CHAIRMAN Lee Robson is positive Monmouth Town can continue to be successful following the club's meteoric rise from the depths of parks football to the top flight of the MacWhirter Welsh League.

Caerleon's 4-2 victory at Newport YMCA on Tuesday handed the table-topping Kingfishers elevation to Division One and they now need just six points from four remaining games to lift the championship trophy.

And four more goals will see Monmouth become the first club to score 100 times in a season since both AFC Llwydcoed and West End (Swansea) achieved it in the 2008-09 campaign.

"That’s five promotions in eight seasons and I’m... well... over the moon!" remarked Robson, whose infectious enthusiasm has been the chief drive behind Monmouth's success story.

"All this is simply a tribute to hard work, discipline and commitment. But without the vision we set out and some incredibly skilled players and volunteers, we could never have done it.

"At times we had to take some tough decisions with regard to management and players and we need to acknowledge everyone’s contribution on and off the pitch.

"Effort, however, will only get you so far, money alone will not sustain it – we are one club united behind the goals and standards we set.

"That’s why we have been successful and will continue to be – plus a shed load of staying power!"

I watched Caerleon defeat YMCA alongside Monmouth's joint managerial team of Barry Burns and Robin Pick, who later both agreed how much this means to them and the playing squad.

"It goes without saying how delighted we are to have gained promotion and in some style as well," said Burns on behalf of both.

"There has been a lot of hard work put in by a lot of people, on and off the pitch, and we would like to thank everyone involved for their magnificent efforts.

"We and all the players are well aware this success is also because of the dedication of our well-organised committee and the club's other volunteers - so it's really been a team effort.

"But we still have four games remaining (starting with a trip to face Maesteg-based Caerau on Saturday) and our next target is obviously to go up as champions."

After sweeping through the Gwent County League, it has taken Monmouth just four seasons to attain Division One status and in that time, they have a quite amazing goal-scoring record.

In the 128 MWL games the club has played since entering the league in the 2008-09 campaign, Monmouth have scored no less than 353 times for an averaging of 2.75 goal per game.

When you add the 229 conceded in those matches, Monmouth followers have watched 582 goals being scored at a quite remarkable average of 4.54.

* Current Monmouth midfielder Andrew Smith was the club's player-manager who led them into the MacWhirter Welsh League following three successive promotions.

However he stepped down from managerial duties in November, 2007 to concentrate on his playing career and was replaced by Nick Oxford, who had Barry Burns as his assistant.

After a poor start, the pair eventually steered the club to safety in the first season in MWL Welsh League after a poor start.

But following another disappointing beginning to the next campaign, Oxford was replaced by Andy Beattie, who re-shaped the team during the next four months.

In turn, he stood down the current managerial duo Robin Pick joining Burns at the helm in February, 2009.

5th April, 2012

by Terry Daley