a title and a trophy is something special.”

Throughout a relentless campaign, there’s been plenty of memorable moments in both the league and the club’s FA Vase run.

Home and away victories against title challengers Penn & Tylers Green proved pivotal while the team’s ability to continuously salvage victories at the death drove the side on.

“It’s relentless. There’s 44 league games and we’re going to end the season playing something like 58 games (in league and cup),” Angell said. “It’s a massive toll on the players and what they put in and they’re there Saturday-Tuesday-Thursday no matter what.

“It just makes it all worth it.”

He added: “It’s just hats off to everyone. From the volunteers we have getting people through the gates, the ladies doing the food for us which has been phenomenal and the support from the chairman.

“It’s just a special place to be.”