Robin Hood head coach Sergio Goater is thrilled to have achieved promotion to the Premier Division in his first season with the club.

Hood confirmed their place in the top league next year after beating Somerset Eagles 2-1 on Saturday night and 48 hours later Goater was in a happy mood as he reflected on bouncing back from personal disappointment after being relegated with Hamilton Parish at the end of last season.

“I'm humbled but I’m very happy, especially after the experience that I went through at Hamilton Parish and being relegated,” Goater said.

“That was a bitter blow to swallow, so I'm very happy in my life experience to be able to turn that around and have something to celebrate this season.”

Hood were one of the biggest movers in the transfer window before the start of the season, bringing in 11 new players, and Goater was the man entrusted to help gel the squad together after making the decision to join the club from Parish.

“I was brought in to achieve promotion, so mission accomplished,” Goater said

“We had 11 new signings and out of the 11 only three were regulars, but Keishen Bean has scored 19 goals and Tre Manders at the back really helped with his experience.

“We also have some really good young players, including Sami Carolo, who is probably one of the better technical players in his age group. But the key thing is that at every training session we have had 16 to 18 players and that is a coach's dream.”

Expectation usually brings pressure but Goater has been through the promotion and relegation cycle before.

“I’ve done it before with Hamilton Parish but the pressure probably came in the second half of the season,” Goater said.

“I told the players that the second half is always the hardest because even though we won all the games before us, you have to do it again and complacency can set in.

“Also, having to be a part of the national team staff, travelling all those weeks without a goalkeeper and losing to Wolves and drawing with Rangers, that put pressure on us but we handled it well.”

Hood have just one game left this season but will need their main rivals Somerset Trojans to lose their game in hand if they are to have a chance of lifting the First Division Trophy.

Goater, however, is already planning for the future and already plotting a way to keep his team in the Premier Division next year.

“The Premier League is definitely a step up and that showed when we played Boulevard in the FA Cup, with the intensity and speed of play,” Goater said.

“Every week, you know, you're playing a tough team and that’s not like the First Division, meaning no disrespect to the other teams. Fitness will play a big part, so I will definitely have to get them really fit and keep them organised.

“I will definitely be looking to bring in some players to help some of the young ones. It’s not like when I was playing and when you’re 16 you made it to the team. This year we used a lot of players still at school but that will be a big ask next year.”