North Sunshine has capped a dominant state league 2 soccer season in style by claiming the north-west championship.
The Eagles edged out rivals Corio and Yarraville Glory to secure top honours.
North Sunshine lost just three times for the year and scored 52 goals.
As well as grabbing some silverware, the Eagles sealed their place in state league 1 for next season.
The Eagles beat Yarraville 1-0 on Saturday to finish a point clear of Corio.
North Sunshine president Besnik Kutleshi said it was a great result for the club.
“It’s been a fairytale,” he said. “The club has pulled together really well over the past four years to get to this point.
“I think the depth in our squad was a key factor.”
North Sunshine’s promotion has come ahead of schedule.
The Eagles introduced a five-year plan in 2010 with the club aiming to reach state league 1 at the end of next season.
“I think we need to sit down as a committee with the coaching staff and re-do our business plan,” Kutleshi said.
“We obviously need to rethink our goals and our aims. We’ve finished that part of the business plan we started in 2010 so it’s time to knuckle down and build the club for the next four to five years.”
An impressive aspect of North Sunshine’s 2014 success has been its young squad. According to Kutleshi, the average age of the Eagles’ playing list is 23.
He believes the youngsters will have no trouble taking their games to another level next year.
“We will definitely be competitive,” he said. “The core group raised through North Sunshine have been here from the ages of 15 and 16 and have been playing at the club for a good six or seven years.
“I’m not saying we aren’t going to try and attract a couple of other players. That will have to happen, depending on what the coach thinks as well.
“Next year will be more about consolidating into division one.”
