FLEET’S ON THE WRIGHT TRACK!
IT’S NOT all that long ago that Benfleet were hit with an eviction notice – now they’re revived and creating history after reaching Step 5 for the first time in their history.
The Essex club only entered the National League System in 2018-19 but continue to climb after winning the Eastern Counties League Division One title.
And no-one is more surprised at their rapid rise than chairman Dan Wright, who admits the club’s success has come sooner than anyone expected.
“We’ve worked out way up having played 90-odd years as an amateur club,” Wright told The NLP.
“In truth, we’ve just been happy to be there and haven’t really had aspirations of climbing up the league.
“We would’ve been absolutely delighted with a playoff place at the start of the season.
“When Lee [Scott] took over as manager in September, his brief was if we can make a push for the play-offs. That will have been a good season.
“But to get 100 points over the course of the season It’s is an incredible achievement.
“We had no right to win the league and again I think that reflects so well on the management and the players.”
Under Scott, the club, who groundshare at Canvey Island’s Park Lane ground, are already gearing up for their next adventure and Wright believes his side had what it takes to compete at Step 5 next season.
“I think we should be able to hold our own at Step 5 but there are lots of variables, like keeping our squad and we need to add one or two but I think the squad, as it is, is probably good enough,’’ the chairman said.
“If we can consolidate and finish comfortably next season that would be an outstanding year for us.”
Their success is even more impressive considering the club could have ceased to exist in 2019 with finances dwindling and an eviction notice
having been served on their Recreation Ground home.
Much of this was due to players were paid, which left the club unsustainable. Now, however, a change in approach means that there is no money goes on wages, either on or off the pitch.
“We have got a first team that works financially in a way that it never has before, it doesn’t drain the club anymore and it now contributes to the club,” said Wright.
“Our ultimate goal is probably to get to a Step 3 or Step 4 type club where not everyone in the town comes along but everyone knows what is going on, so to get there we are going to have to start paying our players at some point.
“The only way that we can do that is for the football club to be sustainable so if we can consistently drive 100 or 150 people through the gate every week, that then brings an income that we’ve never had before which could lead to those conversations.”