Durham Alliance new boys Coxhoe Athletic have lifted the first league title in the club's history. In 50 years the team had never managed to secure a League championship but 2002-03 season has changed all that.

After the Auckland & District League disbanded last year, Coxhoe were one of five teams who joined the Durham Alliance and the move has brought dividends for the club.

Not only did they take their first title, beating Whitehill to the honour, but Coxhoe swept to victory in the Weardale Charity Cup with a 5-0 drubbing of bottom club, Ebchester.

Dale Hutchinson scored a hat-trick whilst Dean Smithson netted the other two and although top scorer, Alan Tolley, didn't make it on to the scoresheet that day he did bag an incredible 36 goals this season despite missing two months with a broken foot. He picked the injury up in the first minute of the County Cup semi-final which saw the team narrowly defeated by a golden goal.

Next season, with Alan and the rest of the squad, they hope to take the County Cup as well as defend their League championship.

Delighted club secretary, Jon Purves, said: "It's been a real team effort, we've got a good squad of players, a great committee and the manager, Garry Forrest, has done a superb job.

"But Stan Reid has done everything for our club - he's been a player, he's helped run the team, and been a groundsman."

They started their celebrations when securing the championship with games to spare, and were presented with the League trophy before their final match of the season: a 2-0 defeat at home to runners-up Whitehill, but as the title was assured by then, the scoreline matter little.

"The real celebration we're all looking forward to is at Coxhoe Working Men's Club at the weekend!" said Jon.

Meanwhile, Whitehill, made up for missing out on the League title when they lifted the Durham Alliance League Cup.

A 2-0 win over Belford House at Chester-le-Street, in which top scorer Michael Pitt grabbed the second, earned them the trophy.