Chatham Town lost to Enfield Town in the Isthmian League Premier Division play-off final but manager-chairman Kevin Hake remains determined to make it to the Football League

Chatham Town’s play-off defeat last week hasn’t dampened the chairman’s ambition - he’s still targeting the Football League.

It’s been a dream of Hake’s since taking over at Chatham in 2017 and back-to-back promotions have got him a little closer. They lost the Isthmian Premier Division final on Monday but the club chairman - who is also the manager - didn’t expect it to be straightforward.

Salford City have shown what can be done but even their five promotions towards the Football League took nine seasons. Bromley are a team closer to home who are the newest members of the EFL.

“We will return and we will get into the EFL,” Hake declared, with the season now over.

“I might not be the man who finishes the job but his club will be in the EFL, trust me.”

Hake was far from despondent after their play-off final loss. While he knew it was a missed opportunity on Monday, he also knows how far the club has come in a short space of time.

He said: “This is all part of the story, part of the journey. I say it tongue and cheek but you don’t want to get there too quick!

“The guys have done great, on and off the field, and long may it continue.”

Chatham won their play-off semi-final against Horsham in front of 3,000 fans and there was another capacity crowd there for the final.

“It has been unbelievable,” Hake said.

“We sold the final out within 24 hours and that was manual tickets as well, nothing was released online because we wanted to make sure it was Chatham fans who rightfully got to the game because they deserved to, and it wasn’t just anyone turning up.

“It’s been amazing, but it’s just the start and I’ve said I want this club to be in the EFL one day and we only have to look at Bromley and the marvelous stuff that they have