Steve Fallon admits it was an emotional occasion watching Histon being crowned Eastern Counties League champions again.
The former Stutes boss watched on from the stands on Saturday as Lance Key’s men were finally presented with the trophy they secured a fortnight ago.
It came exactly two decades after Fallon led the club to their first ever Eastern Counties League title, starting a remarkable journey which saw them rise to the brink of the Football League within nine years.
When he left the club in January 2010, Histon were still a Conference National side, and Fallon could only watch helplessly as they suffered a fall even more rapid them their rise, all the way back down to the Eastern Counties League in six years.
Re-appointed Stutes boss in October 2015, he was unable to replicate the success of his first spell and was replaced by Key a year later, taking up a brief director of football role instead.
Fallon’s only involvement now is as a supporter, in which capacity he says he rarely misses a home game at Bridge Road.
“It was definitely a bit emotional,” he said. “Everybody knew when we were having all the success that it would end in tears at some point, but it’s great to see the club take the first step back.
“It was a fantastic journey we went on, and it so nearly ended in the ultimate goal of the Football League, but like a lot of clubs who do that, we came right back down again.
“We really went for it off the pitch, and we never dreamt we would be in a play-off semi-final for a place in the Football League, but you never know what’s around the corner.
“To be honest, what happened next was very difficult. The feel good factor was gone, and it’s hard when things start to go wrong as people jump off the bandwagon.
“But the chairman and directors have done a magnificent job to stick by the club and turn it around, and I’m looking forward to seeing how they do next season.