LEE Ashforth admits he and his fellow joint-manager of Campion, James Bicknell, do not want a summer break, after the Bradford side secured an incredible treble on Friday night.

Winning the Yorkshire Trophy in pre-season was a nice tone-setter for 2022/23, but being crowned runaway Northern Counties East League Division One champions and West Riding County Cup winners for the first time in their 60-year history has surely made this the Red and Blacks' greatest-ever campaign.

They had to work hard on Friday night to secure the last leg of that treble, coming from behind to win 2-1 against holders Liversedge in the County Cup final.

Jack Carr opened the scoring for Sedge just after the break, but Patrick Sykes' header restored parity midway through the second half.

Five minutes later, Aidan Day scored a remarkable winner for Campion, sending a screaming half-volley from out on the right over the head of Sedge keeper Jordan Porter and into the top corner.

Speaking to the T&A on a much-deserved day off at the races with Bicknell, Ashforth said: "It's been an unbelievable year.

"We had to beat some great teams in pre-season to win the Yorkshire Trophy, but we'd almost forgotten about it until a few weeks ago.

"We'd said ahead of this cup final that it could be part of a treble though and we also told the players they'd have to put in an unbelievable performance to beat Sedge.

"The team they had out on Friday night was quality and we knew we'd have to be at the top of our game to beat them.

"It was our 57th game of this season, and we told the players we wanted them to be running on empty by full-time.

"The fact four or five the lads were suffering with cramp in the last 10 minutes showed just how hard they'd grafted for the win."

Relegated a couple of weeks ago, Sedge were playing three tiers higher than Campion this season, in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.

But reflecting on Friday night's game, Ashforth said: "I didn't feel there was much in the game in the first half.

"Sedge hit the post but we had maybe three or four good chances ourselves.

"They changed formation at the break and were the better side in the first 20 minutes of the second half, but then Paddy pulled that header back for us to level, before Aidan hit that wonder goal.

"It was an unbelievable strike and for all he's hit a few like that this season, that one tops the lot.

"That gave us something to hang on to, but in truth we were quite comfortable after Aidan's goal.

"We worked hard to win this trophy, being one of the lowest-ranked sides, if not the lowest-ranked side, in the whole competition."

Waxing lyrical over the talented Day, Ashforth said: “Aidan’s an unbelievable player, who’s been fantastic for us all season.

“He was one of our main targets to sign last summer, and he’s just someone who drives the team on.

“I thought he was head and shoulders above every other player on the pitch on Friday night to be honest.”

And there was more good news for Campion after a Friday night to remember, with the club confirming yesterday that Bicknell and Ashforth would be staying on as joint-managers for the 2023/24 season at least.

The latter said: “There wasn’t really a decision to be made from James and I.

“We were always going to commit and we’re already getting ready for next year.

“We’ve been speaking to the players we’re retaining, and they’ll be announced publicly very soon.

“We now want to go again and challenge for the NCEL Premier Division title.

“North Ferriby and Winterton Rangers have both just earned two quick promotions and that’s our aim as well.

“That’s what we’ll be telling any new players coming in, as well as those who are staying here.

“Normally you look forward to your summer break, but James and I don’t actually want one given how well this season has gone.”