EY West Rangers picked up their first Commercial A League title on Saturday, echoing former glories for the club with its heart in north Pembroke. And club president Ricky Mallory now wants to keep the success going by eventually getting the team back into the top flight, where it was in the 1960s before dying away.

Speaking after Key West clinched the title by beating Robin Hood 1-0, Mallory said: "Someday I would like to have a junior programme and eventually get Key West back in the top flight.

"There are still a few of the old supporters around."

Mallory, a former tennis star with a love for football, had played for Hotels and Dandy Town and was even called up for the national squad before the programme became defunct.

Mallory, now 40, said: "When I first decided to play Commercial football there wasn't any team I wanted to play for.

"Myself and Casey Butterfield decided to create our own team. We wondered what to name it. His grandpa played for Key West Rangers back in the 1960s and I had roots with Key West through my father and my uncle."

The club was one of the top names in the 1960s with its roots in the area from Dandy Town field to Spanish Point.

Mallory helped reform the team in 2000 and the side won promotion to Commercial A at the first attempt.

The side looked like repeating the feat in its first season in Commercial A as it went undefeated in the first half. But complacency set in, believes Mallory, with the side eventually finishing third.

Consistency has been a problem since.

He said: "Every season we have a bunch of guys who have to work or they have family commitments.

"We are not playing with the same eleven each week. There were times when we were short because guys were working."

This season he signed seven or eight more players to fill the gap.

And he didn't exactly have to scrape the bottom of the barrel.

In came Karl Roberts from Somerset Trojans, Janeiro Tucker from Southampton Rangers and former national coach and player Kenny Thompson.

Thompson, who came from North Village, has been very influential in the run-in with some seeing him as the missing piece in the jig-saw.

Mallory said: "He's been a great asset. He's tied with Janeiro Tucker for leading goal-scorer . . . Janeiro played well in the first half of the season and scored a lot."

But cricket commitments with the national squad cut short Tucker's contribution. "With Janiero gone after Christmas Kenny filled that void," said Mallory.

Veteran striker Paul Towlson, who is Mallory's brother-in-law, moved from the striker to shoring up the backline along with goalkeeper Andre Hendrickson, while Karl Roberts has been influential in midfield.

Other veterans include former top tennis player Sam Maybury, now in his mid-40s, who taught Mallory skills with the racket.

The big names have been enjoying the easier pace of the Commercial League.

"They had enough of training three or four times a week. They had family commitments. It was time for them to take football a little lighter. Even though this has been a real competitive season," said Mallory.

Instead the squad trains once a week at Warwick Academy gym.

Key West took the title this season from MR Onions and perhaps the biggest surprise has been the time it has taken Key West to reach the Commercial A pinnacle after coming on strong and then fading away several times.

Last season the team beat MR Onions twice ? the eventual winners ? but finished mid-table.

"That was the problem we had, we fielded strong teams against Onions but against other teams we were short."

This season they drew with 1-1 and then beat Onions 3-1.

"I think we were comfortably better in the first game. The second game was tight but they had a man sent off and it opened up the floodgates," said Mallory.

But it was by no means an easy title win for Key West Rangers.

"This was difficult. We found the local teams were up to play each other. When they play the English teams they go through the motions."

Indeed Key West were knocked out of the Commercial Cup by Dandy Town A who were then relegated.

Charles Clarke, Chairman of the Leagues and Competitions Committee, was on hand to congratulate the team after Saturday's win at Bernard Park.

He said: "We hope this is just a stepping stone to seeing you in the First Division."

The remark brought knowing laughter from the celebrating players who have served their time in the top flight and now just want to enjoy their football without any pressure.