TOTTON & Eling are a side reborn under the ‘Rich and Kitch’ managerial partnership.

After a tough start to the season, the Millers powered through December unbeaten to be crowned Sydenhams Division One club-of-the-month.

After a parting of the ways with Jay Keating in October, T&E turned to experienced player Rich Hayter to take charge following his return from league rivals Hythe & Dibden.

Former Hythe co-boss Shawn Kitcher quickly followed and, after a tough transitional period in November, the pair have totally transformed the Millers’ fortunes.

They picked up a point with a 0-0 draw at Ringwood and then rounded of 2017 with three straight wins against Whitchurch (4-0), Follands (1-0) and Alton (4-0).

Millers secretary Rob Lomax said: “Rich and Kitch have started to get the club to where we wanted it to be a year or so ago.

“When Jay went, we lost ten players at least and went down to a skeleton crew.

“At first we didn’t get the rub of the green, but we stuck to our philosophy of being a community club and the majority of the side are now young, local lads.

“We bedded them in in November and then we gathered points in December and we’re playing some really good football. There’s a real feel-good factor around the club.

“To win club-of-the-month is the icing on the cake. It must be at least five or six years since we last got it, maybe even as far back as when we won Wessex One and the Russell Cotes Cup.

“The only down side is we haven’t had a game in three weeks because of the weather.”

Hopefully that will change on Saturday when T&E welcome Romsey Town to Little Testwood Farm for a 12th v 5th showdown.

December's Premier Division club-of-the-month are Blackfield & Langley.