Liam Friend can plan his summer holiday earlier than usual this year after leading Folkestone Invicta to automatic promotion.

Friend, 28, has taken part in the Ryman League Division 1 South play-offs in each of the last four seasons and was on the losing side in the 2014 and 2015 finals.

But his season won't extend into May this time around after Folkestone wrapped up the title with five games to spare.

Friend lifted the championship trophy on a golden Good Friday afternoon at the Fullicks Stadium following Invicta's 6-0 mauling of Walton & Hersham.

He said: "I’ve been thinking about it so much in the last week or so.

"It was a relief to get my hands on it. I can get on the beach and chill out rather than playing a play-off semi-final and final.

"It was great to be able to pick it up, lift it above my head and jump on my mates.

"It’s been a long process, especially having been here so many years, through relegation and the play-offs.

"We’ve been the best team in the league by a mile so we deserve it. It feels amazing."

In front of more than 1,500 supporters, Folkestone saved their best for the big occasion.

Friend said: "It was one of those tough ones where they’re not going to give us the victory.

"We’ve worked hard to get it to be this day (when we could seal it), piled on the wins and we knew it could be Good Friday, a big crowd and on our home pitch.

"It was important not to let the day get to us. A little bit first half, we weren’t as good as we can be but second half we upped it 10% and Walton & Hersham couldn’t really live with us.

"It’s nice to finish in style."