DELIGHTED Tranent Juniors manager Calum Elliot has vowed that the club will not “stand still” after securing promotion to the Scottish Lowland Football League.
The Belters overcame the odds on Saturday to defeat Darvel and become only the second East Lothian club, after Preston Athletic, to play in the fifth tier of Scottish football.
However, Elliot stressed the club was not content with just stopping there and that they had not reached their ceiling.
He said: “Everybody in the changing room deserves the opportunity to get a chance in the Lowland League and they will be given that opportunity.
“They are under no illusions – they cannot stand still.
“We have got to keep improving on and off the park.
“We do not just settle where we are; we want to be the best that we can be.
“We will strengthen and provide more competition and, to be honest, the players thrive off that. We have got a really strong squad and there are no egos in the dressing room.”
The 2-0 win in Ayrshire meant Tranent topped the three team play-off, having defeated West of Scotland Football League champions Darvel and South of Scotland Football League winners St Cuthbert Wanderers.
That came after a gruelling season which saw them pip Penicuik Athletic to the East of Scotland Football League Premier Division title on goal difference on the final day of the season.
Tranent had already put seven unanswered goals past St Cuthbert’s, and strikes from Wayne McIntosh and Jamie Docherty proved decisive at Darvel’s Recreation Park.
Elliot said: “To be honest, it has not properly sunk in yet.
“It is relief at getting over the line. We knew how difficult it was going to be to get through this play-off against the West and South champions. The way we did it – scoring nine goals and conceding none – the boys deserve so much credit.
“This is definitely up there [in terms of achievements].
“It is just brilliant but more so for the club. You see how much time everybody puts in. The committee, the chairman, people for the last seven or eight years have devoted so much of their life to making the club successful.
“It was always the dream to get to the Lowland League and to have helped them achieve that means a lot.
“It is something everybody connected to the club should be incredibly proud of. Everybody sacrifices a lot to provide the players with the best chance of being successful.”
Celebrations went long into Saturday night and Elliot, who previously won First Division Conference B with Tynecastle, encouraged the players to enjoy the occasion.
He said: “For me, it is all about them.
“The bus back was very lively and they deserve it.
“I could not be happier for the group of boys.
“There have been times this season where I have really, really had to push and pull them in every direction to extract every ounce of effort.
“When they have time to reflect, they will understand why.
“This does not come around every season.
“They have to enjoy it, which they did on Saturday.”
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