BIDEFORD'S decision to pursue promotion at the end of last season marked the end of a long and distinguished association with the Western League.

Aside from three seasons in the Southern League between 1972 and 1975, the Robins have been in the top division of the Western League since 1952-53.

They first entered the league's old third division in 1949-50, becoming champions with an unbeaten record of 19 wins and one draw under manager Fred Pincott.

It took two seasons to reach the top flight, achieved in 1951-52 with a league best of 179 goals. That record stood until 2006-07 when Truro City won the first division, scoring 185 having played four games more.

Ron Ackland, who has followed Bideford since the 1950s and been a club official since 1986, said: "With mixed feelings we say goodbye to the Western League after 53 seasons in its top division. Only Barnstaple Town have played more.

"In that time we have a proud record of never being relegated."

By clinching the championship last season, Biddy signed off from the league in the perfect way.

It was their tenth top-flight title and the fifth time they have won the crown under manager Sean Joyce.

Only former Tiverton Town boss Martyn Rogers can match that record of five wins.

Ken Whitfield was the manager when Bideford won their first Western League top-flight title in 1963-64.

He was able to call upon some outstanding players, including Derek May, John Gauntlett and Micky Hillson, the top three players in the club's all-time appearance list.

May, a central defender, played for Bideford from 1958 until the early 1970s, making a record 647 appearances in league and cup.

Later, Graham Bond and John Hore both managed the Robins to two premier titles each.

"We have had some outstandingly gifted and loyal players, such as Republic of Ireland international Dermot Curtis, and Brian O'Neill, who played for the Football League XI," said Ackland.

"And Fred Pincott and Ken Whitfield will always be remembered as outstanding managers."

Curtis, who started out as a striker, tended to play in defence during his two seasons at Bideford, from 1969 to 1971.

Having gained 17 international caps and won the old English first division with Ipswich Town in 1962, he came to Bideford after spells with Exeter City and Torquay United.

O'Neill, a midfielder, came to Bideford in the late 1970s, having played professionally with Burnley, Southampton and Huddersfield Town. He also represented England at under-23 level.

"His career would suggest he was the best player that played for Bideford," said Ackland.

Pincott was the manager when Bideford moved from local football into the Western League after the Second World War.

Tommy Robinson, a prolific goalscorer at that time, is still the club's all-time top marksman with 340 goals in 267 appearances.

Many of those strikes came before Bideford stepped up to the Western League, a time when Robinson reportedly scored eight goals in a game for two consecutive weeks.

Peter Druce is the second highest scorer and is renowned as one of Bideford's most lethal strikers during their previous spell in the Southern League.

In 1972, Druce was on target as the Robins drew their first game at the higher level, 1-1 against Metropolitan Police in front of a bumper crowd at the Sports Ground.

Biddy spent three seasons at that level, finishing fourth in the first year, fifth in 1973-74, and eighteenth in 1974-75, before returning to the Western League due to financial problems.

In recent times, Mike Southgate has been a fans' favourite, scoring 197 goals to become Bideford's highest scorer in the top division of the Western League.

Few players can match the strike-rate of Tony Long, who scored 97 goals in just 106 games in the 1960s before his playing days were ended by a broken leg, suffered while scoring a goal.

The Western League adventure started for Bideford with a 4-3 win against Chippenham Reserves on August 20, 1949, with Robinson and Charlie Fishleigh both scoring twice.

On August 23, 1952, their first game in the top division ended with a 3-2 defeat at Bridgwater, despite strikes from Bury and Mickey Pate.

More than half a century as league members was rounded off when Clay Bond and Rob Francis scored in the 2-0 win at Corsham Town on April 24 this year.

"There are things we will miss," said Ackland. "The wonderful runs we have had in the FA Vase — as now we will be in the Trophy — and the local derbies with Barnstaple and the revenue they bring.

"However, as Sean says, players should play at the highest level and I'm sure they will adapt well.

"We have a mixture of youth and experience and I am sure some of our younger players will benefit from playing against stronger opposition."