Broxburn Athletic clinch title glory and promotion

May 27 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

BROXBURN ATHLETIC have defied the odds this season after playing every single fixture away from home yet still securing title glory writes Eric Mackinnon.

The Burn clinched the South Division title and with it promotion to the Premier League on Saturday despite having to play every single week on the road.

A powerful header into by Stuart Ritchie secured the title at Bathgate Thistle’s Creamery Park for a Broxburn side who have now lifted three league championships in just six years.

Now the West Lothian wonders are preparing for the new campaign in the Premier League and a return to their new upgraded home ground which will be the envy of the division.

But gaffer Steven Pittman has warned the rest of the Premier League his side aren’t stepping up to make up the numbers and he has revealed he has his sights set on a sensational promotion to the Superleague with a second successive league triumph.

He said: “The boys are just delighted with how well they have done especially considering we haven’t played a home game all season.

“We are looking to add three or four new players as there is no point doing the hard work in winning a league and promotion only to come straight back down again.

“I’m not going up looking to simply survive in the Premier League, I’m going up looking to win another league and there is no reason why we can’t do that if we add a few extra quality players as we have a very good base here. But the players will need to step up a level but I’m confident we can do well.

“Tranent are a strong side and it has been a really close league but the difference for me has been the fact all the boys here believed in themselves and worked really hard for each other.”

An ever-present for Broxburn this season has been 25-year-old full-back Michael Gibson who agrees with his boss that the Burn are aiming for the top and a place in the Superleague.

The champs’ Mr Consistency reckons the foundation stones for a solid future are already at the club and complemented by a few new additions they can use their South Division title win as a springboard for further success.

He said: “I think we have done really well and it hasn’t been easy this season with us not having a home park.

“It has been hard playing away every week and we didn’t have a temporary home ground as we used three or four different ones as home grounds over the course of the season.

“It will be brilliant next season to move back into Albyn Park as champions and in time for the Premier League season and we are all looking forward to the new season.

“I’ve been with Broxburn now for three seasons and every season we have been confident of winning the league but we’ve done it now and I think there is no doubt we deserved it.

“We won the most games, scored the most goals and had the best defensive record so I think we’ve merited it.

“To be honest I don’t think there is a massive step up between the South Division and the Premier League and if we can add a couple of players I don’t see why we can’t compete at the top end and then challenge for a place in the Superleague.”