ATHERTON Collieries manager Michael Clegg says he is over the moon after signing star striker Mark Battersby for another season.

The Alder House outfit will be presented with the North West Counties League First Division trophy on Saturday in their final home game of the campaign.

And Clegg believes their 61-goal hero, who he signed from Stockport County at the start of the season, played a major part in securing the club's first title in almost 30 years.

"We are already looking forward to next season," said Clegg, after securing a return to the Premier Division following six years in the second tier.

"We have signed Mark Battersby on for the next campaign. He has been a big reason behind the team's success this year so we are over the moon he has chosen to stay."

A 31st victory of the season would see the Colls finish their campaign on 96 points, with a positive goal difference of more than 100 after banging in 126 goals.

Battersby has rattled in 43 of those in the league, as well as scoring 18 in the cups, helping Colls to the final of two knockout competitions and the latter stages of the Hospital Cup.

With a quadruple still on the cards as they go into the final of the Reusch First Division Cup against AFC Darwen tonight, Clegg has put together a Colls side he believes the fans should be proud of and is looking forward to a day of celebration at Alder House tomorrow.

“It will be a special day for everyone involved with the club, particularly for the fans who deserve it more than anyone,” he said.

The Colls’ penultimate fixture of the season on Monday night saw them draw 0-0 against Daisy Hill, which ended their play-off hopes.

But Daisy have shown a massive improvement after finishing second-bottom last season and go into their final game of the campaign at Holker Old Boys with the chance to finish as high as seventh.

Atherton LR also had play-off aspirations before tailing off in the last few weeks. They are 11th in the table and finish the season at home to Oldham Boro.