Kings Langley joint-boss Paul Hughes insists the qualities required to win the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division and the Premier League are identical but claims he has more respect for his title winners.

A routine 2-0 home win against Wembley on Tuesday evening was enough to win the title with three games to spare and ensure back-to-back promotions under the stewardship of Hughes and Ritchie Hanlon.

The pair first met when as youngsters at Chelsea and whilst Hughes, 38, went on to make a handful of first-team appearances for the Blues before retiring with Luton Town in 2006, Hanlon, 36, never made the grade but still carved out a career with Peterborough United, Rushden & Diamonds and Cambridge United.

Their second season together brought Premier Division football to Gaywood Park and 12 short months later they are celebrating consecutive promotions after taking a higher level by storm.

Next season will see Kings make the move up to level four of the non-league pyramid as they ply their trade in Southern League Division One.

"Whether you win the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division or the Barclays Premier League you still need the same qualities," stated Hughes. "You need to have character, respect, desire, intensity, work ethic and Ritchie and I have let them know the importance of those attributes.

"The only difference is I have more respect for these lads because they have all got nine to five jobs but then they still go out to perform at the same high level, week in week out."

Discussing his relationship with Hanlon - who had a spell as St Albans City boss in 2007 - Hughes said: "I have known Ritchie since we were kids. We played against each other as professionals, we share the same football philosophy, we live five minutes away from each other and when the Kings Langley opportunity came up it was a local club to us and we both thought it was a great chance to enjoy ourselves on a Saturday.

"We both run our own companies so it works out well if one of us can't make it to training, the other one usually can. If it had not have worked out we would have parted company last season," explained Hughes.

After securing the runners-up spot in Division One last term to follow Sun Sports into the top flight of the South Midlands League, Hanlon believes the key to Kings' success has been continuity.

Perceived wisdom suggests promotion to a higher level requires a new batch of players but Kings have relied heavily on the same group who served them so well last season.

He explained: "One of the great things about our club is the continuity. We have not had many new players since last season; I think about 90 per cent of the team which won promotion last year won the league this year and it has probably helped us and been a big factor in what we have done.

"Sometimes when you go up you think 'we have to sign players' but we always knew we had the quality already."

Tuesday's victory against Wembley took Kings' league goals tally to 116 in just 39 games, an incredible record which means they are the joint-third highest scorers in the first nine levels of football in the country.

Only Midland League Premier Division side Basford United (120) and Sydenhams Wessex League Premier Division outfit Winchester City (117) have netted more times in the league than Kings.

And it was former Boreham Wood striker Lewis Toomey who got the party started on Tuesday evening, following in after the Wembley goalkeeper had fumbled his initial attempt after nine second-half minutes.

Eight minutes later Kings' coronation was complete when Danny Hutchins arrowed home from 25 yards to double the hosts' advantage. Wembley's Attila Fekete was then dismissed for kicking out at Alex Campana but nothing could spoil the party for Kings Langley.

And Hanlon paid tribute to Toomey, who has been patient in waiting for his chance due to the imperious form of Campana (23 goals), Mitchell Weiss (21), Hutchins (17) and Nick Jackson (14).

"He has started to get his sharpness back," stated the former Welling United midfielder. "He came in, got injured and then we did not see him on the field for a while but know he has worked his way back.

"He is a cut above and it is a real shame, for him, because he could have played a bigger part with more luck."

With three games left to play and the opportunity to break the 100-point barrier very much on, Hanlon's hopes for the remainder of the season are simple: "We want to win all our games and win the cup final against St Margaretsbury on May 2 and if we did that too, it would be an unbelievable story."