It could just as easily have been a Bingham cup double in the end-of-season Euro Soccer Company Nottinghamshire League divisional cup competitions, as Bingham Reserves, under Stephen Fearn, fell at the last in the Division Two South final, meanwhile, it was to be last-gasp glory for Chris North and Bingham Town in the Premier Division version.

They’ve had a decent run as well, in recent times, however, the impact of the ongoing, global pandemic, has affected the club’s on-field progression, and this Premier Division cup success, they’re hoping, will be the tip of the iceberg for what’s to come.

League leaders prior to curtailment, Bingham held a slender, one point advantage, with a game in hand, over second-placed Wollaton; fitness levels however, have played a key role in their ongoing success and, according to Chris North, will continue to keep them ahead of the chasing pack moving forward.

“The cup competition was really all about the lads’ mental health and well-being,” began Bingham boss, Chris North, regarding the recent, NSL cup competitions.

“They’ve worked really hard over the past two seasons, but there’s a lot of frustration as well, especially having gone some 37 games unbeaten over that time, so really, there’s been a lot of time lost.

“It is what it is though and this (covid) has really put us back a few years, even though I feel that we could have actually carried on with the league, but that’s my own, personal opinion.

“However, over the start of this year, myself, and the coaching team, set up a Strava group (for both the firsts and reserves) and set fitness targets, it’s something that’s a massive thing for me.

“There were expectations for the lads to be at a certain level (of fitness), to place a professional attitude at the club, and it worked really well for us.

“We’ve been really fit, relentless, and ruthless, in what we do and, because of that, have pretty much blown the opposition away.”

Those levels, and that of Bingham’s relentless ruthlessness, have been somewhat evident during a group stage which saw them emerge, unbeaten, against that of Aslockton & Orston, Cotgrave, and Keyworth United.

Goals would also be plentiful, as seems to be the case with North’s Bingham, twenty-two of them being netted in the group stage alone (28 in total), they being spread out amongst nine different players.

Thomas Spencer, Michael Jepps and Euan Sweeting all registered five apiece throughout the Premier Division competition, one which begun with a 4-0 home win over Aslockton, James Archer with a brace.

Everything with Bingham really clicked into place though in their final three group games, Keyworth being put to the sword in a 6-2 home win (Jepps 3, Sweeting 2) prior to finishing off with a double-header against Cotgrave (4-0 away, 5-1 at home), setting up a semi-final with Woodthorpe Park Rangers.

“That first Keyworth game (1-1 away), that was certainly a game of missed chances for us, and we really should have won it,” continued North.

“In the final though, with Sandiacre (their ‘keeper played over eighty minutes with a broken arm, and several a couple of penalties with James Gardner opening the scoring for the eventual winners), they were probably the toughest opposition we’ve faced, but we were strong and got the result.

“Our forwards though, overall, they’ve been outstanding, a back three and a midfield who are really strong, and with a good balance throughout, including with the substitutes, who are good enough to be out there themselves.”

Now though, focus has already turned to next season, and with pre-season, literally, just around the corner, North will again challenge his side with matches against teams from higher up the football pyramid – why fix something that isn’t broken.

“We should be playing higher up ourselves anyway,” insists North, “so we just need to keep this squad of players together, which it looks like we have done, and go for it next season.

“Runners-up won’t be good enough though, although we know we don’t have a divine right to, and with it being a long season as it is, but, whoever finishes above us in the league, they’ll be champions, as that’s what we’re going for now.”

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @JimBethell final action as Bingham Town go on to take the trophy.