Deal Town manager Steve King says Southern Counties East League Premier Division success vindicates long-term commitment to recruiting the best local players

A long-term plan has started reaping major rewards for Deal manager Steve King.

King joined the club as a coach, initially under Derek Hares, before he officially took control two years ago.

Without a big budget, King has, instead, focused on recruiting local players.

That has paid off this season in the Hoops’ title-winning Southern Counties East Premier Division campaign after a third-placed finish and a Kent Senior Trophy loss last term.

King, who joined in January 2015 alongside then-assistant Paul Murray, said: “We’ve been building it ever since then.

“Obviously, Del (Hares) was a big figure at the club. He was very good at letting me be very hands-on - even when he was still manager.

“I had a lot of say in terms of bringing players in and the way we played, and stuff like that.

“We have, gradually, built and built. People that are close to me know that I have always had a list of players I have always wanted to bring to this football club. People I know, who live locally, and are quality players.

“We have managed to bring them in one by one over the years. Macca Murray was the very first one, then the Tom Chapmans, Aaron Millbanks and the Rory Smiths.

“Then, eventually, someone like Ashley Miller, who I taught from the age of eight or nine.

“Getting him in around Christmas was the last piece of the jigsaw that we thought we needed to get out of this league. I feel vindicated with that plan over five, six or seven years.

“It has taken time - we cannot just throw money at it - and I think the squad have proven that they have been the best in the league.”

Just seven days before they ensured they would finish top of the pile with a 3-1 weekend win over Lydd, Deal suffered a rare defeat, 1-0 at Tunbridge Wells.

But the