WE'LL SHOW WE AREN'T ALL CHAT

BACK-TO-BACK promotions have brought Chatham Town’s ambitious long-term goal of reaching the Football League closer to reality, but supremo Kevin Hake is expecting a searching examination in the Isthmian Premier.

- John Lyons

The Chats won the Isthmian South East last term, following up their runners-up spot in the Southern Counties East League the season before. It’s been a remarkable rise for the Kent outfit, but one they are taking in their stride.

Five years ago they set their goal of reaching the EFL. Some scoffed at their intentions and yet they are now two steps closer to doing just that.

Chairman-manager Hake, who played for the Chats and whose late father Tom managed the club in the 90s, told The NLP: “The club is progressing from top to bottom and that’s what we are striving for. The EFL dream is getting laughed at less.

“You have to aim high and all those years ago we said we wanted to do it. Two seasons were halted due to Covid, but we are more than back on track. To achieve back-to-back promotions was incredible.”

However, if Chatham have jumped the first two hurdles with aplomb, they know there are bigger fences to get over in future – starting with the Isthmian Premier.