To say that Farnham Town arrive in the Southern League with a winning mentality would be a gross understatement.
The Premier South new-boys have successive titles under their belt having followed up their Combined Counties League Premier South success in 2023/24, during which they were undefeated, with the Isthmian League Division One South Central crown at the end of last term.
Along the way they have won 67 of their 80 League games, tasting defeat on just four occasions and scoring 250 goals in the process, so plenty for manager, Paul Johnson, to be proud about.
“Last season was the club’s first-ever at Step 4,” he told us. “We went on to have a brilliant season on the back of our invincible campaign previously.
“Once more we were the highest scores in the League, had the best defensive record and accumulated over 100 points, which is testament to the whole squad from front to back.
“To have secured the title by the end of March really is some achievement and I cannot praise my players enough. I am extremely proud by what we have achieved over the past two seasons; as a club we have created noise, but backed it up by having success.
“This club is growing all of the time, on and off the pitch. Our fans have been superb and its great to see the numbers who come to watch us increasing.
“We’re ambitious and determined to continue moving in the right direction. This is a fantastic project to be part of and we’ve already achieved so much together, but the hard work is only just beginning.
“I know quite a bit about the Premier South having watched a lot of games at this level and been around it during my own playing days.
“It’ll be my first experience of managing at this level and I am expecting a big test, much bigger than anything we’ve had so far on this journey.
“We’ll need to be faster, stronger and show quality in both boxes. We’re building an excellent squad that can compete and that’s always my target going into every new season, regardless of the level.”
Having enjoyed a long career in the non-League game as a player, Johnson took his first steps into management as player-manager at Bedfont Sports.
Guiding them from Step 6 to Step 4 in a short space of time before relocating to live in Alton, Hampshire, which led him to Farnham Town and he hasn’t looked back since.
“It was perfect timing,” he continued. “I moved down to Alton at the same time as Farnham Town were looking for a new regime to take the club forward.
“It’s been a crazy and successful two and-a-half seasons since then and now I can’t wait to see what 2025/26 holds in store.
“My philosophy as a manager is ball retention, but not for the sake of it. Pressing forward and ultimately letting the talented players go and express themselves.
“I believe that sometimes you can over-manage situations and as a former player myself, I know that good players have an instinct which you should not restrict.”
With 210 points accumulated over the past two seasons, we’re looking forward to having Farnham Town as part of the Pitching In Southern League Premier South for the mouth-watering campaign ahead.
We’ll be getting to know more of our new teams over the days and weeks ahead as we begin our countdown to the start of the 2025/26 season.
IMAGES: Farnham Town FC
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