Welcome to Through the Turnstile, this series of features are intended to shine the light on some of non-leagues leading stars. This time we are venturing through the turnstile looking at Fisher FC a club which has many things going for it, all of which I think you’ll find enticing!

A brief history of the Club

The club was established in 2009 by members of the Fisher Supporters Trust when Fisher Athletic was wound up in the High Court due to financial problems and closed down.The working name AFC Fisher was initially used,before the current name was settled on. The new club was accepted into the Kent League for the 2009–10 season,and were unanimously elected into the Premier Division at the league’s AGM in June 2009.Former Fisher Athletic assistant manager Gary Lisney was appointed manager on 26 June.

Fisher finished bottom of the Kent League in 2010–11, but were not relegated.In 2013 the league was renamed the Southern Counties East League, and when the Kent Invicta League became its Division One in 2016, Fisher became members of the Premier Division. They finished second-from-bottom of the Premier Division in 2016–17 and were relegated to Division One. However, under manager Dean Harrison, a third-place finish in Division One the following season was good enough to earn promotion and an immediate return to the Premier Division for the 2018–19 season.

Harrison resigned in May 2019 and during the close season former Ilford manager Allan Fenn was appointed in his place. However, Fenn resigned in October 2019 and was replaced by Ajay Ashanike. Ashanike departed in December 2023 and was replaced by Michael Williams who had been a coach throughout Ashanike’s tenure. However, Ashanike has now returned as manager in February 2024 and the club is now looking to build an attack on the top from next season.

(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisher_F.C.)

Want to find out a little more about the club, here is a short video to tell you just that!

Club legends (as told by 1st team Manager – Ajay)

Luke Thomas (Defender) – Luke has been at the club for years, club captain and also holds the most appearances for Fisher Fc since the club reformed.

Jim Maycock (aka. Mr Fisher) – In my 4 years at the club Jim never missed a game home or away even cant remember when he wasnt at training Offering lifts to players, helping with the kits, sponsorship and so much more

Kit

2023/2024 Fisher FC Home Kit

£35 Replica Kit – Available as part of a club bulk order only

(Contact fisherfcmedia@gmail.com if you are interested in purchasing one)

Stadium info

• St Paul’s Sports Ground (SE16 5EF)
• Capacity – 1000 (150 💺)
• Number of stands – 2
• Artificial Grass

Entry Price

Matchday Tickets
£5 – Adult
£3 – Oap / concession / 6-16 year olds
Aged 5 and under – Free

Season ticket prices

Keep your eyes peeled as next years season ticket prices are due to be announced soon!

Matchday Programme
£2 printed or free online.

Stadium Shop

The stadium merchandise can be found inside the stadium laid out magnificiently as shown below. I find the authentic non-league experience of the club shop table really heart warming and I absolutely love the throwback and old-school approach to it. I personally think the merchandise looks amazing, and I am personally partial to the beanie!

Don’t see something you like?

Well you can head to the online shop which offers a wider range of merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies and gifts with a range of club designs that are all made to order.

https://fisher-fc.myspreadshop.co.uk/

Itssssss pin badge corner !

Fisher Fc have their own pin badge on offer (as shown below) the pin is a must have for the collection and if nothing else just remember that every little helps for non-league clubs!

Price – £3.50

Special mention

A special mention must be made for this… a quite special and unique view of the London skyline from inside the ground, it really does make you want to go and see a match here under the floodlights. It has been highlighted in many other blogs and matchday features but I simply had to mention this as i feel it is an iconic view and many of you reading this might fancy checking it out for yourself!

Something else which I think is deserved of a mention is the matchday posters which Fisher FC produce and use during the season. These are all created by Paul “Deano” Robinson and a few examples of these can be found below, I think it just adds into the whole ehtos of the club that they are doing something a little bit different and in my eyes the posters certainly make the club stand out from the crowd of mundane and run of the mill matchday promotional posters.

Drinks

Come and get your drinks ladies and gents!

Something a little different is on offer from Fisher FC, the club show their support to the local community through their the clubhouses offering, ‘The Fisherman’s Rest’. The clubhouse stocks locally produced Lagers, Ales and Ciders from Breweries including Anspach & Hobday, Gipsy Hill and Against The Grain. These are currently all priced at £3.50 per 500ml can. Hot and Soft drinks are also available, all priced at £1.

The offering of local produced products is a stroke of genius and I think is a real positive in both its offering to its fans and the support of the community in which they play. I feel as if this can only serve them well and in my eyes is a great testament to everyone at the club.

Food

Just past the clubhouse, in the players Car Park, you’ll find the resident Burger Van which sells a range of hot food, including the now famous “Sharpie”, a triple burger with cheese and onion rings, priced at £7. Vegetarian and Kids options are also available.

Below you can see a “Sharpe” in all its glory and i hope most of you agree that it is a thing of beauty. It certainly starts the mouth salivating at the thought of biting into one!

The Fab 4 – League Tables

Now lets all gather round and see how all of that information above stacks up against other offerings in the league, it is worth mentioning that the prices of both the lager and cider are cans and therefore slightly smaller than a pint.

^ Pint of Madri & Pint of Cold Water Cider (due to Moretti and Strongbow not being available)
* Price of Carling (Birra Moretti not available)
” Price of Orchard View (Strongbow not available)
+ Price of Aspalls (Storngbow not available)
‘ Price of local brewers cans (Other drinks not offered inside ground)

As you can see the matchday prices on offer from Fisher FC are incredible value for money, especially considering they are a London based team. The drinks are extremely well priced and even more so if you are someone who enjoys local produce or someone who likes a hot brew. At just £1 f0r a cup of tea the club have taken the lead from Chatham Town who have held that position since week 1 !

All in all, the overall offering is exceptional and should only help entice more people through the turnstile to sample the many different options on offer.

Top Current players (as told by Former Chairman Ben Westmancott)

Tyron Mbuenimo, Charles Yiadom-Konadu and Billy Brown

Charles: Sophisticated, skilful, classy

Billy: Unstoppable, unrelenting, always 110%

Tyron: Commanding, solid, keeps it tight at the back

Views from the Staff

Q) How does it feel to be the manager of such an inspirational club for so many?
Honestly the feeling of leading this massive club every week is something i cant explain. I remember days leading to my first day at the club, i wasnt too sure because I was at tower hamlets fc at the time but as soon as i walked into st Paul’s I knew this was a place i could call home. The fan base and people who works within the club are the best people you could meet

Q) What is the thing, as a manager, you are most proud of to date?
I believe getting into a cup final with this special club will be up there for me. To be the 1st manager to get into a cup final since the club reformed is something im proud of but we have had some good days and great moments with players moving on to do better things in the game such as Jamie Yila, Ade Oluwo and many more

Q) What is the main challenge in managing a team in non-league?
Biggest challenge will have to be the commitment of the players. Lets remember the players does have full time jobs outside football and to try to work out training and games around your normal life isnt something easy. I remember we was playing Welling United in a replay, in the morning we had to go into work then rush out to the game, whereas Welling united was preparing for the game from the morning, focusing on how they could beat us which they did.

Q) What were your main aims for both this season and next?
This season was just to build for next season which we already started already. This season i truly believe we could have pushed up the table abit if i didnt leave to challenge myself in step 4. Now im back my main focus is to build this squad again and ready for next season

Q) What would you say to someone considering a visit to watch a game?
With fisher you never know what you will get which is the fun part. Going into work each day and not knowing the challenge ahead is part of our job so with the boys at Fisher is the same

The club is pushing in the right direction and we need more of you guys on our side each game

Q) How long have you volunteered at the club for?
I’ve been with the club for just under 11 years

Q) What has kept you as a volunteer for so long?
I love what I do and I love the club

Q) What does Fisher FC mean to you?
To me Fisher is a home away from home, I’ve known most of the people that turn up every week for several years, they have become close friends.

Q) Why should more people volunteer at non-league clubs?
What ever your skill set is, there is something that you’ll be able to do that goes a long way to helping your club and the wider community.

Q) Why should someone come and watch a game?
The atmosphere is friendly, it’s affordable, and most importantly you’ll get an entertaining afternoon out.

Q) Using just 3 words, sum up Fisher FC?
Opportunities, Diversity, Community

Q) What is the single best thing about non-league football?
The unique story of each club

Q) What do the fans mean to you as a club?
As a Supporter Owned Club, our fans are the very foundations of everything the club is.

View from the fans

Q) Favourite player to date?
It has to be Richie Hamill for me. A superb left footed technical central midfielder. Short passing long passing or thundering in free kicks. A real class act on the field. He’s currently Sheppey United captain.

Q) Value for money on a matchday?
Fisher have been value for money since reforming. Setting the standard 8 pounds entry for home games. If you are a member it is also a pound cheaper. Being fan owned I think they have the community in mind when setting prices. They have not moved I believe in five/six seasons.

Q) Why should people come to watch your club?
People are grateful for this in the current financial climate where every penny counts.

Other clubs in the Scefl could do with taking a leaf out of fishers book regarding admission prices.

People should come to Fisher to see the next generation coming off of the conveyor belt.

Staff and volunteers are also friendly and welcoming. Making a stop off at St Paul’s essential!!

Future plans as told by Fisher FC Board

Q) What does success look like this season and then the next?
Progress, building and improving each season on the pitch, and steadily improving attendances and Membership numbers. For us, continuing to grow the club in a sustainable way is very much at the forefront of our thinking. We are always keen to welcome new volunteers to help out on Match Day, and give our supporters the best Match Day Experience possible.

With no playing budget, we are blessed to have Ajay Ashanike in charge of the team, and with a talented, young Coaching Team they have built a reputation for finding and nurturing talented young players and developing them so they can move up the pyramid. Ade Oluwo (currently at Barnet) and Jamie Yila (now with Chatham Town) are perhaps the best examples of players who have moved up after time with us. Our ground is managed Day to Day by Millwall Community Trust and we continue to work closely with them on various projects, which also includes our Youth Section which continues to go from strength to strength, with new teams joining or being created each year.

Every year, we host a Community Day at one of our most high profile fixtures, where we show our support to local charities and organisations. In previous years we have combined this with a sponsored walk, and this year our Community Day fixture was supported by a crowd of 398, which is a great testament to the hard work put in by John Green, our Community Engagement Officer.


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So that brings us to the end yet another ‘Through the Turnstile’.

Fisher FC is a club like none of the others we have so far covered as part of this series. The club oozes family and the whole setup is one that has clearly been very well thought out and with the fans in mind. The offerings both inside the stadium and also outside through their website and social media posts just points to a club that has seriously thought about every aspect of what it is like to be a fan.

It is clearly a system that works on the pitch too as already there has been success stories of players leaving the club, something which is inevitable in non-league, to move up the ladder to bigger clubs.

I am personally very excited to see what the future brings for Fisher FC and with Ajay back in the dugout for the 2024/25 season, could a charge on the top be on the cards?

We shall let time tell us the answer to that one.