CHAMPIONS! Harborough Town promoted to National League North after Halesowen win
Harborough Town are celebrating after winning the Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central title.
The Bees have secured the sole automatic promotion place, and next season will be playing at Step 2 of the non-League ladder, in the National League North.
It means Harborough Town are now just two levels below the Football League.
Mitch Austin's side sealed the silverware with two games to spare thanks to a 3-1 win at play-off chasing Halesowen Town on Saturday, and they had to do it the hard way.
Halesowen led thanks to a Jason Cowley in time added on in the first half, but the Bees were level just three minutes after the restart, with Connor Kennedy firing home with his left foot from the edge of the box.
On the hour, Harborough were awarded a penalty for handball and Riley O'Sullivan stepped up to drill the ball home to make it 2-1, before the win was wrapped up six minutes later.
Danny Newton broke down the right, played the ball in to Ryan McLean who produced a smart near-post finish, sliding the ball across the goalkeeper and into the far corner.
As it panned out, the Bees would have won the title on Saturday regardless of their own result, as long-time rivals and challengers Spalding United were beaten 3-1 at home by Stratford Town.
It has been a remarkable rise for the Bees, who were playing at Step 5 in the United Counties League as recently as 2022.
Under Austin, Borough were then promoted from the Pitching-In Northern Premier League Midlands Division via the play-offs in 2024.
They went close to promotion last season when they were beaten by Kettering Town in the Premier Central play-offs, but have made no mistake this time around.
With two matches still to play, the Bees have claimed 93 points, having lost just three times in 40 games.
They play their final home game of the season on Saturday when they host Bishop's Stortford, and there is sure to be one huge championship party at the Bee Hive.
Next season they be taking on the likes of former Football League club Morecambe, as well as Brackley Town, who were both relegated from the National League at the weekend.