AFC Ludlow and AFC Bridgnorth pick up their awards

The South Shropshire side could finally celebrate as champions as a group of 14 from the club, including manager Dave Cooper, congregated at Walsall FC's Banks's Stadium.

Division One winners AFC Bridgnorth were also honoured, with 29-goal Jason Pike recognised with the Golden Boot and Player of the Season awards.

Ludlow's crowning glory came on a special evening for the league, standing proud as the second longest regional pyramid still operating in Britain.

Reformed Ludlow joined their remit after taking the Mercian League Premier Division title in their first season of existence, 2012-13, before repeating the trick with back-to-back promotions.

Cooper's side completed their fixture list with an emphatic 4-0 victory at runners-up Team Dudley, who had a game in hand to catch the table-toppers. That came and went but Ludlow's wait to lift the trophy went on, but they now have the silverware as they prepare to step up to Division One next season.

Cooper, who was also named Manager of the Season for Division Two, said: "We still haven't had our own end-of-season presentation night yet, as we needed to get the trophy first!"

Bridgnorth chief Mark Clyde also took the boss' gong for Division One and warned the Premier to 'watch out' next season.

They rejoined the league in the just-gone season as a reformed club, too, and return to the division which they won as the old Bridgnorth Town in 2007-08.

Clyde said: "It's our challenge to get back to the Midland Alliance."

The two reformed title-winning sides will play each other in a pre-season friendly on Saturday July 19, at Bridgnorth.