Captain Reece Butler says Chatham’s success in reaching the FA Cup first round is a reward for their hard work.

Chats are through to round one for the first time in 97 years after winning 3-1 at National League South Tonbridge Angels last weekend.

They trailed their higher-league opponents at half-time but Tope Fadahunsi, Stanley Oldfield’s penalty and an injury-time Adam Leathers strike turned the tie their way.

Isthmian Premier Chats have been drawn away to Step 2 opposition again in round one, with Kevin Hake’s men off to National League North Buxton next month.

And long-serving centre-back Butler, who was made captain this season after Jack Evans’ departure, is delighted to be part of a Chats side who have made history.

“To go 1-0 down and then bounce back like that, it’s outstanding,” said Butler.

“The boys worked hard. We work hard all week, week in, week out, and it pays off at times like this.

“These are a great group of lads. To a man, they were outstanding.

“It’s a great club to be a part of.

“I’ve been here the best part of 10 years now and that’s the first time I’ve ever been in the first round proper.

“It’s outstanding but you can’t do it without the other boys. I haven’t got a bad word to say about any of them.

“They work hard and now we get our rewards.”

Chatham are in scintillating form, winning 10 successive games in all competitions, including the penalty shoot-out success against Needham Market in the FA Trophy.

They switched to full-time training over the summer with the intention of reaching National League South.

They’re second in the Isthmian Premier, four points behind leaders Brentwood with two games in hand, after Butler’s late goal earned a 1-0 win at Cray Valley on Tuesday night.

But the FA Cup first round has long been a target for manager Hake and they’ve finally done it.

“I think he’s always wanted to do it,” said Butler.

“He’s never managed in it, the boys haven’t played in it, so it was definitely an objective and we’ve reached it, so we’re happy.”

It’s a very different Chatham these days to the one Butler joined as a teenager on loan from Maidstone.

He’s been through the lows of relegation to Southern Counties East to the highs of back-to-back promotions and ever-increasing crowds, with Chats now one of the best-supported non-league clubs in Kent.

They averaged almost 1,500 at home last season.

“I was only 17 when I first came here but I just wanted to play football,” said Butler.

“I came on loan from Maidstone and just stayed.

“I only live a stone’s throw away from the ground.

“I remember years and years ago when I first joined, there were only about 80 fans coming to each game, and now we take 200 or 300 away from home.”

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