CLARETS RALLY TO A BEST YET
It’s 22 & counting for Town
FARNHAM Town boss Paul Johnson says he is happy to let everyone else talk about breaking records.
The Clarets’ 2-0 win at Epsom & Ewell on Tuesday night ensured a 22nd straight Combined Counties League Premier Division South victory – the most successive wins to start a completed league season in the history of English football.
Goals from Dean Rule and Adam Liddle put Johnson’s men 2-0 up at the break and the final whistle brought confirmation the Surrey side had set a new mark in the national history books.
But perfectionist Johnson admitted he was still not content despite securing the three points to cap a historic occasion.
“It was a strange night,” he said. “We had a very good first half but missed so many chances in the second half and that overshadowed the record for us a bit because the lads came off disappointed.
“For me, it’s another milestone ticked off but I don’t think too much about the records anyway – it’s more for the people at the club. We will look back at it all at the end of the season.”
Former Bedfont Sports boss Johnson pieced together an extremely talented side in the summer, with signings from higher levels, with the expectation of winning promotion to Step 4 next term.
They have not disappointed so far, with cup exits to Bridgwater United (FA Vase), Rayners Lane (League Cup) and Chesham United (FA Cup) the only blots on an otherwise perfect copybook – even if rivals have claimed their success is all down to money.
Budget
“Let people say what they want but it’s a bit harsh on the lads who have been doing so well,” Johnson added.
“I don’t know how everyone thinks they know what our budget is. Only four of us in the club actually know.
“I hear what people say and I laugh and move on.
We know what we spend. Also, we have an 18-yearold goalkeeper and two full-backs who have been at Farnham for eight years and have never been on more than about £40 in all that time. People focus on budget but it is a million miles away from what they think it is.” Farnham’s feat has actually been usurped once before when Jersey Bulls rallied to 27 straight league wins in 2019-20 but that season was later curtailed by Covid. The Clarets were their closest challengers on that occasion, but with their lead at the top of the table this season standing at 12 points with three games in hand over second-placed Knaphill, the title is surely now within Town’s grasp.
The performances of the likes of No.10 Darryl Sanders, midfielder Harry Cooksley and defenders Jack Dean and Ryan Kinnane have propelled them to within reach of an Easter promotion party.
“We’re doing it in style. It’s mad – I knew we’d do well but I haven’t once stood there before a game this season and thought we would lose,” explained Johnson.
“Ideally, we would like to get the title wrapped up as quickly as possible and that’s not us being big-headed, we are grounded as a club.
“We have 16 (league) matches left, including games against some of the other top sides, plus we’re in the Surrey Senior Cup quarter-finals and we’ll do our best in that.”