Champions! Telford Tigers fans raise the roof at ice rink

More than 1,200 fans of all ages packed out Telford Ice Rink to celebrate the club's first title in 27 years last night.

Many of them had travelled to Peterborough the previous night to watch their 5-4 victory over second-placed Peterborough, which handed them the title.

Coach Tom Watkins, who returned to Telford five years ago following a 15-year absence, paid tribute to the fans who stayed loyal to the club through the difficult times. The club did not compete during the 2009/2010 season after being beset by financial difficulties, but reformed the following year as a supporters' trust.

Watkins, who returned to the club where he had played from 1996 to 1999 the same season, told the Shropshire Star: "We've had a very loyal crowd who have stuck with us over the years, and it is they who kept the club going when it reformed as a trust five years ago.

"It has not always been a large crowd, but they have been very loyal, and as success has come back to us over the last 18 months some of the old crowd have started to come back to us."

One of the diehard fans was 60-year-old Keith Mellings from Newport, who has been following the Tigers for more than 20 years. He was at the game with his wife Louise – who he met through the Tigers – and his sons Bradley, 11, and Toby, nine.

"It's just amazing that we have won this title after all these years," said Mr Mellings. "I would never have expected it a few years ago."

He said he loved the fast-moving nature of the game, and the relationship between the supporters and the players.

"When we first started going, we used to go into the bar and chat with the players after the game," he said. "It's still the same now, but we go to the pub instead."

It is Bradley and Toby's first season following the club, and Bradley said: "It is good being able to see the team when they are playing well, because I have heard that they have not always been so good."

Toby added: "It is really good, so exciting."

Chris Kelsall, aged 43, from Shrewsbury, said he was struggling to speak after cheering the team on in the previous night's victory.

He said he was astounded by the club's success, and said the title win was a dream come true.

"If you had said to me five years ago, when the trust took over, that within five years we would win the league title, I would have said you are raving mad," he said.

"It is just incredible."

He brought his friend Lee Jones, aged 31, who is a Tigers fan, despite hailing from Basingstoke, the home of the Tigers' opponents.

It was also watching Basingstoke Bisons that convinced 31-year-old Keith Griffiths, from Stoke-on-Trent, to start following Telford last year.

He said: "We have got some relatives in Basingstoke who support the Bisons, and they said 'why don't you come along for a game?' We became hooked, and decided to support a local team."

He said he was amazed at how much progress the Tigers had made during the short time he has been watching them.

"I'm surprised we have done so well, considering they only finished mid-table last year."

Jenny Hopley first started following the Tigers 20 years ago when she was working behind the bar at Telford Ice Rink. And now her 16-year-old daughter Stacey Hopkins, and her 85-year-old father Bill Bird have also caught the bug.

"It was an emotional night, winning the title," said the 48-year-old. "I came back to them five years ago, after taking a bit of a break to raise my family, and seeing them lift the title was just awesome."

Rob Jones, who is 43, from Wrockwardine Wood, is another long-standing supporter, who first started following the Tigers around 20 years ago. He brought his son Ashley, who is 10, to the game.

"The club has come a long way in a short period of time, and to have finally achieved this level of success is just great."

Ashley, who has been watching the Tigers for the past two years, says he enjoys the sport more than football as there is more action.

"You always see the players put up a good fight," he said.