TRIUMPHANT Totton skipper Jamie Austen was all smiles as he finally shed his nearly man' tag.

After becoming the first player in Totton's history to pick up the Sydenhams Premier championship trophy, the 25-year-old Colden Common lad said league glory had "more than made up" for the disappointment of missing out on the FA Vase at Wembley last May.

"When I left Winchester City two years ago I had other clubs to go to, but Totton's ambition from day one has been to win the title and get out of the Wessex League and, as far as I know, we've achieved that now," he said.

"Two months ago the players were told by the club that we couldn't go up, but then it all changed and we were told yes' we could and, fair play to everyone at the club, they've worked their socks off to get the ground ready for promotion."

Full story in today's Daily Echo