Farnham Sides: The plus side of the Cup

Words: Stuart Tree

Images: Stuart Tree

Two years ago, Farnham Town hosted an FA Cup tie which pitted them against fellow Combined Counties outfit Spelthorne Sports.

It played out in front of just 70 spectators.

Last season, they didn’t even enter the competition – one of ten Step Five sides excluded. On September 16th 2023, Farnham welcomed Chesham United in the FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round with 1,114 in attendance.

Twelve months is a long time in football and ‘Town’ are the most recent example of a club going places. It’s a remarkable achievement considering the catchment area is a rural market town on the borders of Surrey and Hampshire with a population of just 16,500 living in the town centre, where the Memorial Ground is located.

Anticipation was strong for this cup tie, with Paul Johnson’s side equalling the club’s best cup run. Coupled with aggressive marketing, including a mobile advertising van parading the streets, led to the bumper crowd but it’s not an unusual sight to see above average crowds on a Saturday afternoon.

©Stuart Tree/ Terrace Edition/ Farnham Town vs Chesham United.

Eyes on the club has come about in part to the involvement of the Sidemen – seven of the UK’s biggest YouTube stars who have sponsored Farnham Town via their fast food brand ‘Sides’. The vibrant pink away shirt is adorned with their logo and subsequently become the biggest selling piece of merchandise in the club’s history.

They recently filmed a piece on the club which has generated over 12 million views. It was no surprise that the attendance was swelled by excitable youngsters, whom many see the popular YouTubers as idols.

Subsequently, average attendances have increased from double figures to over 500 this season – a figure that many clubs higher up the pyramid would be delighted with.

On this afternoon, Chesham United were the visitors and if unbeaten Farnham were to progress, they’d have to defeat the unbeaten Chesham, who play two levels above their hosts.

A chap in the queue for the uniquely-combo of replica shirts/beer stall commented that Farnham play some great football – but I would wait to see with my own eyes having watched more Combined Counties football than anyone should admit to.

The shed was doing a roaring trade in shirts, arguably outselling the beer. One local woman browsing through the sale rack declaring she’d “not owned a football shirt before.” What better place to start than your local side?

It’s one thing to get punters through the gates but keeping them is another skill. Farnham have invested in infrastructure, ensuring they provide a good matchday experience which will entice more and more to return.

With one end of the ground inaccessible to spectators, there’s also room to expand. With just two and half sides open, the majority took advantage of the grass banking behind the opposite end. Others taking their seats in the new main stand. Many of the kids, whom a large majority pleasingly wearing a Farnham kit, used this area to run around, play with sticks and spiders on the wall.

Clearly they were having a good time even if they weren’t that fussed with the action.

Those that were watching perched themselves atop of the boundary wall akin to vintage photos of young lads finding any vantage point they could for the big match.

Success also comes down to performances on the pitch and whilst it was one bridge too far against their Southern League counterparts, they certainly didn’t disgrace themselves. Chesham took a two-goal lead in the first half and had they pushed for a third, the game would’ve been over before the break.

Farnham ‘had a go’ in the second half and whilst Chesham were able to hold them at bay for the most part, a goal by Town’s Owen Dean with ten minutes left set up a dramatic magic-of-the-cup ending before the game ended 1-2 to the visitors.

The FA Cup proved a tasty side-dish for Farnham.

Stuart is on Twitter: @stuarttree

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