ABERGAVENNY Town Manager Ben Bannon believes his boys have got exactly what it takes to end this season with promotion to Welsh League Division One.

It’s only Bannon’s second season at the helm and he’s already overseen an immensely successful period for the Pen-y-Pound club.

Last October Town were awarded the Nathaniel Cars Welsh Football League Club of the month award, and to top it all off Bannon also scooped Manager of the month.

Shortly after the club collected the FAW Fair Play award for the least amount of bookings in Division Two the previous season.

Last season also saw the introduction of an U18 side at Abergavenny and the youngsters continue to go from strength to strength.

But it’s the senior team who the town is relying upon to restore the club to its glory days and reawaken the sleeping giant at Pen-y-Pound.

And although Town have just been knocked off the top spot they were perched upon at the beginning of the year, Bannon believes they’ll get back on track and end this season on a high.

“We’ve got all the necessary infrastructure in place at Pen-y-Pound and most importantly the players to make a step up to the top division but we’ve got to work for it,” said Bannon.

“It’s all about application and training. Welsh League One teams are so well-drilled and for us to get there and compete it’s a case of train, train, train. There can’t be any excuses of not turning up for a session because you’ve had a tiring day in work, or Fifa 19 has just hit the shelves. If you want to play at a higher level commitment is everything.”

Prior to loosing their last two fixtures to Caldicot Town and Monmouth, Aber were enjoying something a purple patch of 13 consecutive victories. Bannnon credits the run to the “fantastic work ethic and team spirit of the players” but appreciate they need to return to wining ways if they’re serious about promotion.

“We’ve got a way to go yet but I’m confident the lads will keep the momentum up. We’ve got a great bunch of local players who are all heavily invested in bringing success to the Town.”

Bannon added, “It may be we get to Division One and are relegated straight back down again. But you’ve got to have aspirations and for me promotion is just the beginning of a long-term plan. I’d like one day to see Abergavenny play in Europe. That may sound crazy to a lot of people but with the right backing belief and ambition it’s not out of the realms of possibility for a club with our history, facilities, and support.”

Before he put on his manager’s hat Bannon was a regular player for the Town, and before that, the Thursdays. He still misses being on the other side of the white lines every Saturday and joked, “I still feel I can play better than anyone on the pitch but even though my heart said ‘yes’ my head said ‘no’. The days when we can no longer play competitively comes to us all but I’m just glad to be still involved in a club I feel so passionately about, and one I feel is just about to write a brand new and exciting chapter in its colourful history.”