BEATING Grundisburgh has become the benchmark in the Metaltec SIL over the last two decades.The village side's 2-2 draw with Leiston St Margarets on Tuesday confirmed they had won the Senior Division title for the eighth time in 20 years.

Elvin King

BEATING Grundisburgh has become the benchmark in the Metaltec SIL over the last two decades.

The village side's 2-2 draw with Leiston St Margarets on Tuesday confirmed they had won the Senior Division title for the eighth time in 20 years.

They have not finished below mid-table since the middle eighties and, for most seasons, have been serious contenders for the championship under a series of high-profile managers.

“There is always a lot of whooping by sides who have just beaten us,” said Micky Squirrell, who is joint manager with Kevin Cunningham.

“We are the team to beat. This season we had the situation in our own hands from November time and, although we had a lot of games to play, we had a squad strong enough to deal with it.

“We failed to beat the likes of Coplestonians and Woodbridge, which shows the strength of the division, but we gained results when it mattered most, being the only side to beat Capel Plough (twice) and taking three points off Crane Sports when they were motoring really well.

“It is a relief that we can go into tomorrow's final game against Crane with nothing hanging on it, and can relax somewhat before Tuesday's Omnico Cup final against Ransomes Sports at Woodbridge Town.”

Squirrell assisted former manager Steve Potts and then managed in 2005/06 with Julian Beaumont.

Since 2006/07 he has run the side with Cunningham, with Dave King as coach.

They are all going to carry on next term, having won the league in 2007, the Senior and Omnico Cup last season and the league this campaign - with a chance to make it a treble with finals of the Omnico and Churchman Cups to come.

Why have Grundisburgh been so successful?

“It is all down to the committee,” said Squirrell.

“All we have to do is manage. Everything else is looked after, unlike some clubs that can be considered to be one-man bands.

“Chairman John Leggett has been chairman through the eight championships and deserves great credit, along with Bert Gundrill.”

And on the field Squirrell picked out a number of players, starting with Neil King, who will be collecting his fifth winner's medal after being at the club for 12 years.

“Neil is a role model for players at our level,” said Squirrell. “And in Darren Harper and Lee Grimwood we have the best strike force in the division.

“Last summer we lost five players, including irreplaceable midfielder David Grimwood, but were fortunate when players of Ridgeons League pedigree signed for us.

“Andy Crump has scored 18 goals, mainly from central defence, and would deserve to be SIL Player of the Year, while Steve Dearsley, Jamie Scales, Chris Howlett, Matty Cunningham and Matty Ryland have come in and done well.”

Capel's 1-0 home midweek victory over Crane means they are runners-up for the second season running.

Crane finished third and Ipswich Athletic fourth. St Johns and Stonham Aspal are relegated back to junior football.