HARRY: IT’S ALL DOWN TO SPIRIT!

HARRY RUSH puts Hanwell Town’s promotion down to one key ingredient – pure heart.

The Geordies were seconds away from winning at Chertsey before a late equaliser and then had to come from a goal and a man down to win it again in extra-time.

And skipper Rush admits it was an exhausting and exhilarating way to complete the job as they found a way to glory.

“It absolutely blows my mind,” Rush told The NLP. “Part of it comes down to the gaffers became the passion they have for the game, the club, for us, it flows down the team.

“I’ve said to the boys since this happened that there is no other team who could possibly do that. Even all my friends who play football in different leagues and were there on Sunday said they’ve never seen a team so tight-knit and who will give each other everything.

“That’s all it was. It was nothing about talent, tactical… it was meant to be, another level of, ‘We’re going to win this game’. We didn’t give up at 2-1 down. That’s the thing about Hanwell Town, we will never give up because of the pride for each other.

“It’s just like a bunch of best mates playing football together. You can’t ever beat that feeling. We’d do anything for each other. A few weeks before we were 3-0 down at Bedfont at half-time. We came back to draw 3-3 and should have won the game.

“I know for a fact on Sunday, no one had anything left. We just got each through it and won the game.”

The 22-year-old midfielder, who has played more than 120 games for the club, says he has fallen in love with the club that will compete at Step 3 for the first time next season.

“I’ve never been involved in a place like this,” Rush said. “My family love coming down to watch games. It’s a family club. Everyone is very polite and warm to everyone. It is like one big family.”

And he’s proud to wear the captain’s armband.

“I’ve had to learn,” Rush said. “There are a lot of senior boys in our team. I dropped them messages on Sunday thanking them for how much they’ve guided me. My view on a captain is maybe different to others, I don’t want to be shouting and screaming.

“The senior boys have helped me massively. We have real leaders who are more experienced than me but have stood by me. I can only thank the gaffers for putting that trust in me.”