EFL 2019: Doncaster East claims Division 1 premiership
Doncaster East will compete in EFL Premier Division for the first time in the club’s history in 2020 after a rousing Division 1 grand final victory over Croydon.
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For Doncaster East, this was a premiership with all the trimmings.
The Lions secured a place in the EFL top flight for the first time in the club’s history after a rousing grand final victory against Croydon on Saturday.
They won last year’s premiership but were not promoted as part of the league restructure.
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But any emptiness over not receiving promotion last year was erased after clinching back-to-back flag in a sun-drenched afternoon at Boronia’s Tormore Reserve.
And the celebrations start for @DoncasterEastFC! pic.twitter.com/N6H3lCf7AY
— Toby Prime (@T_Prime2) September 14, 2019
Doncaster East coach Steve Buckle said it was “absolute relief” to secure a top-tier berth.
The Lions have worn the tag of premiership favourites since the pre-season and lived up to the hype by securing a 36-point win.
“It’s pretty hard to put into words but it’s just elation and proud for the boys for what they’ve achieved,” Buckle said.
“To be able to go back-to-back and get themselves up again after last year.
“You win the flag last year and you don’t go up, the boys could’ve quite easily packed it in and gone, ‘We’re happy with that’ but they reset themselves and we reset as a club.”
Doncaster East jumped out to a 17-point lead by quarter-time but squandered several golden opportunities during the second term, kicking 2.8 to leave the door open for Croydon.
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A burst of four goals in seven minutes, including two to Gordon Parker/Blue Ribbon medallist Jake Summers, before three-quarter time handed the Lions the momentum at the final change.
Croydon briefly threatened a comeback but inaccurate goalkicking robbed it of chance of a fairytale finish.
Buckle said the 14.20 (104) to 9.14 (68) win was more satisfying than last year’s triumph given it granted a passage to Premier Division.
“We spoke all week about this being a six-year journey,” he said.
“It’s not just something that we’ve put together over the last year or two.
“There’s a core group that have been with us for that whole six years since I started.
“Guys like Simon White, Brock (McLean), Chris Phelan, this is his first year, and Michael Steven as well and those guys haven’t just come in for a year.
“They’ve come and they’ve sustained their time here.
“Once they come, they stay and that’s what it’s about.”
Buckle took over as coach ahead of the 2014 season and results have followed since.
It was Doncaster East’s fourth grand final in five years, underlining the club’s direction to reach the top tier.
Buckle said the club deserved an opportunity to compete against the league’s heavyweights in 2020.
It was also the Lions’ third consecutive appearance in the second-tier decider.
“They said they had a five-year plan and we’ve held each other to that,” he said.
“The fifth year was last year … but not going up extends that into a sixth and then you just hope you get it and we did.”
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