IT’S been an eventful ending at Downton.

Chairman Colin Stainer stood down in March while manager Colin Hopkins and coach Mitch Blake resigned from their posts last month at Wick Lane.

That left player/assistant manager Ben Smith in temporary charge of the Robins’ last three games. In those, they were unbeaten, winning two.

That helped Robins finish tenth in Sydenhams Wessex Division One, which was two places better than last term.

“To be fair, I’m quite pleased with finishing mid-table,” said Smith, who was named players’ player of the year.

“We are a non-paying club and we have managed to take points off the bigger sides, which says a lot considering where we finished last season.

“It’s a shame we have struggled to beat the teams below us as we may have finished in the top five.

“The only downside of the season was to lose Colin Hopkins so late in the season.

"He has done a superb job of getting us where we are and we all wish him the best. But that’s football and we just have to move forward and in the right direction.”

In particular, Smith says Hopkins’ goalkeeping coaching will be sorely missed.

He continued: “His goalkeeping coaching and the ability to step in on any situation has been fantastic. A few of our first team players are some of his lads which he brought through the youth ranks of football and is very proud of.”

Smith was Robins’ top scorer with 11 goals, despite being a centre-half.

He will continue in the number two role and hopes to retain the services of star striker Declan McGregor and Mike Easterbrook.

“Going forward, we have the basis of a very strong squad and a great bunch of lads that any Wessex League manager would be proud of.

“In fact, some of them already have interest from bigger clubs so we will be working hard in the summer to re-sign them all again,” he added.

Ross Bentall won manager’s player of the year.