We enter a run of Saturday / Tuesday matches with the visit of newly promoted Farnham Town to Tatnum ko 7.45pm.

Farnham Town have been on quite a journey in the last couple of seasons. They won promotion to the Isthmian South Central League in the 2023/24 season. They won this at a canter, finishing on 102 points, a massive 20 points ahead of runners up Uxbridge on 82. Along the way they scored an amazing 120 goals. (P42 W32 D6 L4 102 points). So quite a performance. They have also enjoyed impressive cup runs in the FA Vase and FA Cup.

They have started this season where they left off last season and at the time of writing they are joint top of the league with Sholing, having picked up 11 points from their opening 5 games. (P5 W3 D2 L0 11 points). They are one of only three unbeaten sides along with Sholing and Uxbridge.

 A lot of this success has been credited to the appointment of manager Paul Johnson, who has impressed in non-league firstly as a player and then as a manager, guiding Spelthorne Sports to promotion before taking Bedfont Sports up into Step 4. In November 2022, he became the Farnham Town manager and won silverware in his first season as Farnham beat Balham 3-2 in the Southern Combination Cup Final in May 2023.

The 23/24 season was a historic one for the Club under Johnson as they enjoyed their best-ever runs in the FA Cup and FA Vase, reached the Surrey Cup Final for the first time ever, but most importantly, were crowned champions of the Combined Counties Premier Division South after completing an invincible league campaign.

A player who has made a huge contribution the club in the last couple of seasons is Adam Liddle the energetic striker who loves to work the channels and bring his fellow teammates into the game through his hold-up and link-up play. He came through the ranks at Reading before working his way around non-league, eventually joining the Town in September 2024. In two years with the Club, he’s scored 31 goals in 78 appearances, playing a big part in their back-to-back promotions.

Of course, we are looking to build our own success story and we can be encouraged with the start that we have made this season. With just one narrow defeat in our opening 5 matches and an FA Cup 2Q tie coming up next week we have the basis to be hopeful.

Our goalkeeper Adam Parkes has been ever present so far this season and has put in some very accomplished performances. The 25-year-old shot-stopper came through Southampton’s academy after joining the Saints at the age of 10 and made appearances on the international stage for England at under 17’s level. He signed for Watford in 2019 and went on to have loan spells in the National League with Barnet and Dover Athletic. Following his time at Watford, Parkes was signed by Plymouth Argyle but never made a first team appearance for the pilgrims. For the beginning of the 2023/24 campaign, the goalkeeper joined Plymouth Parkway and impressed at Bolitho Park earning him a move to Taunton

Last season, after a spell with Taunton Town, Adam signed for Gosport Borough under the management of Joe Lea and Pat Suraci and made 30 appearances at Privett Park.

We know only too well what a great atmosphere we generate at The Black Gold under the lights so come along and be a part of the exciting journey that we are on.

Enjoy the game

Neil Wellington