Downham promotion is just reward for so many people at the club, says joint boss

Joint Downham Town manager Craig Dickson says promotion to the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division is just reward for so many people at the club.

Downham rubber-stamped their elevation to Step 5 football for the first time in the club’s history with a resounding 4-0 victory over Harwich and Parkeston at the SCL Memorial Field.

John Fysh has been involved at the club in some capacity for more than 60 years and long-serving defender Pat Yates, who has played for the Reds since 2006, lifted the trophy.

Reflecting on the special day, Dickson said: “What a day yesterday was and to have it topped off with Pat Yates and John Fysh lifting the trophy it epitomised what this club is about.

“Two men who have backed the club and stayed loyal during the difficult times and now experience the joy of promotion.

“This was John’s 61st year involved with the club and I think yesterday will be his fondest moment.

“No one in the club deserves this more than him and we were so pleased to be able to deliver him promotion.

“Pat Yates, what can I say? Possibly the most frustrating footballer I could ever manage with him being my best mate, but I’ve never met more of a winner.

“The celebration for our fourth goal is something I will remember forever.”

Downham’s promotion was never in doubt with Matty Prudence scoring twice and Joe Jackson and Yates scoring the others.

Joint boss Dale Stokes revealed after the game that the management team had demanded more goals from Prudence.

Stokes said: “We controlled the game throughout and they were restricted to just lumping it.

“We’ve been on at Matty Prudence all year to score more. He’s got one all season and missed so many tap-ins from inside the six yard box and then he gets two today, one an absolute belter.

“I’ve always said if we score first, we’re never going to be beaten and that was the case today. As soon as we went ahead, I just knew we were going up.

“I was always confident we would be too good for Harwich but didn’t want the lads to know because I didn’t want us to be complacent.

“I said to Craig (Dickson) there’re no way we’re going through what happened last season again (they lost the play-off final 3-1 at Harleston), we will win it.”

As well as Pat Yates, goalkeeper Duncan McAnally has been involved with the club from a young age – as have the joint management team of St

Fellow joint boss Dickson added: “Once the first goal went in, there was only going to be one winner. We were winning every second ball and had too much quality for them.

“The only time they got into it was just after half-time and out third goal was possibly against the run of play but they hardly created any chances all game.”

Two-goal hero Prudence had the final word, saying: “I’ve missed so many chances this season but that one fell just right and I put my foot through it.

“To be fair it was going to be either Row Z or the top corner and thankfully it was the back of the net.”

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