A VILLAGE Sunday league football team has clinched its first Premier Division title a year after it nearly folded.

Pelton RAOB FC clinched the Durham and District Sunday League’s top honour after finishing third three times in the past.

The team, which joined the league in 1987 and has been in the top flight since 1999, hit hard times last season.

It is based at the RAOB club in Front Street, Pelton, and most of its players live within a four-mile radius.

Club secretary John Blythe said: “It is a big achievement for a little club like ours.

“During the season of 2012/13, with funding being harder and harder to come across, and the club itself unable to help in this area, the team was on the verge of calling it a day.

“This is when the partner of one of our ex- players offered the team some much needed support.

“Kim Fletcher Gamble, owner of Pelton Fell Pharmacy, offered to purchase the team a new set of strips and gave a cash donation to cover the running costs for the forthcoming season.

“This was like a breath of fresh air and the team went on to win the league, suffering defeat only once during the season.

“The Premier Division has only ever been won by seven different teams during this time and no team from the Chester-le–Street area has ever won it. “