After clinching the Preston and District Premier Division title – only losing two games all season – Longridge have now had their 'promotion' to the West Lancashire League confirmed.
The West Lancs committee approved Longridge's application to join Division Two of the league at their AGM last
Friday, meaning Town have now got their feet on the first rung of the football pyramid ladder. In essence it means Longridge are now potentially 12 promotions away from the Premiership – with the West Lancs the lowest point in the league structure that plots a direct promotion course through non-league to the Football League and ultimately the Premier elite.
The step up to the West Lancs was not dependent on Longridge winning the Preston and District League, but was more about fulfilling strict ground grading criteria, which they passed with flying colours thanks to their new facilities on Inglewhite Road.
"It's a big step for us to get into the pyramid structure'' said a delighted chairman, Brian Parkinson, who added that although they hadn't needed to win the league in order to move up to the West Lancashire League, it was still good to have the excitement of looking forward to a new league to show for their efforts last season.
"In many ways I think the league we've just come out of is stronger than the one we're going in to, but this is all about the club's progression and moving foward'' added Mr Parkinson.
Even though the opposition may not be any tougher the demands of the extra travel involved in the West Lancs will be costing the club more as, contrary to its name's suggestion, the league includes five teams based in Cumbria.
"It will be more travelling for us and that will mean higher costs but we want to keep moving the club upwards, we don't want to stand still, so that is something we must tackle at some point'' said Mr Parkinson.
The chairman has also confirmed that the title winning management team of manager Stuart Darley and his assistants Darren Gornall and Shaun
Dewhurst will still be at the helm next season after delivering Longridge's historic triumph in their first season in charge.