Proud boss Kevin Hake on Chatham Town’s winning run and unbeaten home record, both which ended recently; They return home on Saturday to play Lewes

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.

The words of Dr. Seuss, the American author, sum up nicely the way Chatham Town’s bullish chairman-manager Kevin Hake reacted to a tough afternoon last time out on home soil.

Chatham Town are back at the Bauvill Stadium this Saturday, a fortnight after seeing their proud home record and a 12-game winning streak come to an end. A shock 5-1 home loss to Cray Wanderers ended them both.

On November 2, 2021, 324 fans were there to see Chatham Town beat Punjab United under the floodlights at the Bauvill. Hake’s men didn’t lose again at home in the league until last weekend’s match with Cray - 33 games later, watched by over 1,000 and two divisions higher. Now that’s progress!

Hake said: “The players involved with that great home run should be immensely proud, stretching back to October 2021 (the last home loss was at home to Glebe) and we find ourselves two leagues higher the next time we tasted defeat at home.

“That, alongside the 12 league game winning run we’ve been on has been unbelievable experience to be a part of.”

Hake, who has been chairman since 2017, added: “Pat Byrne, our club historian, says the previous record was 10 wins in 1936.

“I’m not sure that record will be broken for a while, although I will never say never and we will be working hard to replicate it!

“With the pressure that the lads were under last year on the title run-in, coupled with the higher level this year makes the run even harder, but as usual at the Chats we never do things the easy way.”

A run of seven straight wins at the back end of last season led them to the Isthmian South East title, coupled with their unbeaten home record.

Chats started this season at the higher level – higher than