IT will be a case of same again for Slimbridge after a successful debut season in the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West.

Chairman Barry Gay has sung the praises of the management and players after a final 1-0 away victory over Bishops Cleeve on Saturday rounded things off.

Slimbridge may have ended their campaign in 18th place, which is just three above the relegation places and above sides like Bridgwater Town and Wantage Town.

Their task at the beginning was simply to stay up on their first tilt in the highly-competitive division.

And they managed just that with aplomb by winning ten and drawing 12 of their 42 fixtures which started with a 1-0 win at Wantage on August 8 and ended with their win at Bishops Cleeve last Saturday.

Now manager Leon Sterling, while admitting there are some departments in the squad where he will need to find cover during the summer off-season, is ready to stick with the players who have delivered the goods for the next campaign which starts in August.

Sterling said: “There were no expectations for us at the start of the season and some of the lads never played at that level. They were going to a really good level of football.

“So I am impressed by them. I did not want to go up and straight back down again. Our main aim was to stay in the division. I am very proud of the lads.

“I have been in charge for three years. I can look back and see that some of these guys were playing local football in the Stroud, Gloucestershire and Northern Senior Leagues. Some clubs would not have taken a chance on them but they had that at Slimbridge.”

Sterling said Slimbridge have to be ‘realistic’ and not expect they could challenge the sides at the top end of the table, who have more money than the Swans, for further promotion in the league.

He is, therefore, satisfied to continue with the squad that have gone through thick and thin at Wisloe Road to keep the Swans flying in their league.

“We are realistic as a club,” said the manager. “I am used to operating on a low-end scale and the main thing is to keep the lads (at the club). I would like to think it is a close knit bunch and I would like to think they can grow as a group for next season.”

Sterling added: “The ex-chairman John Mack gave me the opportunity to manage the club and I have to thank him for giving me that platform and putting the money in.”

This season is not quite over yet as Slimbridge were involved in the Gloucestershire FA Senior Challenge Trophy semi-final on Wednesday night, ironically again away at Bishops Cleeve.

But looking ahead to next season, which will begin in mid-June when the players return from their end-of-season break to start summer training, Sterling added: “The first thing is to stay up and to keep everyone in the squad.

“The average age is 23 and there have been a lot of them who have been with us for a few years.

“We know where we are and we are not going to be the best team in the league. We have not got the budget for that but we know a mid-table finish is possible. A little bit higher would be a massive achievement.”