A 13-year wait to claim silverware finally came to an end for a local table tennis team.
Hollingworth Veterans, who play in the Glossop and District Table Tennis League, claimed the Division Three title and will now be readying themselves for the tough challenge of facing opponents in Division Two next season.
The team, which was formed in 2009, has finished in mid-table obscurity for the past 13 years but, following a string of impressive performances over the past few months, now have a piece of silverware to reflect their efforts.
CHAMPIONS: From left to right, the team players: Paul Higginbottom, Graham Oakley, Andrey Mirzoyan, David Jones, Adie Jones. Missing from the photo, Alastair Smith, our star player.
A goal in the first five minutes and another one six minutes from time were enough to see Ashton safely into the second qualifying round of this year's FA Cup and a home tie against Scarborough.
After squandering a two-goal lead at home to Prescot Cables on Saturday, Hyde United spared their FA Cup blushes with a 1-0 win in Tuesday’s First Qualifying Round replay.