No shortage of beers at the champions!

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League champions Chorley will be raising more than a few pints to toast their success this week when the Lancashire club’s annual beer festival kicks off.

Thousands are likely to be sunk at Victory Park during the club’s third annual ‘Thirsty Magpies Beer Festival’, the four day event kicking off on Thursday evening and running until Sunday night.

Officials say this year’s festival will feature a star-studded line-up of more than 60 real ales and ciders plus live performances from a number of local bands to entertain supporters raising a glass to their promotion.

Magpies manager Garry Flitcroft said: "This is the third annual Thirsty Magpie beer festival and this one promises to be the best yet. We’ve managed to source some top beers from all over the UK which I’m sure will go down well.

"It’s a great opportunity for people to toast our recent success and hopefully it will raise a few quid towards next season’s playing budget, which will help me to strengthen the squad over the summer."

Some of the breweries set to be represented include Prospect Brewery, Bank Top, All Gates, Phoneix, Burscough Brewery, Blackedge, Old Silver Fox, Dunscar Bridge, Three Bees, Green Duck Beer Co, Joseph Holt, Mantle, Conway, Waen and West Berkshire.

Tickets, priced at £5 include a commemorative Thirsty Magpie Beer Festival glass, are available from Chorley FC and The Spinners Arms at Cowling. Tickets can also be bought on the day on the door.

The champions are also offering sponsorship packages at £95 for a full barrel, or £50 for half a barrel. Sponsors get their name on the barrel, two complimentary tickets to a sponsors’ event on Thursday evening and a number of free beer tokens to get them started!

For more details contact The Spinners on 07799 091918.