Chatham Town are preparing for their first season in the Isthmian Premier Division after back-to-back promotions, and Championships, in recent years with manager Kevin Hake proud of what they’ve achieved.

And for Chairman and manager, Kevin Hake, there won’t be a prouder man at the Bauvill Stadium on Saturday when his side take to the field hosting Bognor Regis Town on the Isthmian League’s opening day. 

In an exclusive interview with KSN, we spoke to Hake about his tenure at the club he himself played for and over the next couple of days we hope to learn more about the man who has inspired the Chats to achieving what some would have called impossible dreams a few short years ago. 

Last season saw the Chats hold off Ramsgate to win the Isthmian South East title as well as reaching their first Kent Cup Final in many years.

“It really is slowly sinking in what we actually achieved last year!” Hake admitted.

“To go back-to-back is a great achievement and it’s one that we are immensely proud of, and we really are relishing the challenge moving forward. It’s only when your managerial career is said and done that, I may look back on the last two years, but I’m the sort of person who looks forward.”

“Sometimes that means that you don’t enjoy the moment quite as much as you should, but I’m already looking forward to our next goal rather than what we have already achieved.”

“When I’m older and greyer, maybe I will look back and say, “we didn’t do too bad did we?” I can take the credit for what we’ve done here, but it is down to the terrific team on and off the field and the wonderful people who are involved in the Club.”

“It’s not just me, we have a great team; the success that we’ve put into the local community is equal to anything we’ve done on the pitch.”

“For me, success here is defined in so many different ways and the reach that we’ve got out into the community to affect people’s lives in the positive manner that we have is as important to the success that we’ve had on the pitch.” 

During last season, Gillingham Women’s team needed a home, and they found one courtesy of Hake and the Bauvill.

“The ladies reached out to me last season,” he told us, “I still find it remarkable that a Tier Three team in English football, whether it be men or women can just be “allowed” to go to the wall, and it certainly wasn’t going to happen under my watch, which is why we did everything we could to save them, and thankfully that’s what happened.”

“They’re underneath the Chatham Town umbrella now and as a result of that we’ve got six young girls teams now, a girls academy for the first time and we’ve had the support of them at our screenings of the Lionesses’ at the World Cup which has been remarkable and I’m just happy that we can give the same opportunities to girls as the boys have had for generations.”

Manager or Chairman, but few can or want both jobs at the same time.

“I never thought in my wildest dreams I’d be sitting here talking to you in the position. I played for the Club, my Dad was manager of the club and if I’m being honest, I’m just continuing the good work he started nearly thirty years ago, I think it’s twenty-seven, and my brother Gary is also involved in the Club.” said Hake.

“I get tremendous support from my Mum and family as Chatham is a club that is in our heart, but I’m just continuing Dad’s good work and hopefully trying to create some sort of legacy here.” 

“I never pictured myself managing the side, I thought those days were well gone,” Hake admitted.

“I’ve done some stints at Sheppey, and I thought that was it. But needs must and when Scott (Lindsey) was offered the assistant manager’s job at Swindon ten days before the start of the season, it was a question of what to do?”

“We had a fantastic back-room team there and so it was just a case of “let’s go for it” and it was after we got promoted out of SCEFL, the back-room boys said, “we’ve got to do another year”.

“We did another year, and we won the League! To have a crack at getting anywhere near three promotions on the bounce would be unbelievable, but it’s a great Club and the legacy is there now, and it will continue forward whoever becomes the custodian – the Club is now in a sustainable position and that’s something that we’re all immensely proud of.” 

Tomorrow we continue our chat and focus on Saturday’s big kick off against Bognor Regis Town.