Epsom Cricket Club have rewritten the Surrey Championship record books after winning all 18 games en route to promotion from Division Three.

The title crown had been secured last month, but after Saturday’s six-wicket win over Chipstead, Coulsdon & Walcountians (CCW) at the Francis Schnadhorst Memorial Ground, the celebrations could start in earnest.

On Tuesday, Epsom skipper Danny Secchi had recovered his voice enough to reveal that a lot of champagne had been drunk that night.

He also revealed that Joey Burke, the skipper of the third XI, had to put £500 behind the bar after losing a bet with Secchi that, after winning five games on the bounce, the first XI could not last the whole season.

Secchi said: “It has not sunk in yet. We’re just relieved to get that last win.

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Champions: (Back row, L-R) Tony Edwards (chairman), Godfrey Stevens, Rob Anderson, Phil Edwards, Aaron Somerford, Dayle Honess, Will Moore, Rob Lowe. (Front row, L-R) Jon Batley, Ben Hudson, Danny Secchi, Asim Zeb,

“All the time we were chasing the title, it was one game at a time, and no-one really thought about winning all 18.

“But as it got closer, people did start to talk about it.

“It’s an amazing achievement, crazy and fantastic.”

In the end, Epsom won the title by a mammoth 59 points.

Secchi said the secret to the success was a strong team spirit and strength in depth, and it was the former that saw them past CCW.

Secchi said: “CCW were 130-2 at drinks, and in danger of getting away from us, but we never stop, we’re relentless, and we knocked off eight wickets for just 43 runs.

“Most teams can keep up an intensity of play for 10 or 15 overs, but we go from the start to the finish and that disrupts teams, and they can’t cope.

“The spirit goes beyond what happens on the pitch. If someone is out, they don’t skulk in the dressing room, they come out and support the next guy in. They want to see who is going to get the next big score.”

Gardener Secchi added: “As for next season, we have nothing to fear.

“We’ll have a break but winter nets will be round soon and we’ll be back in training before you know it.”

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Skipper: Danny Secchi has guided his charges through 18 Division Three wins