Award-winning Anchorians Football Club from Gillingham brush shoulders with Martin Keown, Emile Heskey and Sol Campbell at Wembley Stadium ahead of Community Shield game

A healthy Anchorians contingent were celebrating as the Gillingham club again received national recognition.

Having first won in 2018, Anchorians claimed the FA’s Club of the Year award at Wembley Stadium ahead of the Community Shield game, which saw Manchester City beat Manchester United on penalties this month.

The club got their hands on a few more tickets this time.

“When we went in 2018, I think they only gave us four tickets in total, which was hard when we had a committee of 12 or 13 people,” recalled chairman Leigh Willis.

“But this time around, we managed to get 11 tickets, which was fantastic.

“It meant we could bring pretty much our whole committee - minus about five people - three of whom had gone the first time. It was only fair that the others got a chance, as well.

“They could then see what it’s all about, celebrate what we have achieved and be really proud to be part of that.

“They have all played their part, laying the foundations to get us to this stage.

“It’s not about winning awards.

“At the end of the day, it’s about getting active and getting people out there but it is nice to receive recognition.”

National joy came after Anchorians were victorious at last month’s Kent FA Grassroots Workforce Awards, held at Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium.

Mr Willis, who was presented with the award by former Arsenal and England defender Martin Keown, also got to meet ex-Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, as well as one-time Tottenham, Arsenal and England defender Sol Campbell.

He explained: “How it works is the Kent FA award winners then get sent to the FA judging panel.

“Across the 40-odd county FAs in the country, they then choose a winner from that. We were fortunate enough to win it back in 2018, as well. That