FAN FILE | STUART HAIGH SHOLING

We get the supporters’ view of the 2024/25 season

NAME: Stuart Haigh

AGE: 46

CLUB: Sholing

HOW LONG HAVE YOU SUPPORTED YOUR CLUB AND HOW DID YOUR SUPPORT FIRST BEGIN? Five years now, caused mainly by lockdown and me falling out of interest with the professional game, which is driven by greed. Went to a game, absolutely loved it, went back, got a season ticket, got to know people and have made friends for life! I volunteered last season doing the turnstile and now I jointly run our supporters club which was only formed in September 2024!

HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS THE 2024/25 SEASON FOR YOUR CLUB? Only our second season at Step 3, highest-ever finish with more points than last season shows real progress on the pitch and massive improvements off it as well.

WHO WAS YOUR CLUB’S BEST PLAYER IN 2024/25 AND WHY? Michael Folivi will always get the plaudits and rightly so, he’s been sensational scoring 21 goals in 21 games, including an amazing bicycle kick in the final game of the season. For me personally, though, I would give it to Joe Rabbetts, an attacking full back, solid defender, lots of pace and not afraid to take players on.

WHO WERE THE BEST OPPOSING TEAM IN 2024/25? There were no easy games in this league, even Marlow who were rooted to the bottom for the majority of the season gave us two competitive games, which we only won by one goal in each. Best team has to be Merthyr Town, well organised, plenty of attacking firepower and thoroughly deserved to win the title. I was also impressed with Walton & Hersham.

WHO WAS THE BEST OPPOSING PLAYER IN 2024/25? Not very good with names of opposition teams players but I like Ryan Seager at Havant & Waterlooville. There were also a couple at Walton & Hersham who really stood out.

FAVOURITE AWAY GROUND AND WHY? This is a hard one, I’ve been to every away game bar one this season and I’ve enjoyed most grounds we’ve been to. Gloucester City and Havant & Waterlooville stood out for me, nice grounds with decent facilities. For me, though, best away day and a local derby was Winchester City, decent pub crawl, we won 2-0 and a great time was had by all! Sad to see them get relegated.

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN 2024/25? 5-1 against Havant & Waterlooville at home was special and Michael Folivi scoring four on his debut away at Bracknell Town!

HOPES FOR 2025/26? To build on what we have achieved so far in our two seasons at this level, hopefully a play-off spot but that’s me dreaming! Everything seems to be building in a positive direction, new 3G facility is going in during the summer which I believe will provide extra revenue opportunities and a great opportunity to push on. I also hope that the supporters club grows even further and we really build from an excellent first season.

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