Mason hails Faversham support

Faversham Town chairman Bob Mason has hailed the reborn club's supporters for topping two Kent League attendance tables, writes James Brown - courtesy of www.favershamtownfc.co.uk

The Lilywhites boast not only the highest gate of the season - a bumper 394 for the visit of neighbours Whitstable Town - they also have the best crowds week-in, week-out with a fantastic average of 255.

The double success comes in a week when almost 100 people saw Faversham Town's Reserves take on local rivals Sittingbourne before a whopping 124 enjoyed the Youth team's thrilling 2-2 draw with Herne Bay on Monday night.

Mason, whose links with the Salters Lane club go back almost 40 years, said he was delighted that all the hard work behind the scenes was paying off.

He revealed: "Our fans are just brilliant. You get your highs and lows in football whether you're a player, manager or working on a committee but seeing the ground so busy on match days makes it all worthwhile.

"The fans are really getting behind the players too. The atmosphere at the Youth team game was superb, with people singing and chanting.

"It's been the same with the reserves and first team. You have to go back a long way to find crowds like this at a Faversham Town game. It's terrific."

Monday night's youth team derby was watched by more than twice as many people who attended Faversham Town's Kent Premier Division Cup clash at Sevenoaks on Saturday.

Mason said: "It is incredible to think that the youth team's gates would not look out of place in the first team attendance table.

"Just 46 watched us beat Sevenoaks at Greatness Park on Saturday and that wasn't the worst attendance of the day - just 32 watched Whitstable beat Sporting Bengal away, the same number of people who saw Hythe beat Slade Green.

"No wonder our lads love playing at home. I'd just like to thank everyone for taking the club to their hearts and making the revival such a great success story.

"Just a couple of years ago and it looked like senior football was gone for good in Faversham. Now we're the best supported team in the Kent League."

Mason said the club's growing fanbase enabled the club to plan for the future with confidence but he was taking nothing for granted.

He revealed: "We are looking ahead to a time when we have much improved facilities at Salters Lane . Facilities that will serve the youth of this town for many years to come.

"However, we need to keep growing to make those dreams come true. We need people to help us to help them by joining us in the bar on match days and training nights and supporting our regular fund-raisers.

"We desperately need this income to fund the ongoing improvements as we look to progress both on and off the field of play. So the message really, is thanks very much for all your support - please come again!"

Faversham Town boss Terry Cordice was in the crowd to see the club's under-18s come from 2-0 down to earn a share of the spoils thanks to Gary Freed's header five minutes from time.

Earlier, sixteen-year-old Adam Oxberry took his goals tally to ten in just seven games as Ray Turner's kids wowed the fans with a grandstand finish.

Cordice said: "I thought the lads showed a lot of character to come from 2-0 down to level like they did and the fans were absolutely incredible.

"I've never known anything like that for a youth team game. I've said all along that the fans at Faversham Town are something special but Monday night was something else.

"I understand it's the second time they have had over 100 for a youth team game which is superb and I'd like to invite everyone up to see Saturday's home game against Sevenoaks.

"I'm sure that with another good crowd we can produce the win that would take us through."

Faversham Town top Group B of the Premier Division Cup and victory over Sevenoaks on Saturday will take them through to the knockout stages with two games still to come.

The first of those is on Tuesday night when the Lilywhites head to London to take on managerless Erith & Belvedere (kick-off 7.45).

Faversham Town's reserves are away to Tunbridge Wells in Kent League Two on Saturday and the youth team entertain Margate on Sunday morning (11am)

Article courtesy of www.favershamtownfc.co.uk