IT MIGHT only be halfway through the season but being 10 points clear of your nearest rival at the top of table would have many dreaming of promotion glory, but not Sholing FC.
The Southampton club are 11 games unbeaten and occupy first place in the Southern League Division One table.
Following a seventh-place finish last season – narrowly missing out on the playoffs – Sholing have so far bettered themselves this season with only three league losses to their name.
But as long serving manager, Dave Diaper, insists: “We’re not getting carried away.”
Diaper told The Echo: “It’s been a disjointed season.
“We’ve had a lot of games cancelled because of the bad weather and we haven’t had much continuity.
“We’re eager to play and not looking too far into the future as there’s still a lot of points to win between now and the end of the season.”
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Since taking over The Boatmen in 1999, Diaper has enjoyed Wembley success, winning the FA Vase in 2014 and overseeing multiple promotions.
Though promotion this season would see Sholing take another step up the football pyramid, Diaper’s FA Vase triumph is an achievement unlikely to be matched.
He said: “The FA Vase is the biggest achievement.
“It’s hard to rival, for any manager to lift a trophy at Wembley is special.”
Though Diaper is happy to reminisce about past success, he’s even happier staying in the moment.
“It’s important to stay focused”, he says.
“Right now, we’re top of the league and quite enjoying looking down on everyone else!
“But it’s something we have to maintain as it’s no given for any team.”
Next up for Sholing is an away fixture against 18th place Lymington Town.
Offering some thoughts on the upcoming match, Diaper said: “It will be a tough game and we’ve already lost to them this season, so we’ll have to be careful.
“They nearly caught Totton out a few weeks ago (eventually losing 3-1) and they’ve improved their squad so it will be a tough game, for sure.”
Signing off with a message to the fans, Diaper said: “Keep turning up and supporting us, we need your support.”
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