Farnham Town assistant manager Jimmy Hibburt praised his side’s superb season after lifting the Combined Counties Premier Division South title.
Town marked Saturday’s trophy lift in style with a 2-0 win at home to Colliers Wood United to reach 99 points in the league.
“It's been an unbelievable season,” said Hibburt. “I think we've overachieved. We were always confident in our own ability and what we could bring to this football club but standing on the pitch with so many young fans and old fans is quite emotional. It's been brilliant.”
Manager Paul Johnson missed Saturday’s game through illness, and Hibburt hailed Johnson’s importance to Town’s commanding title success.
“He's a huge part of it,” said Hibburt. “That's (promotion) what we came here for. We've been able to achieve it and hopefully we’ll kick on next season. I couldn't have asked for a better season.”
A crowd of 902 packed into The Memorial Ground for Saturday’s win, and Hibburt praised the Farnham fans for their support throughout the season.
“It's incredible,” said Hibburt. “I can't speak highly enough of them – for Step 5 it's incredible. When we first arrived we never thought we'd be sitting here nearly a season-and-a-half along the line, looking around and seeing what we see. It's a fantastic club going in the right direction, looked after and run by some fantastic people all pushing in the right direction – and that goes a long way.”
Town were quick out of the blocks on Saturday and took the lead in the third minute when Mark Waters’ cut-back was diverted into his own net by Colliers Wood’s Tom Blampied. Farnham doubled their advantage on the hour mark when Brandon Kalu hung up an inviting cross to the back post which Owen Dean headed back across goal for substitute Lewis Flatman to emphatically head into the roof of the net.
After a gruelling schedule in recent weeks, Hibburt was pleased that his side were able to pick up another three points.
“It was a tired one,” said Hibburt. “We did enough. The boys have put a big shift in. We did what we needed to do – the boys did it professionally. I thought we should have wrapped the game up four or five in the first half, but we were sloppy in and around the goal. It was good to get off to a good start. I think that settled us. I don't think they (Colliers Wood) were a real threat. I thought we kept them at bay quite comfortably.”