Folkestone are back in the Kent League Premier Division and their promotion has delivered redemption for captain Andy Bray.

Bray took on the 1st XI captaincy midway through the 2006 season, which ended with Folkestone being relegated to Division 1.

Eight straight seasons in the second tier followed but now Folkestone are back among the county’s elite after clinching the runners-up spot on Saturday.

A surprise loss for third-placed Linden Park meant Folkestone’s derby defeat to Sibton Park didn’t matter – and it meant Bray is heading back to the big league.

He said: "It means so much to me. I played in the Premier Division from the age of 16 and took over as captain halfway through the season when we got relegated. It was under my captaincy that we went down, so to take the side back up, it means so much.

"For the club to be back at the top end of league cricket in Kent is brilliant. This is the end of a three or four-year period where we’ve been building a side that would be able to compete for promotion.

"It’s a great feeling and I owe it to the guys. When everyone’s performing well, my job is easy.

"The guys deserve this because they’ve worked so hard, since January. The guys have applied themselves over the course of the season.

"Even when we weren’t playing well, the guys found ways to win games."

Folkestone's final game of the season is at home to Tenterden on Saturday.