'I'm pleased at milestone'

WHYTELEAFE CHAIRMAN HAPPY CLUB HAS RETURNED TO LEVEL OF ORIGINAL SIDE WHEN THEY FOLDED IN 2021

- By KAYLEE SECKINGTON

KELLY WATERS insists he won't take the Isthmian League South East Division lightly - but admits he is already planning for AFC Whyteleafe to get out of it with another promotion.

The Church Road-based club have enjoyed four promotions in the past four seasons and are now preparing for their first season at Step 4.

It is a full-circle moment for everyone involved in the phoenix club, as they have now reached the level the original Whyteleafe FC were playing at when they folded in July 2021.

"That's the biggest milestone of all," AFC Whyteleafe chairman Waters said. "We've gone up four levels in four years after starting from scratch. I'm really, really, delighted with that achievement.

"Just hitting that milestone, I remember talking to fans about hopefully getting there one day when we were Step 8 playing in the park and there were no changing rooms and no toilets for spectators - it was very rough and ready.