Imagine a football club which, in 1985, was the first to achieve a hitherto undreamt of double of the Gola League (now the National League) and FA Trophy; and had already won the FA Amateur Cup at Wembley in 1966. Stuart Pearce had played for them; so did Vinny Jones.

So strong was their squad that Jones couldn't even get in the starting line-up only months before Wimbledon snapped him up. That he'd been a key instigator of a mass brawl in a televised FA Cup tie against Reading probably had something to do with the Dons' interest.

The problem for Wealdstone, though, was their double winning side was ageing and tactically, fairly limited. They were only getting gates of about 1000; and their owner had overstretched financially. The only way, in other words, was down - but nobody realised how far or how fast

From 1987 until 1995, the manager's office was more like a revolving door: all of which was only a symptom of mounting troubles off the pitch. Which ended up with Wealdstone selling their beloved Lower Mead ground - and moving into a catastrophic groundshare at Vicarage Road.

That groundshare was supposed, according to its more delusional advocates, to help take the Stones to another level. They were right. Down the club went to Level 7 of the English pyramid - and into administration they tumbled too. Wealdstone were right on the very brink.

They were saved thanks to a critical court case they won - and efforts of a hardcore of no more than 200-300 supporters which were just out of this world. Their passion, their loyalty, their fundraising efforts and ideas were what kept this very special football club alive.

By now, Wealdstone were playing at an unthinkably lowly level: the Isthmian League Division Three, four levels below where they'd been until 1988; Level 9 of the pyramid. They groundshared at Yeading, then Edgware, and later Northwood - but at last could focus on football.

So for a three-year period in the late 1990s, the most extraordinary momentum developed: promotion, another promotion, then what should've been ANOTHER promotion: denied by non-league football's absurd ground grading rules (a protection racket in all but name).

The success of that time confirmed just how well followed Wealdstone were (in non-league terms, I mean) - and how great their potential was. Those who'd fought to keep the club alive KNEW what was possible. All fans think their club is special, but Wealdstone truly is.

There aren't many non-league clubs where the fans can influence the outcome as much as Wealdstone fans can: dragging their team back from behind, or lampooning the opponents to such an extent that they palpably panic and lose it.

Almost always done with humour too: some of the finest amateur comedians anywhere in the UK can be found following the Stones.

But denial of promotion meant a long, arduous period of austerity. What was critical now was for the club to find a long term home.

Gate receipts and commercial revenue are massively important to any non-league club which wants to grow and doesn't have a rich benefactor. The Stones, who'd lost out on Prince Edward Playing Fields to Barnet (who gazumped the whole thing) moved into Grosvenor Vale, Ruislip.

Now, the club could move forward, be ambitious, but do so sustainably: considerably because of a superb youth system which, most notably, produced the prolific Jermaine Beckford. Two FA Trophy semi-finals were reached, the first after an incredible giantkilling run.

The Isthmian League was won in 2014... and now, 6 years later, the National League South has been too. 35 years on from the double, 29 years after losing their home, 28 years on from administration and 25 years on from being at Level Nine, Wealdstone are back where they belong.

Any further progress from here will be almost impossibly hard. The National League is full of heavily paying, full time clubs; the standard is so high, it's a lot higher than the old Fourth Division was 30 years ago. Wealdstone's gates have increased but need to keep doing so.

Next season, if and when it starts, will surely be all about avoiding relegation. Doing so will be a feat and a half.

But you know when people say that the fans ARE a football club? That's true in no greater case anywhere than Wealdstone. Best fans anywhere, without doubt.

There's been a lot of individual heroes too. I'd single out @plsoj85, a legend at the club for all he did during its darkest days; @howiejk, like Paul Rumens, a brilliant Chairman; Rory Fitzgerald, now at the helm; Dean Brennan, who's won the title in his first season as manager.

But the greatest hero of all - without whom, none of this would've been possible? The man who moved into the hottest of hot seats in 1995, and made it his own as manager for the next TWENTY-TWO years. Gordon Bartlett.

Imagine that. 22 years at one football club: transforming its onfield status, while dealing with constant turmoil and frustration off it. Sacrificing what would've been a career at a much higher level too. All because he loved the club, loved its supporters and believed in it.

He also happéns to be my old school PE teacher and a top, top bloke.

So it's him I'm toasting this thread to most of all. To Gordon Bartlett for everything he did - and @WealdstoneFC and @Wealdstone_FC. If you could bottle the passion of this football club, you'd make a fortune.