Sheppey United are the inaugural winners of the Southern Counties East Development League - but trophies are only the icing on the cake for youth chairman Gary Seamark.
It’s eight years on from Mr Seamark’s decision to join his local club and start up an under-13 team. He now heads up a thriving youth section where the key aim is to give aspiring footballers a clear pathway to the Sheppey first team and potentially beyond.
A handful of youth players have featured for Sheppey’s Isthmian League side this season, including Bailey Catherick, who was part of that first under-13 side.
Winning the Development League is a bonus for the Ites, who also saw their under-18 team make the Kent Cup final. Mr Seamark said: “It is all about the development of the players.