'It was worth every single minute': From cup finals heartbreak to a Rotherham Sunday League title triumph for Gate Inn
THE new champions of the Rotherham Sunday League hit back from two cup final losses to land the main prize.
Gate Inn, from Swinton, fell at the final hurdle of the Sheffield Senior Sunday Cup and the Mexborough Montagu Cup but kept their nerve to hold off defending champions Brinsworth DC and win the Premier Division for the first time.
It is a proud moment for the new champions, who were put together from the former Robin Hood Swinton and Park View clubs.
“We weren’t expecting it,” said secretary Hayden Barnett after a title-clinching 2-1 victory over Butchers Arms from Braithwell.
"We set out to compete this season and we knew we’d got a decent team but it was a surprise when we realised halfway through how well we were doing. Then all of a sudden winning the league became a reality.
"Losing to the two finals knocked a bit of wind out of our sails. The lads were devasted to get to two big cup finals and just fall short.
"Brinsworth DC are one of those teams that are relentless. They don’t stop. They put pressure on us. We had our work cut out with that but luckily we managed to scrape a few wins.
"It was really tough against Butchers. It didn’t look like it was going to fall for us and then with ten minutes to go we managed to score and that got us the three points and got us over the line.”
Robin Hood had finished third last year behind DC and AFP Pewter Pot.
This time, under the management of Craig Haythorne, some of the players from that team helped Gate repeat DC’s feat by remaining unbeaten on the way to the title.
"If you’d asked anyone at the start they would probably have said Brinsworth DC or AFP were the favourites,” said Hayden.
"The lads are buzzing to have won the league. It’s been a long season for us but we can now look back and say it was worth every single minute.
"We have set the bar high and looking at next season there are high expectations.”
Before then there is some unfinished business for Gate.
They have a date at AESSEAL New York Stadium on Sunday, May 17 (10.30am) when they play Joker, from the third tier, in the final of the Brian Beeley Sunday Cup.
Added Hayden: “The lads will be polishing the boots and getting ready for that one.
“On paper you’d expect us to be favourites. I know a few of the lads there and it will be a good day out for everybody.”
Gate will be joined in the top flight next season by Thurcroft Hub, the newly crowned winners of the Championship.
Park Hotel won Division Two and Dinnington Hub were the champions Division Four.