Emotional day as exBlues boss wins title

Paul Cook is on the way up again as he marked his return to the Football League - with a Peronidrenched title win!

The man who guided Pompey to the League Two title in 2016/17 delivered the fourth championship of his management career on Saturday, as Chesterfield won the National League crown. Boreham Wood, with former Gosport keeper Nathan Ashmore in goal, were defeated 3-0 at the SMH Stadium, as the Spireites won the title with five games remaining.

Two goals from Jamie Grimes and a Liam Mandeville finish got the party started, with Cook’s men now 21 points clear of Barnet.

And it was a win tinged with Pompey influences, with midfielder Tom Naylor and winger Michael Jacobs both in the Chesterfield starting XI.

Naylor has bagged a very impressive 12 goals this term - including the winner against his old club in the FA Cup first round last November – while Jacobs has registered six goals from 41 appearances.

And popular Fratton schemer Gary Roberts was at Cook’s side as firstteam coach.

It was an emotional victory for Cook, who said: ‘I lost my dad twoand-a-half years ago and it’s his birthday today.

'I am delighted, I really am, I am delighted for the supporters.

‘When I came back two-and-a-bit years ago, I didn’t realise how tough a league it was.

‘I can’t thank the players, the staff, the board and the chairman (enough). But most of all it’s the players. Without the players there are no good coaches.

‘My staff have been outstanding all year, but the players take all the plaudits. I will be vanishing now for a couple of bottles of Peroni!’