This season's league and cup double is just the start of the success for Withdean 2000, according to chief executive Alan Pook.

The Brighton-based club, who are currently ground-sharing with Worthing, have won the Combined Counties title after losing just two league games this season.

A successful run in the League Cup, which was completed with a 1-0 win over Ash United in the final, resulted in an exhausting fixtures pile-up which at one stage involved playing 12 games in 24 days.

Withdean are hoping their achievements will lead to promotion to the Ryman division one south next season, although this has to be confirmed by league officials.

Pook believes his side's success deserves a higher level of football.

He said: "What these players have achieved this season is immeasurable, especially with the amount of games they had to play on hard grounds and with injuries to key players.

"This team would have definitely finished in the top three in Ryman division one this season, there is no doubt about it, so we would be looking to do well next year if we go up."

The battle for the Combined Counties League has largely been a three-horse race for most of the season with Withdean, Wallingford and AFC Wimbledon dominating.

The gulf in quality was evident on Saturday when Withdean beat Viking Greenford, a team they defeated 9-0 earlier in the season. Incredibly, Viking are more than 100 points adrift of Withdean at the bottom of the league.

Dominic Shepherd gave them the lead after just three minutes with a good finish from Graham Martin's cross, before an upset looked on the cards when Viking equalised through Stuart Miller just before half time.

Glen Davies restored the lead soon after the break with a drilled shot from outside the area before Sam Francis scored his 56th of the season on 56 minutes to wrap it up.

Pook believes the Combined Counties League is a better standard than the County League and insists Withdean's success is a tribute to their own ability, rather than lack of quality shown by other teams.

He said: "This league is probably between the County League and the Ryman in terms of quality, which shows you what we have achieved is huge. I have won the title as a manager in the County League and there is no doubt we would have won it easily this year if we had been in it.

"People talk about Burgess Hill, but we would beat them by three goals if we played them and some of the other teams from this league would beat them as well."

Promotion to the Ryman division one south would result in derby games against Lewes, Horsham and current landlords Worthing.

Withdean have only been allowed to play a handful of matches on their own ground as it is being used by Brighton and Hove Albion.

There is still three years of the ground-share agreement left, but Pook is already looking forward to a return home when he hopes Withdean will be playing Ryman premier division football.

He said: "What we are trying to achieve is a long term thing. We are very happy at Worthing and they have made us very welcome, but one day we will return to Withdean Stadium. We have a contract for 2005-2006, which has been agreed with the council and Brighton and Hove Albion. Our aim by then is to be in the Ryman premier division.

"We want a solid base for all our young players to give them a top level of non-league football to play on their home ground in the middle of Brighton."

One secret of the club's success has been their youth team set up.

An incredible six junior teams have also won league and cup doubles this season and over the last two years, 15 young players have gone on to professional clubs.

One player who has already been at a professional club is Ollie Rowland, who came to Withdean via Whitehawk after a spell as a trainee with Crystal Palace.

He sees the club as the perfect way of getting back into the professional game. He said: "We have had such a great season and this is why I came here.

"I started at Palace and I want to get back into the pro game, that is what I am aiming to do, and I think this club is a great stepping stone for me.

"Even if I don't make it, though, I will still be enjoying my football and winning things like this season, which has been great."

Having the top goal scorer in Sussex has also helped Withdean's cause. Francis has now completed his season and will miss the final two games because he is going on holiday.

The former Lewes striker admits he has surpassed his own expectations, but has not been surprised by the success of the team as a whole.

He said: "I'm happy with 56 and that's it now because I'm off on holiday for a well earned rest. I knew when I came here that I would score goals, but I didn't expect to get as many as I have. My aim was 30, so it has been really good to not only beat that but to get past 50 as well.

"I knew I would be able to enjoy my football here, which I think is the main reason for all the goals. It is a different atmosphere to Lewes, it is more of a laugh and the whole team are really good friends and I don't see any reason why we can't do just as well again next season."

Viking: Lewis, Jones, West, Booth, Welsch (Learney 75), Whitehead, Ranner (Makin 46), Richards, Miller (Smith 57), John, McKay.

Withdean: Cheal, J. Bird, D. Bird, G. Davies (Pulling 76), Pickering, Rowland, R. Davis, Hill, Shepherd (Cox 55), Francis, Martin (Dicker 55).

Referee: Mr B. Kasey.

Attendance: 76