Marshall's one-way ticket to the promised land with mighty Milnthorpe

So it’s no surprise the buoyant Milnthorpe Corinthians manager has already got a timetable in his mind ahead of the club’s debut season in the West Lancashire League Premier Division.

The Cumbrians secured the Division One title yesterday with a 4-0 win against Millom after leading the title race since October.

And Marshall, 37, is not one for letting the dust settle on a triumphant season after securing a one-way ticket to the top flight.

“We’ve got a meeting coming up with the club about next season, actually,” said Marshall, who has previously managed Caton and acted as assistant manager at Kendal Town under Dave Foster.

“We don’t want to be that club that goes up and then settles for third bottom in the top division.

“We’ve run with a small squad this season so we’ll have to get a few new recruits in. We’ve got to be aiming for mid-table – I’m already looking forward to it.”

Milnthorpe have been the outstanding side in a competitive division, winning 22 of their 28 league games and rounding it off in style easing to the trophy against Millom.

And Marshall admits he was unusually nervous beforehand.

“I got a phone call at 8.45am on Saturday morning from our former chairman who asked me ‘are you nervous?’” said Marshall, who packed in playing at 28 to take up coaching.

“And I was a little bit. We’ve led the league since October but we’ve had a tough week. Two centre-backs were out injured and one of the full-backs pulled his groin in training. And Millom weren’t going to come here and roll over.

“But we were 3-0 up half way through the first half so I relaxed then and we saw it out second half. It was an ideal way to end to be honest.

“I would probably say I knew we had done it when we beat Wyre Villa 3-0 a few weeks back. That was the clincher. They’re a top side but we were better on the day.

"We had to keep winning though and we got a good win at Haslingden, which is a heck of a tough place to go and get a result.

“We’ve been lucky up until the last few weeks with injuries and we’ve had a small squad. They’ve all been great and everyone knows their roles inside out.”

Milnthorpe’s title charge has been spearheaded by 28-goal top scorer Steve Yawson (pictured above), a former Morecambe U18s forward who has been in scintillating form all season.

The 21-year-old, who works at the Hilton Hotel in Liverpool, was tempted to Milnthorpe after a phone call from Marshall, who worked with him at Kendal Town.

“Stevo was at Prescot Cables and wasn’t playing and I needed a forward,” said Marshall, who has been ably assisted in the dugout by Ryan Shepherd and Chris Dixon.

“So I asked him if he fancied coming up and playing a few games. It was only meant to be short-term but he has been here ever since.

“He can undoubtedly play higher but he can’t commit to that level of football and the training and midweek matches with his job. So it suits him.

“I would never hold him back if he got the chance of full-time football, then great. But he’s been so committed and just phenomenal on that left wing.

"He’s scored 28 and been unselfish, passing when he should have shot. But it’s hard to fault him.
“I’m hoping he’ll be with us next year.”

Marshall’s contacts in the game also helped him secure the services of another non-league player of some repute.

Former Lancaster City forward Tom Kilifin has played five times for Milnthorpe to help see them over the line – including playing a starring role in that 3-0 win at Wyre.

“I know Rob Wilson well, he plays midfield for Lancaster, and we speak a good few times a week. He helped us get Tom down for a few games, Tom wanted to come in and play a few games and enjoy his football again.

“We won’t pay anyone but Tom didn’t want anything, he said ‘just get me a pint after a match’ and his attitude has been spot on. There’s no ego and he did exactly what I hoped he would and got us over that line.”