ANDY Whing says winning Pitching In Southern League Premier Central with Banbury United is the best feeling of his career.

The Puritans drew 1-1 against Tamworth on Saturday to secure the title and seal promotion to the Vanarama National League for the first time in their history.

Read the match report here

Whing made almost 400 appearances for clubs such as Oxford United, Coventry City and Brighton & Hove Albion during his playing career, but reckons this is his best moment in football.

The Banbury manager said: “I think it’s the top one.

“As a player you’re quite selfish, you want to do well for the team but you’ve got to think about yourself.

“As a manager, you feel a lot more pressure because it’s about the team, the staff, the supporters, the volunteers and the board, so it’s a massive feeling of achievement.

“It was brilliant to celebrate with the fans on the pitch, as well as the staff and players in the changing room. We’ve worked with these people for a long time.

“It was a fantastic night and I think a few people had sore heads on Sunday, but it was worth it.”

A bumper crowd of 1,835 was in expectant mood at the Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium, with the hosts starting the day 20 points ahead of second-placed Coalville Town.

READ MORE: Oxford City fight back against Dartford + Wantage relegated

Shaquille Whittingham’s wonder goal put Tamworth ahead, but the Puritans rallied and Jack Stevens scored a second-half equaliser.

Coalville’s stalemate with Hednesford Town meant Banbury only needed a draw, so it mattered little that Giorgio Rasulo’s late penalty was saved by Jas Singh.

Whing said: “I was really nervous, so I can imagine how the players felt.

“We were going to win the league, but lots of supporters turned up and everyone was expecting us to win it and I think it showed in the first half.

“We said a few words at half-time and the second half was brilliant.

“With about six or seven minutes to go the news filtered through that Coalville had drawn and it was a massive relief.”

Banbury’s success is more remarkable when compared to the budgets of some of their Premier Central rivals.

READ MORE: Andy Whing surprised by how much money talks in Southern League

A supporter-led Community Benefit Society took control of the club in 2015 and Whing paid tribute to the staff and volunteers.

“We’re part-time, so there are a lot of volunteers doing their day jobs and travelling to games on wet and cold Tuesday nights,” the 37-year-old said.

“You could tell they were really emotional, they’ve waited a long time for this. This club has never been higher than what it is now.

“Six or seven years ago some of the supporters took on the club when it was on its knees.

“People put their own money in to keep it afloat.”

Whing brings up two years at Banbury next month but this will be his first complete campaign, after coronavirus halted last season in November 2020.

He has twice guided the Puritans to the Emirates FA Cup first round, something they had not previously achieved since the 1970s.

Banbury went top of Premier Central in mid-December and did not look back, winning nine matches in a row despite dealing with injuries.

Whing said: “The teams around us have been fantastic.

“We were eight points behind and went on a fantastic run, even though we had lots of injures. That adversity made us stronger.”

Banbury expect to be in Vanarama National League North next season, a division currently housing former Football League teams like Kidderminster Harriers and York City.

Whing knows it will be a challenge and is already doing his homework on the sixth tier.

He said: “There are some really big clubs, it’s a massive jump.

“I’ve been to watch a few games and it looks a bit quicker than our level.

“I think we’ve got the players and hopefully we’ll add a few more to compete. We’re not there to make up the numbers.

“It’ll be a tough few months to prepare, but we’ve already had meetings in the background.”