Faversham Town remains a great place to be around and there is genuine optimism for the future on and off-the-pitch, says boss Ray Turner

FAVERSHAM TOWN manager Ray Turner says his side have not ultimately achieved their aim of competing in the play-offs again this season.

The Lilywhites suffered a 3-0 defeat away to Worthing in the Ryman League Division One South play-off final at the end of last season after finishing in the top five.

But Faversham Town go into tomorrow’s finale at home to Cray Wanderers sitting in the top nine with 73 points on the board from their 45 league outings – eight points adrift of fifth-placed Hastings United.

Tooting & Mitcham United will win the league title tomorrow should they avoid a 5-0 defeat at second-placed Dorking Wanderers.

Greenwich Borough will finish in third-place if they beat Guernsey, while Corinthian-Casuals have pulled off a miracle by finishing in the play-offs.

“I would like to firstly thank my players’ for the way they have represented the club this season.  We currently sit on 73 points in what has been a highly competitive league,” said Turner.

“We have not ultimately achieved our aim of competing once again in the Ryman South play-offs and frankly after 45 games you have to accept that we have not been good enough this year.

“The players, however, turned their form around from January and we continued to threaten the top five right up until the last week of the season.”

Faversham Town are certainly moving in the right direction, as Turner explains.

“The club has much to look forward to. Our new changing rooms have been completed and they are something to be truly proud of.

“It has been another challenge that at times that has seemed insurmountable but there is a strong determination from the top of the club to deliver facilities that show our continued ambition.

“Our local MP Helen Whately will officially open our new changing facilities on 7 May during our youth open day where Faversham Town teams from all age groups will be playing at the Shepherd Neame Stadium.”

League One side Gillingham will play the first game in the new facility on Tuesday 11 July (19:30)

“I would like to thank them for coming down and I look forward to starting our 2017-18 campaign in front of a big crowd,” said Turner.

“Our intention is to move straight onto the next phase of our stadium development plan and we hope people will recognise the huge strides this club has made and support us as we build a stadium worthy of the next level of football.

“Faversham Town remains a great place to be around and there is genuine optimism for the future on and off-the-pitch.

“I look forward to finishing the season in front of our home supporters when we entertain Cray Wanderers tomorrow.”

Tony Russell’s side have underachieved this season and go into the game in eleventh-place in the table with 67 points from their 45 games.  They came away from East Grinstead with a 4-0 win at already relegated Three Bridges last night.

Visit Faversham Town’s website:  www.pitchero.com/clubs/favershamtownfc

Faversham Town  v  Cray Wanderers
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 22^nd April 2017
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Salters Lane, Faversham, Kent ME13 8ND