A NON-LEAGUE team has been named league champions a month after the end of the season — despite finishing THIRD.
The Premier League and EFL might have the glamour, but nothing has been able to match the Combined Counties South Premier League for drama this campaign.
Shutterstock EditorialAFC Whyteleafe have been named winners of the Combined Counties South Premier League[/caption]
The league ended on April 22, exactly a month ago, but nobody had a clue who would lift the trophy.
Jersey Bulls and Redhill finished level at the top of the table on 96 points, with the Channel Islanders edging it on goal difference.
But NEITHER of these sides that would enjoy a title celebration.
That honour instead has gone to third-placed AFC Whyteleafe – after BOTH Jersey Bulls and Redhill were docked three points for fielding ineligible players.
Jersey were the first to be penalised after being found to have fielded a suspended player in a 4-0 victory over Tooting and Mitcham United in March.
That meant Redhill were champions — for a matter of days.
Now the Surrey side have also had three points taken away, after an appeal against a ruling that they fielded an ineligible player failed on Wednesday.
As a result, Whyteleafe – who finished the season with 95 points – have been confirmed as league winners, securing promotion to the eighth-tier Isthmian League Division One South East.
Jersey and Redhill now have to settle for a place in the play-offs and will face Fleet Town and Cobham, respectively.
Whyteleafe boss Kelly Waters has spoken about the surprising turn of events.
Whyteleafe’s promotion statement
Here is the statement that was shared by Whyteleafe on social media followinf their promotion…
It read: “AND, JUST LIKE THAT….
“We say farewell to the Combined Counties South Premier League and (finally) farewell to the end of the 24/25 season.
“We’ve thoroughly enjoyed ourselves this season, taking part in one of the most talked about and evenly contested battles for the title (at this level) in the country.
“We’ve built friendships and relationships with clubs, staff, management, players and fans in this league that will last a long, long time.
“We’d like to think that, we played our part in bringing some attention to this excellent league and the amazing clubs in it.
“We accept the way we did things at times may of upset one or two. But, we got people talking and piqued people’s interest and hopefully, encouraged people to come to games to see what all the fuss was about!
“We hope the issues that have tainted the end of the season will be remedied by the FA and League as, the teams in this league deserve so much better.
“We wish the teams in the play offs the very best of luck, we know how hard this has been for everyone.
“And to all the teams, we wish you all the best for the future and look forward to meeting you soon (hopefully at a higher level!).
“Thanks for having us.”
He admitted that he felt for Jersey and Redhill, having gone through it himself in the past.
He told the BBC: “I feel great that we’ve been crowned champions and been promoted to Step Four, but at the same time it’s a very strange way to go about it.
“I feel quite sorry for Jersey and Redhill in the situation that they’ve had, I’ve experienced it myself before when I was managing at Balham and it’s painful.
“But they have to enforce the rules to make sure people don’t use them inappropriately and in the end we’ve been a beneficiary of that and we couldn’t be happier to be back in Step Four.”
Surrey-based Whyteleafe is a phoenix club of Whyteleafe FC, which folded back in 2021.
The current version was formed by Waters, who acts as the chairman and co-manager.
The club did reach the final of the FA Vase this season but were beaten 2-1 by Whitstable Town.
Shutterstock EditorialWhyteleafe lost to Whitstable Town in the FA Vase final[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
