Hamilton Parish completed the 'double' over the weekend when they added the First Division championship to their Dudley Eve crown.

The 2004-05 FA Cup finalists edged X-Roads 2-1 at Garrison Field on Sunday to put the finishing touches on a remarkable season under the stewardship of player/coach Meshach Wade.

Wade's deputy and Parish stalwart, Joe Lathan, said the Hot Peppers' league and cup double success this season had surpassed his own expectations.

"We expected to have a good season but winning the league and Dudley Eve is definitely a bonus and a huge burden off our shoulders," he said. "It really took a lot of hard work and dedication from the players and the guys just hung in there and did exactly what they were supposed to do."

Parish entered the Christmas break unbeaten in league play and lifted a maiden First Division Dudley Eve Trophy on New Year's Day.

But before the celebrations muted Hot Peppers lost some of their sting when they went on a three-game losing skid that threatened to derail their championship and promotion hopes.

However, they regained their footing and remained unbeaten in their final eight games of the season to achieve their number one objective - promotion.

"We knew the team would eventually bounce back because we have a good balance at Parish," Lathan added.

"The players didn't enjoy losing and that made them all the more determined to get back on track. They believed in themselves and it paid off."

He continued: "It was a lot of football being played and I guess after Christmas a lot of teams wanted to beat us. But then we buckled down and did what what we had to do to win the league."

Lathan now hopes to lure the services of former Parish players who are currently signed up elsewhere back to the Crawl Hill-based club during the off-season to solidify the ranks.

"We have Parish players playing for other teams and we would like to see them come back home and help strengthen our team," he said. "And hopefully that happens and nobody leaves us because we are definitely looking to strengthen the team."

In 1999-00, PHC Zebras made history when they won the Premier Division championship a year after winning the First Division title, an unprecedented feat Lathan has challenged his players to strive for next season whey they return to top flight football following a four-year absence.

"You always aim for the highest achievement there is and winning a Premier title would be great for the club," he said. "So for us the struggle isn't over until the Premier title arrives."

Joining Parish in the top tier next season are Southampton Rangers who thumped Social Club 5-2 at Bernard Park on Sunday to pip St.David's for promotion on goal difference.