Grant Shenton piles praise on Avro after NPL West promotion

The Ro prevailed against Stalybridge Celtic, in what was a thoroughly entertaining play-off final. Both sides led at points in the game, and in the end, the home side won 4-2.

It can always be difficult for the side that came second to motivate themselves for the play-offs - Avro were the only second-placed side from Step 4 to make it to the final across all three NPL divisions - and manager Shenton was proud that his side managed to get the job done. 

“It’s nothing that these lads don’t deserve,” Shenton said post-match. 

“They’ve been immense all year. At the start of the season, they had to buy into me and what I wanted to do. It’s been totally different to what they’ve been used to, and they have [bought into it]. Every man has been absolutely phenomenal.”

Indeed, it’s a promotion in Shenton’s debut season in the dugout, and the first time in Avro’s short history as a semi-professional side that they’ll play Step 3 football.

They had to work hard for it though. In both play-off games, they were behind at crucial times. 

Against Lower Breck on Tuesday, they scored with three minutes left of extra-time to take the game to penalties.

And on Saturday, despite taking a 1-0 lead into half-time, Avro were behind with 25 minutes to go. But they’d net three without reply to take the game out of sight.

“We knew that they’d come out of the traps in the second half. They did it at their place earlier in the season, and they did it here again,” Shenton added.

“But I knew we still had enough in the changing room to still battle and get something out of the game, and I’m absolutely buzzing for them.

“You can’t undersell how much they deserve to go up with the effort they’ve put in. It would have been a discredit to them not to have got what they’ve got now.”

Avro will join Bury in celebrating promotion from the NPL West Division, and will make the step up to the Premier Division next season.