TRANENT Juniors boss Gary Small has hailed being crowned league champions as the “biggest achievement” of his career.

The Belters came from behind to win 3-2 away to Rosyth to wrap up the South Division league title, having won promotion from the league at the end of last month.

Small told Courier Sport: “This is by far and away the biggest achievement in my career.

“For me to be manager and to take the club from where it was and do it with my hometown club is a special feeling.”

His side were cheered on by more than 200 travelling fans, who made the journey to Fife.

The manager, who has now won the league as a player, assistant manager and manager, said there were fans in tears at full-time as they celebrated the historic occasion. He said: “It has been a result of the hard work everybody has put in and it is just brilliant. I am immensely proud of everyone at the club.

“At the start of the season, we outlined that this was my goal and realistically what we could achieve.”

However, the Foresters Park side had to do it the hard way as they came from 2-1 down at the break at Recreation Park.

The manager felt the occasion got to his squad in the opening 45 minutes but a team talk highlighting the chance to make history did the trick, with two second-half goals wrapping up both the win and the league title.

Tranent’s season is not over just yet, though, with the club to play either Dundonald Bluebell or Bonnyrigg Rose in the Fife and Lothians Cup quarter-final, with Small keen to keep his squad focused on the job at hand.

The win also marked a little bit of history for club captain Darren Smith.

The veteran midfielder enjoyed a lengthy senior career at Raith Rovers, Alloa Athletic, East Fife and Arbroath and tasted promotion with Berwick Rangers, Brechin City and Stirling Albion.

But he never got his hands on a league winners’ medal.

He said: “I had always stated that when I came to the end of my senior days I would like to try to help Tranent out and play for them.

“I got the opportunity to do that and be captain and this is a great achievement. I have had promotions in the senior game with numerous clubs but always going up in second or through the play-offs.

“It’s great to get a league winners’ medal at this stage in my career.”

Smith will sit down with the manager in the coming days to discuss his future and whether he pulls on the boots for another season.

The midfielder admitted he would likely miss playing if he called it a day but added it could be a fitting time to retire with the club in the ascendency.