NEIGHBOURS might be happy to see Michael Murray hitting the road more after Chesham United’s title party lasted well into the night.
The Generals’ joint-boss took the Southern League Premier South championship celebrations back to his house after Monday’s 4-1 win at Harrow Borough wrapped up the crown with four games to spare.
It sees Chesham enter the National League set-up for the first time and return to non-league’s second tier 21 years after dropping out of the Isthmian Premier, prior to the formation of National South.
If that isn’t a good excuse for a knees up, what is?
“It was a big party,” admitted fellow joint-manager James Duncan, below.
“We went to a local pub with the supporters, board and everyone, we were there until closing time and then we went back to Muzza’s house where we carried on through the night.
“I haven’t heard of any complaints from the neighbours, I think they realise it was a one-off – all I’ll say is it was a great time.”
It was a long time coming for the duo who hit the ground running when they arrived from Potters Bar Town in October 2018.
Chesham sat rock bottom, five points from safety having played more matches than most rivals and had just been beaten 7-0 at Beaconsfield Town.
“We had four points from 11 games and when we turned up on the Thursday half the team had walked out,” recalled Duncan.
Experiences
“We knew it would be a tall order to keep us in the division, that was the remit at that point but we knew the potential, that was why we moved from Potters Bar, we knew that with Chesham’s fanbase and resources that it was a sleeping giant.
“It was remarkable that year because someone got relegated on 49 points, staying up was our first big achievement and we have gone from strength to strength ever since.”
It took play-off form to get them out of that hole with a title tussle with Truro City following in the first season that got curtailed by Covid.
After that, they missed out on the play-offs by a point and then got ousted in the semi-final of last season’s shootout by Bracknell Town, losing 1-0 after extra-time.
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