Lewes are today celebrating an historic promotion to the Conference south after achieving what some people thought was impossible.

The Rooks beat Ryman premier division Kingstonian at a packed Dripping Pan in their final play-off game to reach the highest level of football in their 119-year history.

Steven King's side have by-passed the reformed Isthmian premier division to join some of the biggest clubs in non-league football.

It is a giant step for a club that was playing in Ryman division three just three years ago and is all the more impressive because of the farcical events that preceded the game.

After winning the division one south title, Lewes had to play three play-off games in a week, two of which were against teams in a higher division.

Rooks were forced to play the first match at Yeading last Monday, even though the Ryman League originally stated lots would be drawn to decide which teams had home advantage.

A 1-0 win against the division north champions set up a trip to premier division Basingstoke two days later and the winners were scheduled to play at Kingstonian.

Lewes won 4-1, but the league changed the format the morning after the game and told Rooks to travel to higher placed Bedford for the final game.

Lewes appealed to the FA, who ordered the fixture to be changed back to the original opponents.

However, Kingstonian could not use their own ground because they share it with AFC Wimbledon, who had a home game, so the match was switched to The Dripping Pan.

To cap it all, league officials forgot to bring the trophy which was supposed to be awarded to the winning team.

Rooks chairman Terry Parris said: "To think Lewes Football Club are a Conference team is incredible.

"We've had one hell of a week because everything was against us. We've done it against all the odds because nobody in non-league football expected us to win these games.

"The highest teams have always been pitched against the lowest sides and we beat them all. We beat the authorities as well because they tried to knock us out of this competition.

"We will be quite glad to leave the Ryman League after what has happened. We've been let down big time."

The controversy made victory sweeter for Lewes.

Fans spilt on to the pitch to celebrate with the players and, in particular, King.

The 35-year-old was unknown to almost everyone when he joined last summer. But, after his first year in management, he has ensured his name will be written in club folklore forever.

He said: "It was a gamble taking me on and everyone was saying who's he? I was on a hiding to nothing so to come in and do what we have in the first season is amazing. I hope people appreciate that we've taken the club up to another level and it's a new era."

King took his players to a hotel in Seaford the night before the game to ensure the disruptions did not affect team morale.

Lewes rarely looked troubled against a Kingstonian team affected by off-the-field problems and could have won by more than Warren Haughton's header after 37 minutes.

Dwain Clarke crossed from the right and Haughton glanced home his 12th goal in 11 starts from the edge of the six-yard box.

King said: "The players have been fantastic and I don't know how they found the energy to play four games in seven days.

"The team spirit has really come together in the last few months. We have gone through thick and thin together and it has grown and grown."

The Dripping Pan has passed the A grade required for the Conference south. King says he has not thought about next season, although admits it will not be long before he starts planning for another successful season.

He said: "The whole club is going to celebrate because it has been a team effort. I'm not sure what to think about next season because I'm taking it one step at a time. I'm just going to savour this moment and then look at it again in July."