New Faversham signing Frannie Collin has revealed how close he came to playing for the Lilywhites in their failed play-off bid.
The vastly-experienced Collin agreed to join the ambitious Southern Counties East Premier Division side from Hythe this week alongside striker Johan Caney-Bryan.
Having finished as runners-up to champions Deal, Faversham suffered Play-off Semi-Final shoot-out heartache at home to Corinthian in April.
Collin had agreed to link up with Town boss Tommy Warrilow’s team for the season run-in on a dual-registration basis but, ultimately, wasn’t fit enough to feature.
“I was probably going to play,” he said. “They asked me to play because Sam Hasler was suspended for the play-offs.
“But unfortunately, I had a back problem and their squad was a big enough squad in the end anyway.
“I went and trained the week before their last league game (a 2-0 victory at Punjab United). I think the aim was to probably try and get an hour in that last league game but it wasn’t meant to be.
“With the shoot-out and everything, unfortunately, it didn’t work out for them last year - but it’s a club that’s ambitious and, hopefully, we can get promotion.”
Collin and Warrilow have always remained close, the duo previously having worked together at Ashford and Tonbridge, where Collin scored 29 goals to claim the National League South golden boot in 2013.
He said: “I speak to Tom regularly.
"The same with Obz (Alex O’Brien) - his No.2 - I speak to them nigh-on weekly, even when I was at Hythe. We always talk football and try to catch up for a beer.
“When I left Hythe, having worked with him at a few clubs, it was a no-brainer for me.”
Now 37, Collin no longer regularly plays up front but, instead, controls things from midfield these days.
Collin, who has signed on solely as a player after a player-coach stint with Hythe, said: “Me and Tom had a good chat about it.
“He was looking for somebody to play that defensive midfield role. That’s where I have been playing at Hythe, so that will be my priority there.
“If needed, I can go into forward areas. But I did it last season - and that’s a young man’s game, with the amount of running involved!”
The big-spending Lilywhites have made little secret of their desire for promotion and their ultimate aim to go through the leagues.
While that proved more of a test than some expected for Faversham’s star-studded side, Collin knows the Lilywhites’ main goal will remain the same for 2024/25.
“It will be my first time playing in this league,” he noted. “I know it’s a competitive league.
“In SCEFL, there’s always clubs desperately trying to get into the Isthmian League.
“Teams see playing Faversham as a bit of a scalp, so it’s not going to be easy.
“But with the squad we have got and the boys we have coming in, promotion has to be the aim.”
Plenty has been spent on the Lilywhites’ playing squad in recent years but no expense has been spared on aspects around the club, either, with a new 3G pitch installed at Salters Lane last summer.
Collin noted: “Obviously, I spoke to Tom and Obz about joining the club. But we only spoke about the football side of things.
“I went there on Sunday and met the vice-chairman (Marc Leader) and some of the board.
“They gave me an overview of what they want to do in the community and how they’re building the crowds.
“Lots of clubs throw money at the playing side of things and that’s all they’re interested in.
“But they’re definitely trying to grow from a community point of view, as well.”
Also linking up with Warrilow at Faversham for their 2024/25 promotion push is 18-goal Caney-Bryan, who impressed in a two-season stay with the Cannons.
Collin said: “Tom was looking for a centre-forward and Johan is someone who did well at Hythe in the last couple of years.
“It’s probably the first two years he has been playing as an out-and-out No.9.
“There will not be a centre-half that says they have enjoyed coming up against him in the last couple of years, regardless of whether he scored or not.
“Dropping down a league, hopefully, he can get a lot of goals this season.
“There’s plenty of goals between him and Tashi-Jay Kwayie, who I already knew, on top of the other boys that are already at the club.”
