IT’S the toughest title of all to win, some say.

For a manager, writing ‘winner’ next to its name on his CV admits entry to a select group of champions.

And it can take a while to acquire that status – just ask Glossop North End.

The Hillmen finished first in the North West Counties League’s top flight last season at the 23rd time of asking.

Three years earlier, Ramsbottom ended a 15-year run in the Premier Division.

Meanwhile in 2010, Newcastle needed to set records to reach the next level after 18 previous attempts.

Of course, every team’s task is more daunting when there is only one promotion place up for grabs.

Without play-offs, the statistics are skewed.

But without a shuffle of the system, those numbers are not going to change any time soon.

Since the turn of the century, it has taken an average of eight-and-a-half years for sides to step up to the Northern Premier League’s second tier.

That will be music to the ears of Runcorn Linnets supporters.

For Joey Dunn’s men, currently six points clear at the table’s summit, this is their ninth campaign at this level.

So where does that leave 1874 Northwich?

Formed in 2012, they finished a creditable third at the end of their first season in the Premier Division last time out.

That’s no mean feat, for of the past 16 champions just three – AFC Fylde, FC United of Manchester and Cammell Laird – won the title at their first attempt.

In the same period, Norton – the year before last – are the only team to do so after two terms.

At a forum with fans on Wednesday, 1874 manager Ian Street was asked what it will take for his group to do the same.

“Goals, and lots of them,” he replied.

“I’ve spoken to a couple of gaffers who have got out of this league recently, and that’s what they told me.”

To prove he has taken notice, he has added attackers Ashley Stott and Jack Woolley to take some of the burden off leading scorer Matthew Beadle.

That duo arrives with 20 games left, and with 1874 third in the table, eight points behind the leaders.

Since 2000, the eventual champions have accumulated an average of 99.

If they win every remaining game, Street’s side can reach 103.

The marker-setting Newcastle team won all but five of their fixtures to amass 114.

Of course they did not necessarily need to, for runners-up New Mills were 24 further back by the finish.

That said, the truth is Street’s side have less margin for error than their rivals after losing five games in the season’s first half.

“We’ll need to be mentally tougher,” he added to that list of champions’ must-have attributes.

“And I don’t think we’re quite there yet.

“That can come from bringing in players, but can be learned from experience too by the lads you have already.”

That in part explains his decision in December to recruit Greg Hall – Glossop’s goalkeeper last term – and replace Matthew Conkie.

He hopes signings of that ilk can give 1874 the edge in head-to-heads with the likes of Linnets.

“It’s not uncommon for the title to be decided in games against the other top sides,” said Paul Bowyer, Street’s number two.

“We’ve identified that as something we have to improve on.”

Indeed, Linnets and fourth-placed Atherton Colls have both won on visits to Barton Stadium this season – the latter avenging a 3-1 home reverse in August.

1874 have yet to play Colne, second at the moment, and return to Runcorn in April.

They may have to win each time.

Padiham are the team promoted with the lowest points total since 2000, collecting 88 to edge Maine Road.

But the Storks are something of an exception; in seven of the past 10 seasons, the title-winners have made it to 100.

And even with 104 in 2009, AFC Fylde were promoted only on goal difference.

“We know what it takes,” said Street, who had a spell as number two to Chris Willcock at Winsford five years ago.

Now, like the Glossop manager, he wants to update his CV the same way.