Toolstation NCEL Division One
Craig Denton says champions-elect Hallam have had the last laugh on the critics who mocked their title hopes back in August.
Hallam all but sealed the title with the 4-0 beating of Worsbrough Bridge on Tuesday night.
North Ferriby cannot finish top due to Hallam’s far superior goals difference.
Rewind back to the beginning of the season and Hallam lost two and drew one of their opening games of the season and Denton and his men were on the receiving end of social media mockery.
But, according to Denton, all it served to do was motivate him and his men.
“We didn’t particularly start the season on the front-foot,” Denton told Non League Yorkshire.
“I can sit here and name you every player who was injured and who was out with covid but we didn’t feel sorry for ourselves.
“People wrote us off and believe it or not, it probably gave me something to really get my teeth into.
“I felt angry and sorry for the players who were really working hard.
“I try not to focus on social media as much but you see the odd comment and picture, the odd gif and you think ‘right, you’ve wrote us off’ and we basically worked twice as hard (to prove them wrong).
“Those people who wrote us probably gave me that energy and boost to try and prove the doubters wrong.
“People need to understand that a season is not defined in those first couple of games or in the last couple of games.
“It is a big long marathon.”