THERE are not many times a team achieves more than 100 points in a season and Banbury United know they are living the dream.

The Puritans stormed to the Pitching In Southern League Premier Central title last term and were named SK Kits Team of the Year at the 2022 National Game Awards, which recognises non-league clubs.

Andy Whing’s men gained 102 points, 23 clear of their nearest rivals, and chairman Ronnie Johnson hailed a sensational achievement.

He said: “It’s been an incredible season.

“The accolade to Andy Whing, his management team and everyone involved in the club is just massive. It was a dream season.

"There’s not many times you’ll get this in a season and we’re loving the idea that we’ve got out of step three and the challenge of step two is ahead.”

Banbury started well and got stronger as they relentlessly pursued the title.

Johnson said: “The recruitment was good and once the confidence was there it went from good to better.

“It came to Christmas and it was as if we were given an extra ten points – we won the games over the Christmas period and all the teams up there with us were losing.

“Andy Whing and his management team got his players playing very attacking and not giving many goals away either.

“Even when we won the league we kept going, it was absolutely fantastic.”

Johnson is now looking forward to Banbury’s first season in Vanarama National League North.

“The aim is to win every game – there’s a dream for you,” he joked.

“The target is to stay in the league, we are going in there to do the best we can.

“We feel confident but we’re not on the level of some of those clubs, quite simply, but we will go up there and give them a good challenge.”

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