Jacob Russell has been praised for the growth he made in Faversham’s title-winning season by chairman Gary Smart.

No.1 Russell was a key cog in the Lilywhites’ Southern Counties East League Premier Division triumph this season.

While the 23-year-old suffered a setback as he sustained facial injuries, including a broken nose, in January’s 8-1 home thumping of Lydd, he then returned to work alongside goalkeeping coach Terry Sedge and maintained 11 clean sheets in their last 14 fixtures.

Smart said: “He’s really grown.

"We sort of noticed in the 2023/24 season that he was quite quiet in the box. Terry’s done a great job with him. He’s got him talking.

“He communicates with the back four very well. He had that injury, which you always worry about, ‘Is he going to come back with a bit of fear?’. But he’s come back stronger.

“I think in the Rusthall game (a season-ending goalless draw), he had some pretty decent sort of, I’d say 60-40 saves that he made in front of a striker’s feet, so it proves he’s not worried about that anymore.

"What a talent he is at that age.

“We’re looking forward to him continuing to develop over the coming years. He’s on a contract for next year so he’s definitely with us.

“He’s a young keeper that could be a bit of a superstar.

“So, we’re looking forward to seeing him progress.”

Another to play a crucial role in the Lilywhites title triumph was utility player Matt Newman.

While the experienced Folkestone fans’ favourites gets flak from some due to working with Smart in his day job, he showed his worth on the pitch, scoring crucial goals at Larkfield & New Hythe and Tunbridge Wells in the run-in.

“Some say that, because he works for me, he gets picked for the team,” admitted Smart. “But that’s done on merit. He’s a great player.

“He’s been around the block for many years at higher levels. He wanted to try and help me out in a way and see if he could help in the SCEFL Premier League.

"He’s been absolutely amazing.

“In fact, I think, when we had our little chats, he was probably half of the board’s picks as player-of-the-season. He’s chipped in with some decent goals.

“He’s been a proper man on the pitch, very much a leader, and he’s a football boy, as well. I’m happy for him.

“He’s got a smile on his face because he’s done what he wanted to do.

“He had only won one title before and that was at Folkestone many years ago.

“A lot of the boys have never won a league so, it doesn’t matter what level it is, it’s just still an achievement.

“When you’ve played 38 games and you’ve won by seven points, I think you deserve it.”

While Russell and Newman largely impressed at the other end of the pitch, Tashi-Jay Kwayie led the club’s scoring charts with 27 goals.

The forward, who works as a model, got the bulk of his goals in the first half of their campaign - adding just five to his tally in 2025 - as work and then injury derailed his own season run-in to an extent.

“Tashy’s a good lad,” said Smart. “Unfortunately, he works away a lot.

“He went to Australia for nearly four weeks, which put him back a bit because he was flying in the top goalscorer league. He came back and rolled his ankle so he didn’t have a very good end to the season.

“But he’s another talented boy that’s done it up the levels, as well.

“So hopefully, he’s not away too much next year.”

Former Faversham midfielder Billy Bingham has been named as Isthmian Premier Welling's new assistant manager under Lee Martin.