Matt Joblin has revealed the secret behind Leatherhead Cricket Club’s meteoric rise to the Premier Division of the Surrey Championship.

With three games remaining, Leatherhead secured the Division One title on Saturday with a seven-wicket demolition of Old Whitgiftians at Fetcham Grove.

It will be the first time the club has graced the Premier Division, but Joblin insisted nothing will change because the club’s successful ethos has carried them from Division Five to the top flight in just seven years.

Joblin said: “Winning promotion has filled me with immense pride, it is an amazing achievement when you consider where we have come from and the size of the club.

“We have come up through the divisions using a core nucleus of local players, about seven or eight of us have been playing together from the start.

“But we have also given plenty of opportunity to the younger club players and they have added to the team spirit and close-knit team we have.”

Wimbledon Times: Adam Dyson

Fine game: Adam Dyson took six wickets as Leatherhead sealed the Division One title in style          SP78639

Clinching the title was rarely in doubt as Adam Dyson tore through the Whitgiftian batting order taking 6-30 to leave them defending just 119.

In reply, Matt Laidman provided the solidity with a knock of 52 not out to guide Leatherhead home in the 27th over.

Joblin said: “Our team ethic is means there is always someone who will step up to the mark – Adam [Dyson] has been terrific as a 19-year-old spinner, he has been with the club since he was 13 years old.

“And if you look at the batting stats, you’ll see that all the batsmen have got about 350 runs rather than one stand out man getting 500+.”

There is little chance of Joblin allowing his charges to relax in the run-in to the season’s finale.

Leatherhead go to second placed Valley End this weekend, ahead of hosting Ashtead and Cheam.

Joblin said: “I remember near the start of the season when a player from another Division One team, who shall remain nameless, told me we would be lucky not to finish in the bottom four – so I had to have a wry smile about that on Saturday.

“But now I want to get to the end of the season knowing we did not let ourselves down in the run-in, and be able to boast a record of 15 wins and just three defeats, that would be great.”

Wimbledon Times: Shaun Udal

Safe hands: Shaun Udal holds on to catch David Burton off the bowling off Jonathan Tribe       (all pictures: SP78639)

Wimbledon Times: Matt Laidman

Eagle eyed: Leatherhead's wicketkeeper Matt Laidman is a picture of concentration

Wimbledon Times: Hussain

Slow burner: Mutaza Hussain hit four off 33 balls for Old Whitgiftians before being caught and bowled by the impressive Adam Dyson

Wimbledon Times: Mark Farrant

Economical: No wickets for Mark Farrant, but he conceded only 15 runs off six overs

Wimbledon Times: Andy Baker

More economical: Andy Baker was hit for just 12 off six overs, although he too had a zero in the wickets column