Linfield champions again

A draw would have been enough, but manager David Jeffrey pressed his players hard to 'do it in style' and when man of the match Robert Garrett hammered the ball home for the only goal of the game on 60 minutes the fans finally began to celebrate.

It was a title that looked a long way off back in November when the Blues took a mere 9 points from a possible 30 and manager David Jeffrey's position was under the spotlight.

"We had a terrible run over November and December and I was called to the boardroom and told my position was being discussed. Things looked very grim, but I never lost faith in the squad," said Jeffrey. "It was a tough time but I got a lot of support from my parents and here we are celebrating another title. I said at the end of last season when we lost by a whisker than we would be back and it is a great feeling." Turning to the packed stands Jeffrey pointed: "This is what it is all about. The fans really got behind us in the run-in and I have always said they are our 12th man. This is the best one ever."

See full report in this week's Star