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Stand-in Deal skipper Aaron Millbank will have no issues about leaving the act of lifting the league trophy to club captain Kane Smith.
Millbank was the player in possession of the armband at the final whistle, Saturday’s 3-1 home win against Lydd ensuring Steve King’s Hoops would end the season as Southern Counties East Premier Division champions.
Defender Smith was absent from the squad while vice-captain Macauley Murray came off in the second half.
But former Gillingham striker Millbank will be more than happy to allow others behind him in the queue, come the presentation on the final day of the season on April 27 which will be a club community day.
“I have stepped in as captain due to Kano being injured,” he explained, ahead of a home match against Punjab United tomorrow (Tuesday) night. “But it’s his.
“He’s the club captain. I just have done what I have needed to do to get the boys over the line.
“But Kano is the club captain and he deserves it.”
The fact Millbank has ably stepped up to fill the void left by Smith and Murray shows the number of leaders in the squad.
He said: “It’s a bit of a cliche but you do have to step in.
“That’s another positive part of this season. When someone has got injured or someone hasn’t quite been there, another person has stepped in.
“That’s what you have got to do. Asking everyone to play their full game every single week, that’s not sustainable.
“We’re all going to have good and bad days, so it’s important that people help out.”
For Millbank, also involved in Herne Bay’s Isthmian South East play-off success two years ago, it was a second promotion in three years.
The 29-year-old stated: “It’s incredible.
“When I came here and spoke to Kingy and everyone around here, all they wanted was promotion. That was their aim.
“At the beginning of the season, you had your Favershams and people like that. They, obviously, were the favourites.
“But the group of lads we have got here - although other teams have probably got bigger budgets and maybe even more ability - for us, it’s more about team morale.
“We’re mates, basically, and it does help.”
The Hoops could have clinched the title sooner but suffered a rare 1-0 loss at Tunbridge Wells before last Tuesday’s 2-2 draw at Lordswood, as they conceded a stoppage-time own goal. Winger Tom Chapman and midfielder Billy Munday netted in Medway.
But that allowed them to seal the deal in front of a record crowd of more than 1,400 at the Charles Sports Ground, with teenage forward Jamie Kennedy and substitute Ife Oni among the goals.
“Do you want to do it away on a Tuesday night?” said Millbank, who has 23 goals this season. “You don’t, really.
“You want to do it at home in front of your own fans.
“The support here has been unbelievable.
“Obviously, I have been around great supporters before - and these ones are brilliant. They’re all local.
“Deal Town hasn't gone down or up for about 30-odd years I believe, so it’s massive for us and the supporters, and the board, and everyone else.”
Champions Deal’s final three games will see them face play-off occupants Corinthian and Erith Town, alongside a final-day home match against struggling Stansfeld, after their midweek encounter.
