Manager-chairman Kevin Hake puts Chatham’s success in reaching the FA Cup first round above recent promotions.

Chats won 3-1 at Tonbridge yesterday to book a place in Monday evening’s first-round draw (from 6.30pm).

The Isthmian Premier club came from a goal down to beat their National League South hosts thanks to Tope Fadahunsi, a Stanley Oldfield penalty and Adam Leathers.

There were joyous scenes at Longmead as Chats celebrated with a large away following behind the goal.

The Medway outfit are through to the first round for the first time in 97 years and go into the hat with the likes of neighbours Gillingham and multiple ex-Premier League sides including Bradford, Cardiff and Bolton.

Chatham are in a golden era, with successive promotions in recent seasons, but the FA Cup trumps that.

“It’s a completely different feeling,” said Hake.

“The club’s not been here for 100 years.

“I think of all those players, including myself, who weren’t successful in getting to the first round, and all the managers.

“But, more importantly, the people behind the scenes, like Barry Adams, who unfortunately couldn’t be here today, but he’s been at the club for 40 years.

“There’s supporters who’ve supported the club for 40, 50, 60 years and to be able to give them that is amazing.

“That’s more important than any promotion.”

Hake has made no secret of his ambition to take Chatham to the first round.

They had to do it the hard way at Longmead after trailing to an early Marcus Sablier goal.

But they responded superbly against their higher-league opponents on a day the club will never forget.

Report: Tonbridge 1-3 Chatham

“It’s unbelievable,” said Hake. “I’m really pleased for the boys.

“To get to the first round, it was one of the things we’ve been aiming for for a few seasons now.

“We’ve seen other clubs do it, Cray Valley, Sheppey and Ramsgate, and I’ve been immensely jealous.

“I said if we didn’t do it under my tenure, it would have been a failure, so I’m really pleased we’ve been able to get Chatham to the first round.

“It’s nothing short of what the town deserves.

“There’s 300,000 people in Medway and there’s not much to be happy about.

“But this hopefully will put smiles on a few faces now.

“You could see how passionate the fans were. They didn’t stop singing all game. It was great to see.

“We’ll have a great moment watching the draw, seeing who we’re going to get, and maybe have a drink.”

Key to the fightback was Fadahunsi’s strike inside a minute of the second half.

The goal rocked Tonbridge and Chatham pushed on, with teenager Oldfield making it 2-1 from the spot before Leathers added an injury-time third following a magnificent solo run from Dapo Olugbodi.

“We told the lads at half-time ‘go out and get a goal and then see how they like it’, said Hake.

“It was fortunate to get the first goal so soon but we said it was going to be a game we didn’t have to win in the first 10/15 minutes.

“The last 20 minutes of the first half, we drew a tremendous amount of strength from, and we took it into the half-time team-talk.

“We felt if we could come out with the same intensity, we’ve got half a chance.

“I fancy ourselves against anyone but it’s a great team and a great set-up here.

“They’ve got a good manager and they’re on a good run, so they’re in a real good momentum, but so are we.

“It’s just pleasing to be able to act out the game plan like we did.”

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