Faversham Town have “taken off” on their return to the Isthmian League and on Tuesday sealed progress in the FA Cup with a comfortable win at Hastings and now manager Tommy Warrilow wants a run in the Trophy.

On Saturday they are back in the Isuzu Trophy for the first time in three seasons and face last season’s surprise package in the competition who just happen to be their fierce local rivals Sittingbourne. 

“We are keeping level headed about everything,” boss Tommy Warrilow told us when we asked his comment about his side flying start to life back in the Isthmian League that sees his side as the early pacesetters.

“We can’t turn round and say that we haven’t enjoyed the start to the season, we’re playing well but we know that there is more to come!” 

“I don’t want to say that we have had a flying start, but we certainly have taken off!” 

“There have been bits in games that haven’t been right, but we are sitting top of the League, we are still in the FA Cup and we’re back in the Trophy on Saturday, so we are delighted.”

“We were in Thursday for a chat and to reflect on everything and make sure that we are concentrating on a very, very tough tie on Saturday! I cannot turn round and say that I am not pleased with the start.” 

“Tuesday in the Cup was a great win at a difficult place to go, but overall we deserved it on the night – we created a lot of chances and it was another good solid performance after we made some changes which didn’t affect the team, but shows the strength in depth that we have.” 

“Saturday is my first game in the competition since I came to Faversham and it’s nice to get back into the Trophy, but we have a very tough away draw. When it was drawn it’s another away game – I know it’s just up the road, but it’s still away and we know that we have a tough game Saturday.” 

“I’ve got to know Ryan (Maxwell, the Sittingbourne boss) over the years; he is a football man, and I get on well with him, and he has done a fantastic job since he’s been there, which is why we know we are in for a tough game.” 

“There are so many Kent derbies in the League this year – we’re not a million miles away from Sittingbourne or even Sheppey, but one thing I would never do is build up any games that are more important than the others as every game of football is important.” 

“But I have a bit of history with Sittingbourne playing for them back in the day and it’s a Club that I have a lot of time for, but my job now is to keep pushing Faversham forward and that’s what we will be aiming to do on Saturday.” 

“When I played for them, times were very different – we played in the big stadium at Central Park, and we were playing in front of two or three thousand people – I think there was five thousand against Gravesend & Northfleet one night!”

“It’s great that the Club is still around and hopefully Maxy has his foot on the ladder to try and get back to where it was and hopefully the Club can get back to where it was on a journey that ended a little bit abruptly!”