Faversham Town boss Tommy Warrilow believes returning midfielder Bradley Schafer has come back to a very different club than the one he initially left

Returning Faversham midfielder Bradley Schafer has come back to a very different club to the one he left, according to manager Tommy Warrilow.

Schafer has rejoined from rivals Lordswood and started his latest stint with a substitute appearance in last Friday’s 3-0 win at Southern Counties East Premier Division promotion rivals Punjab United.

He previously played at Salters Lane at the start of their 2022/23 Isthmian South East relegation season, as he scored four goals, before he left at the end of Simon Austin’s brief tenure in charge in December 2022.

Warrilow said: “He’s at a good age.

“It’s a different animal now, Faversham, and that’s no secret.

“The 3G pitch has gone down. With the club’s aspirations, they’re doing it the right way in terms of building the youth set-up and, now, we have got a women’s team.

“Obviously, the crowds are going up. Hopefully, everyone is being approachable and we’re in a good place.

"The most important thing is to get the team up to the next level - and, once we’re there, we’ll want to go again.

“Brad has come back to a different football club, I’d imagine, to when he was first here.

“Without sounding disrespectful, the grass pitch whenever I went to play against Faversham, it was always a muddy, hard, slog.

“But now, you have got a surface which - if you’re the type of player that Brad is - that will help you, as well. The players I have got now are very good.

“But the players that were here over the last two seasons were very good players and that shows you that just having good players doesn’t necessarily guarantee you success.”

Schafer is Faversham’s second midfield recruit in as many weeks after Jarred Trespaderne also reunited with Warrilow and No.2 Alex O’Brien.

“He’s a tough