Cleethorpes boss Craig Rouse 'lost for words' as Owls clinch East Division title
Cleethorpes Town manager Craig Rouse has hailed the club's "emotional" promotion to the Northern Premier League's top division after watching the Owls seal the NPL East Division title on Saturday.
Promotion was confirmed with three games to spare for the Owls after nearest challengers Dunston were beaten 1-0 at Consett.
That left Rouse's side with an unassailable 10-point lead at the top which grew even further after a 3-0 win at Carlton Town.
It has been a stellar season for the Owls under the guidance of former Pontefract Collieries boss Rouse, who only arrived at the Myenergi Stadium ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
Such has been the success of Rouse's first season in charge, he was handed a new deal back in February which runs until the end of the 2026/27 season.
The Owls will play Step 3 football for the first time next season, just 13 years after joining the Northern Premier League system as winners of the Lincolnshire League.
Photo credit: Cleethorpes Town
Speaking after their title triumph, Rouse said: "[It's] emotional. I'm lost for words really.
"It's been a long, hard season. To do what we've done, you need a group of staff that are committed and a group of players who give everything.
"They haven't let us down all season. We asked them to take things into our own hands today, make sure we were good at what we did and not rely on other teams."
Free-scoring Cleethorpes have netted 88 goals in 39 league games this season - a tally bettered only by play-off hopefuls Newton Aycliffe, who have scored two more.
They also boast the NPL East Division's second-best defence, keeping three successive clean sheets on their way to clinching the title.
Cleethorpes become the second team from the NPL regional divisions to be crowned champions, following on from Quorn's rise to Step 3 for the first time in their history by romping home in the NPL Midlands Division.
The Owls will be officially presented with the trophy after this weekend's home game against Belper Town.
"To do it in the way we've done, nobody could've imagined," Rouse added.
"We also believed that we had a group of players who could do something special. The club believed in us and backed us, and we've got a board of directors who put everything into the club.
“We've got a group of staff who work tirelessly and players who run through brick walls. It's a good recipe to have.”
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