Jubilant Erith Town boss Adam Woodward’s loyalty was rewarded by winning promotion on Monday.

Woodward revealed he turned down offers to manage in step 4 earlier this season as he wanted to reach the Isthmian League with Erith.

His faith in the club was rewarded when they won the Southern Counties East Premier Division play-off final on penalties against Corinthian following a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes.

It’s the first time Erith have been promoted to that level of football.

“There’s been chances this season for me to go step 4 and I’ve not gone because I wanted to do it with Erith,” said Woodward.

“Mark and Kay Deveney (Erith Town owners) have been brilliant to me. Let’s be honest, I was taken once I was let go by Glebe, they took me in and I promised Mark we’d be promoted within five years. Covid got in the way a little bit but this is the fifth year now and we’ve done it.

“To win two cups and a play-off final is tremendous. Full credit to the players and management team, I’m just the one who steers the ship, that’s all I do.

“I don’t think we’ve got enough credit for that but we’re in Isthmian League next season and that’s all that matters.

“It’s tremendous. The SCEFL League is great but I wanted to be a step 4 manager. I was told by a previous chairman that I was (only) a good step 6 manager but I’m step 4 now so that’s great!”

Woodward, whose side have already won the Kent Senior Trophy and SCEFL Challenge Cup this season, backed keeper Mackenzie Foley to play a pivotal role in the penalty shoot-out.

“I just knew we’ve got the best goalkeeper in the league and I knew he’d save two and score his one – and he did,” said Woodward.

“When we went to penalties I knew we’d win, I knew Foley would save some as we’ve been there before.”

Woodward is certainly a manager who wears his heart on his sleeves and the Erith boss was relieved to get over the line.

“I’m over the moon,” he added. “I listened to Andy Woodman (Bromley manager) say yesterday that it gets you and the last six months of my life have been hell.

Report: Erith Town 1-1 Corinthian (Erith won 4-2 on pens)

“My family’s suffered and everything was built on this game. I felt we had to win. Since Christmas we’ve had a run of games thrown at us and I’m so proud of the players.

“Full credit to Michael Golding and his team as they did a job on us and we didn’t create a lot.

“There were people here at half-eight this morning forking the pitch and getting the game on so they deserve that.”