The year is 2010, the world is getting to grips with technological developments such as the iPhone while social media is a fairly new phenomenon – and Strabane Athletic has just been formed.

Starting out playing in the junior ranks of the Fermanagh & Western League, the Co Tyrone club have enjoyed a whirlwind ride over the past 16 years – and are now ready for their biggest step yet after sealing Championship promotion.

Many Irish League players have had longer careers than Strabane have been in existence – for example, Jamie Mulgrew had already won three Premiership titles at Linfield – showing just how rapid their progress has been.

Having only taken their first step onto the Irish League pyramid last year, Strabane are now celebrating consecutive promotions, finishing second in their debut Premier Intermediate League campaign behind champions Moyola Park.

placeholder image — Strabane Athletic enjoyed a dream Irish Cup showdown with Glentoran last season. (Photo by Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press)

Add into the mix a maiden North West Senior Cup triumph, the club’s first-ever senior silverware honour, and memorable clashes against some of Northern Ireland’s best – they briefly went 2-0 up at Cliftonville in the BetMcLean Cup – it’s been an unforgettable time for those in Strabane.

Mo Mahon was only appointed manager in mid-November, the 40-year-old believing in Strabane’s vision strongly enough to leave Portstewart.

Under Mahon’s leadership, Strabane lost just four of 22 league matches to surge up the third-tier table and ultimately take one of four promotion positions on offer.

Relaxing on a well-earned holiday after a relentless season, Mahon is finally able to take a breath and reflect on a remarkable achievement – but it won’t be for too long with planning for next season already underway.

"The club has gone from strength to strength since 2010,” he said. “See the work they put in, there's a lot of really good people who run clubs, but the work that goes on behind the scenes at Strabane Athletic, I've had my eyes opened.

"I think it's amazing, it epitomises community - you see how passionate the people of Strabane are about their town. All of the people want to do the best for Strabane.

"I've been inundated with messages about the achievement and I probably didn't realise how big it was until this week when I'm away from it on holiday. The messages have come from everywhere, not just Strabane.

"At the start of this season I wasn't at Strabane, but I looked at their squad and thought they would hold their own in the league and do well.

"On reflection, it's a massive achievement.

"We won the North West Senior Cup which was a big thing. We played against Glentoran, the only downside was it wasn't in Strabane, but it was still a great experience. They played Cliftonville before I came in and were 2-0 up at one point.

"It’s very satisfying because nobody expected Strabane to get promoted. They'd only been promoted to the PIL and that was our first season – now we're straight up to the Championship.”

Next season’s Championship will be made up of 16 teams with Strabane preparing to face the likes of Glenavon, who spent 21 consecutive years in the top-flight and won the Irish Cup a decade ago.

"We're under no illusions, it's a massive step up,” added Mahon. “I worked in the Championship with Institute and it was new to me then coming from Derry City’s academy.

"My focus has been on the Championship and PIL since then, getting to know players and clubs, and I would know a lot about it.

"It's going to be difficult, there's 16 teams there and the standard will be really good, we're under no illusions. We're going to enjoy the experience and do the best we can.”

Mahon has only been a senior manager in the Irish League for less than two years, taking on his first job at Portstewart in October 2024 after a spell as Institute assistant.

Strabane’s success is testament to his coaching prowess and ability to manage pressure – now he wants to keep building.

"It's a difficult time to come into a club when they've done a pre-season, but with Strabane, the foundations were already there,” he said. “The club was going in the right direction, the club was successful before I came in, and the previous manager had assembled a good squad.

"There were a couple of things I had to tweak...I didn't go too mad.

"The club wanted to keep on the current staff that were there and wanted me to manage that. All of the structures were there and I came in and adapted to them, rather than them adapting to me.

"We added over time a few things and the January window, we only added four players, but ones we thought would help us push.”