Faversham Strike Force manager Stuart Benfield reflects on their comeback 2-1 home win to secure historic Southern Counties East League Division 1 title success

Dreams turned to reality for title-winning Faversham Strike Force boss Stuart Benfield and club founder Gary Axford on Saturday.

The Force held their nerve after going behind and again as they faced a barrage from SC Thamesmead in the final minutes to see out a nerve-wracking 2-1 victory in front of a club-record crowd of 330 that sealed top spot and promotion to the Southern Counties East League Premier Division.

Benfield revealed he and Axford, who he replaced as manager in 2023, with Axford now Strike Force’s club manager, had first spoken about Strike Force playing at Step 5 in their Kent County League days, with their men’s team only having been established 13 years ago.

Now, those dreams have become a reality.

“Gary started the club in 1999 and he has been a big part of the side since,” said Benfield, who himself has had almost two decades with the club. “Our dream when we were in the Kent County League was to get into the SCEFL Premier Division.

“To be together on Saturday, looking back at what we have achieved, that was just unbelievable.”

It’s a remarkable achievement for a club with no player budget or ground - and marked their last league game at Faversham Town’s Salters Lane for the foreseeable future, ahead of their ground-share with Whitstable Town from next season.

Benfield said: “It’s a phenomenal achievement.

“From where we have been to where we are now, it’s incredible. We have kind of gone under the radar all season, which suited us.

“It was a bit of a roller-coaster on Saturday.

“Thamesmead, with nothing really to play for, didn’t read the script! We had to dig deep.

"In the first half, we looked nervous but, in the second half, we just kept fighting.

“To do that in front of a crowd of 330 people was