Where to really start with this season? We’ve broken records, made history and delivered on the one aim – promotion.
Starting this project two years ago, it was met with a lot of scepticism and there was a steep learning curve to get fully up to speed and ingratiated with how a non-league football club operates. We ruffled some feathers and made some big decisions. Did we get them all right? No. But we like to think we got most of them right while holding the Club’s best interests at heart.
Bringing Paul Johnson and Jimmy Hibburt to the Club is, unequivocally, the best decision we’ve made. Two men with a proven track record of success and promotion at this level who could execute our vision to get this great Club further up the football pyramid – and we got a taste of what’s to come with the Southern Combination Cup success 12 months ago.
As I said in my interviews earlier in the season, we had one goal this year – promotion, at all costs. We had made significant strides off the pitch with the infrastructural investment into a brand new 160-seater covered stand, a second covered standing stand that can house a further 210 fans, a new outdoor toilet block, a new greenskeeper shed, club-coloured pitch side railings, a new digital scoreboard & upgraded PA system that we needed to match it with on-field success, and we did not doubt in my mind that Johno and Jimmy would deliver on that after meeting them back in November 2022.
The pair of them had a vision of the kind of team they wanted to build for this season and went out and brought in the key players they needed to execute their plans. We always knew we’d be at the top end come April, but not in our wildest dreams did we expect the unprecedented level of success that we’ve seen over the last 10 months.
Farnham Town will now always be known as the Club with the longest winning start to a league season in English football history – 25 consecutive games. It’s a testament to the culture and mentality of the squad that Johno and Jimmy have built this season. It’s a team of winners who have all bought into our project and want to be part of something special.
As the run kept going on and on, it did become a foregone conclusion that we would eventually clinch the title, but I can’t think of a more fitting, story-book ending than what took place in Jersey.
The delayed kick-off meant we knew what was on the line with 15 minutes to go. Falling behind for the first time in the league all season after just six minutes and then slipping to a 2-0 deficit before halftime. There’s just something in this group though, a never-say-die attitude. A will to just win. You couldn’t ask for a more fitting pair of goalscorers to get the job done than Kai Tanner and Max Meaton – two born and bred Farnham boys who love the Club. It meant everything to them to deliver the most historic moment in our 118-year history – achieving promotion to Step 4 for the first time ever.
What made it even more special was the 150+ travelling Farnham Town fans who made the journey with us. Having arrived on the Friday evening before the game, it felt like everywhere we turned, we were bumping into another fan who had travelled out there, perhaps on their own, or with family or friends, just buzzing to watch Farnham Town make history. We’re sure the team gave you a weekend you’ll never forget – and what’s even better is we’ve filmed it all so you can go back and watch it time and time again!
We do our best to shine a light on the goings on at our Club with our digital work, but so much happens behind the scenes, away from the cameras, that keeps Farnham Town ticking over and progressing. Rachel and the team that takes care of the Clubhouse bar and matchday catering, Pete and Spencer putting in the hours working away on the pitch, the countless volunteers that work on the turnstiles, the merchandise shed, everything. Without these people, we simply couldn’t operate, and to them, we’d like to express our heartfelt gratitude.
To the fans who have been with us every step of the way, we thank you. The Memorial Ground has seen record attendance growth this season, and we hope we’ve entertained! We’re looking forward to welcoming you all back next season as we look to create more history together.
Looking ahead to next season, we will not rest. We’re not looking to make up the numbers. We have every intention of challenging in Step 4 and the management team will be looking to build a squad capable of doing so over the summer. We’ll continue to look at ways we can innovate our Club and improve our home. We’ll always be striving to be better today than we were yesterday, that much is guaranteed.
But that’s not all, we still have another shot at history before the season is wrapped. On Thursday night, we qualified for our first-ever Surrey Senior Cup final, which takes place on May 1st at Dorking Wanderers’ Meadowbank Stadium. The chance to second a remarkable league and cup double is on the table for us, and we hope as many of you as possible make the trip to support Farnham Town that day.
As for today, we’re so excited and proud to see the boys lift the league title having laid it all out there this season, working so hard every Saturday afternoon, every Tuesday night, and more recently Thursday evenings as well to get the job done. They’ve earned this day, this moment. Make sure you come down to The Memorial Ground this afternoon to join in with the celebrations!
P.S. On Saturday, May 4th, we will be hosting our annual Awards Day. We’ll have the football on, a live DJ, food, drinks, the lot – and we’d love to welcome fans down to join us. More details will be announced in the coming week.
– Harry Hugo, on behalf of the Farnham Town Board of Directors.