Non-league gives a chance to teams trying to work their way up the football pyramid, and this is the case with Hashtag United, a team only founded in 2016 by a Youtuber.
Hashtag United boss Jay Devereux is “under no illusions” about the challenge his side will face next season after clinching promotion with a game to spare.
The Tags secured the Isthmian League North Division title with a 6-0 victory over Great Wakering, taking them to 97 points from 37 games, with a trip to Basildon United still to come.
In 2010, Scunthorpe United were in the Championship & Hashtag United were just a 6-aside team for a bit of fun.
— Theo (@Thogden) April 16, 2023
Fast forward to 2023 and next season there will only be ONE division splitting the two teams apart…
Mental 🤯 pic.twitter.com/iOwkiTd8eC
Over 850 were in attendance to watch the match against Great Wakering.
Despite the impressive achievement of securing promotion, Devereux praised his team’s effort and dedication throughout the season. He commented, “They are a very special group [of players] – what they’ve achieved this year has left me speechless at times.”
The team’s promotion is a significant milestone for the club, which was set up in 2016 by YouTube celebrity Spencer Owen.
The team had won 21 consecutive games before suffering a 3-1 defeat to Stowmarket Town on 25 March. However, the team bounced back from this setback by winning all four matches in April to seal their promotion.
🏆 WE ARE THE @IsthmianLeague NORTH DIVISION CHAMPIONS! 🏆#UPGOTHETAGS pic.twitter.com/wlAUPYCgOY
— Hashtag United (@hashtagutd) April 15, 2023
The achievement is made even more impressive considering the team’s high standards, as Devereux pointed out: “To hit 97 points and only be champions with one game to go shows how good [AFC] Sudbury have been as well. In any other season, they’d have walked the league really.”
However, despite the convincing scoreline against Great Wakering, Devereux was less than thrilled with his team’s overall performance.
Spanish Alfreton Town fan flies over for stag-do at his favourite club!
He admitted that some of the players may have been feeling the pressure of knowing what was at stake, saying, “I think some of that was edginess around knowing what we needed to do.”
Looking ahead to next season, Devereux acknowledged the task that lies ahead for his team: “We’re under no illusions that it’s going to be a tough season, but we’ve got a good group of players, and we’ll add to that in the summer.”
Additionally, the women’s team is also on track for promotion, with a four-point lead at the top of National League Division One South East with two games remaining. This could potentially lead to a double-promotion celebration for the club.
Overall, Hashtag United has shown a remarkable level of dedication and perseverance throughout the season, and their promotion is a testament to the hard work put in by the players and coaching staff.
FREE PINT for TEN Brackley Town fans after 400-mile round trip to Scarborough
With a solid foundation in place, the club will be looking to build on this success and continue to make waves in the world of non-league football and potentially beyond.
