Athletes are given the star treatment

The club's talented group of young athletes have blazed a trail of glory all season.

The highlight of which saw 13 athletes compete in the English Schools Championships in Gateshead – with nine going on to reach finals.

Almost 250 people crammed into Linden House in Wolverhampton to laud the club's achievements.

Coach Claudio Albanese was incredibly happy to see past club members check in and mingle with the stars of today and tomorrow.

He said: "It was absolutely great to see so many people turn up. I'd like to put in place my thanks to the venue and we're already keen to get next year booked.

"I'd like to get more former members involved. It's always good for people who have gone on and achieved so much in athletes to come and see where they started.

"We had some come as guests for the presentation evening and they were hugely impressed with the success of our athletes.

"The club has progressed so much this season, especially with its younger athletes and it is great to see them rewarded."

The club, which now has over 1,000 members, became the first club to secure a first and second place finish at Gateshead in July.

Ellis Greatrex claimed gold and Psalm Roberts-Nash took silver in the intermediate boys' 400m.

In the awards, it was Roberts-Nash who claimed the outstanding performance gong for his display in the 400m, breaking a 33-year record with a time of 48.96 seconds.

Greatrex landed the male athlete of the year award, handed out by former club member David Nelson, who represented Great Britain in the 110m hurdles in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Seventeen-year-old Simone McKen threw her way to glory in the shot putt, winning female athlete of the year. She reached the final in Gateshead, throwing over 12 metres to finish ninth.

One of the night's highlights was an award to long-serving member Clive Jukes, who is still competing competitively for the club after decades of service.

Albanese added: "Many of our former members were astonished at how many athletes we had.

"It would be great to hear from more members of the past and get them involved with what we are doing at Aldersley Stadium."

Alongside hurdler Nelson, 55-year-old 400m runner Neil Jackson was present, with former discuss and shot thrower Roy Steventon.

Albanese revealed that many of the athletes will now look to take a brief break before gearing up for a winter training schedule.

That will take them into next year's inaugural European Youth Championships in Tbilisi.