Faversham Strike Force have passed a huge milestone after achieving charity status.

Club manager Gary Axford described it as “arguably the biggest milestone since we were established in 1999”.

The club say gaining charitable status will “make a huge difference to the club’s finances and formalises its responsibility to provide football services to young people that will improve their lives.”

The accreditation by the Charity Commission recognises the social benefit it has provided to the people of Faversham – with more than 450 players currently on its books, from four-year-olds up to the adult first teams.

It will also open up new sources of funding available only to charities and will allow the club to be able to claim Gift Aid, worth thousands of pounds a year on all donations, providing additional money for facilities, kit and equipment.

A new board of trustees, supported by an executive committee, will oversee the running of the club with a commitment to secure its future for Faversham.

Mr Axford said: “Strike Force has always felt at the heart of the community in Faversham.

“Now we have this charitable status, it is our duty to do everything we can to make sure the youngsters we work with are healthy, can advance in life and mature into responsible adults.

“That is not a responsibility we take lightly but we take it with pride, and will do everything possible to make sure that duty is met.

“With the financial and structural direction of the club now secure, it means we can look forward to a long and exciting future for many years to come. I can’t wait to see all our players back on the pitch and enjoying the game when it is safe to do so.”

Anyone who would like more information or to express an interest in signing up can make contact by emailing info@favershamstrikeforce.co.uk

Read about the club's new groundshare deal here