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Cefn Fforest AFC have risen from the ashes and gained promotion into the Gwent County Premier Division after losing all of their equipment in a fire last year.

Just four years ago, Cefn Fforest finished dead last in the bottom division of the Gwent County leagues. If it wasn’t for two other clubs dropping out, they would have been relegated to the local leagues.

Three years later and Cefn Fforest would fall just short of a great season, finishing third in the league and losing in a cup final.

This season however, buoyed on by the challenge of losing all of their equipment due to vandals, Cefn Fforest have secured a famous league and cup double and are now just one division away from the Ardal leagues.

The club’s secretary and former coach Jack Mullen spoke to Caerphilly Observer about a rollercoaster couple of years: “After the 2016 season we lost a lot of our senior players and the club was in transition.

“We should have been relegated. It was a tough couple of years and if it wasn’t for a few things going our way then we wouldn’t be here today. We aren’t a huge club when it comes to history or finances so to survive that spell was important.

“We were devastated when we lost all of our kit to a fire. We didn’t have the money to replace it but thankfully local clubs pitched in to help us and we somehow managed to start the season.”

“Overwhelmed” by the support of the community, Mullen said how his young group of players came into the season with added motivation to go up.

He continued: “The season itself was great. We played some brilliant football and got our reward by winning the league.

“We also won the FA Amateur Cup 2-1, after losing 1-0 in the final last year. Everything just clicked.”

Despite taking his side to the top division in the Gwent County leagues, Mullen is stepping aside as coach. When asked why, he said: “I’ve been coaching for the past few years but it’s time to get someone else in.

“I’m quite familiar with the boys but I think at this level we need to get a top manager in who can take us to that next level.

“It takes a lot to run a football club and we’re all volunteers so I’ll be helping with that side of the club and hopefully help us grow off the field.”

Mullen added: “We’re very excited about the future. There are some top clubs in this division but we know we can compete.”