Welcome back to another TTTONLF meets, this time we Simon Baker, when it comes to dedication, few supporters can match Simon. A loyal Chatham Town fan, he’s clocked up an incredible nearly 200 matches in 2025 alone — following the men’s first team, the women’s side, and the academy with equal passion. From home games to away trips, Simon has become a familiar face on the terraces, living and breathing everything about the Chats. I sat down with him to find out what fuels his commitment, the moments that stand out, and what following the club so closely truly means to him.

---

---

Simon, you’ve managed to watch over 200 Chatham Town games this year alone — what drives you to keep coming back, no matter which team is playing?

The most obvious reason is that the ground is on my doorstep, but for me the most important aspect of football is the social one, so being with my peer group is key. I think this has become more important as I have become older - that sense of belonging to something outside of your normal everyday life. My Chats family is my second family.

Out of all those matches, which one stands out as the most memorable, and why?

I would have said the most memorable match in the last year was the game against Ramsgate recently. It was a cracking game of football for a start, but also a really good atmosphere in the ground, with a large number of visiting supporters adding the excitement. I noticed Fusion Josh covered the game on his YouTube channel and the club came over really well.

You’ve been to women’s, academy, and first team fixtures — how does the atmosphere or style of play differ between them?

They’re all obviously completely different beasts, but all enjoyable in their own way. Perhaps the crowd are a little more invested in the men’s first team, and that obviously represents the pinnacle. But I have to say I’ve really enjoyed following the women’s team home and away, particularly last season when they won a Cup treble. I got a little frustrated that they weren’t getting the support they deserved, which is why I’ve got involved in producing content for their social media this season. Being retired now means I also have the opportunity to watch academy games during the day, and there are a small group of us who do this, together with parents etc.

Have you noticed certain players really developing because you’ve watched them so closely throughout the year?

The obvious example of this is Sam Sene-Richardson. It’s easy to forget that he’s only 18, because there is such a maturity in his game. Before he broke fully into the first team it seemed that SSR would be playing in practically every youth or reserve game I turned up to watch, and he also won young player of the year at Fisher when he was still a 16 year old. As a result of regularly playing men’s football you could see he developed physically as well, which meant he could compete at the higher level. You will often see talented players like Sam in youth games, but what sets him apart is his obvious desire and motivation to be the best he can be - that’s the difference between someone who will play at a higher level and someone who ends up as a tracksuit collector at step 5.

What’s the furthest you’ve travelled to follow Chatham, and was the journey worth it?

I think Chichester is the furthest just about, and the first time I went there it was definitely worth it as we won 4-2 as part of the 7 consecutive wins that took us to the 22/23 Isthmian South East title. At the level we are at there is nothing more than about a two hour journey, but obviously if we did go up to Step 2 it there are potentially some much longer journeys involved. It would be interesting to to see how many Chats would take to somewhere like Taunton on a Tuesday night in January!

Following the club so closely, what do you think outsiders don’t quite “get” about Chatham Town?

I’m not sure huge amounts of people are aware we exist to be honest! For many years we were the archetypal lower level non league club, bumping along between the Kent League and Southern League, and I don’t think we have a particularly high profile for that reason. I’m certain most people don’t realise the level of our attendances, and we’ve often surprised host clubs with the numbers of us who travel.

Do you have any personal rituals or traditions when heading to a game?

My rituals are largely about recording the game. The first thing I do when I get into the ground is check in on Futbology, and also post on Facebook. I also update my records spreadsheet live during the game.

What’s the best moment you’ve shared with fellow fans this season?

I think my favourite was the young Hashtag fan who was in a wheelchair that took up residence with the away support during our game at Aveley. The lad had a big beaming smile on his face throughout, and you could see he was absolutely loving the banter with the Chats fans (some of which he was starting!)

If someone new to Chatham Town wanted to relive just one game from this year, which would you recommend?

Probably one of the local derbies - maybe the game against Dartford, as you can guarantee there will be a good crowd and a large number of visiting supporters, which creates a decent atmosphere. Some of the teams we play have very few travelling supporters, which means it’s harder to get a buzz in the ground.

After nearly 200 matches, do you still get that same buzz walking into the ground, or does it feel different now?

I guess it’s more of a routine, so some matches are like that, but then you get bigger games that certainly do have more of a buzz around them. One of the things I actually love about non-league is that it doesn’t take the amount of emotional, financial and time investment that it takes to follow a League side. I can be sitting on my sofa 5 minutes after a game at Chats, and even away games I’m usually home with an hour or so.

What does following Chatham Town this closely give you that nothing else in life quite does?

It’s just an alternative existence to real life, where you forget about the stresses and pressures for a while. Ironically they are often replaced with a different set of stresses and pressures, but not the sort that are going to give you sleepless nights!

How does being at so many matches affect your day-to-day life and mood?

I have the advantage of being retired, which means there are no worries about getting up for work these days, but when I was still working going to football definitely helped as a stress reliever. Although I do go to a lot of games, football very much plays second fiddle to family life, and I will happily miss games for family events and holidays. Unlike the legendary Ever Present Patrick, I will never have a long consecutive run of games, as at some point I will be sitting on a Canarian beach rather than standing in the rain at Wingate & Finchley.

When you look back at this year, what personal highs or emotions stand out from the 195 games?

I very much enjoyed the win at Dover in March, not only because they went on to get promoted, but the manner in which we did a job on them that night. It wasn’t exactly a pure footballing experience, but the kind of thing that really annoys you when the opposition do it! Watching the women’s team complete a Cup treble was also really enjoyable, especially the Kent Cup Final at Maidstone, when well over half the crowd were Chats fans.

Do you feel a deeper connection to the club because of the sheer time and energy you’ve invested?

I suppose I’ve gradually become more ingrained with the club, becoming involved in the women’s social media, and currently working on re-launching the independent supporters club, but I wouldn’t pretend to be on the level of someone like Vice Chairman Barry Adams, who is definitely Mr Chatham, or club secretary Andy Bonneywell, who’s done a brilliant job for many years. I’m just a supporter who happens to go to more games than most.

And finally, how would you describe that feeling when you’re standing there, watching the team you love take to the pitch?

It’s just pure escapism really - you leave behind the stresses and strains of real life for a couple of hours and just immerse yourself in the game. I think it’s really important to have something like this in your life.

⸻

A massive thank you to Simon for his time!

Simon’s story is more than just about numbers or miles travelled — it’s about passion, loyalty, and the joy of being part of something bigger than yourself. His mountain of games reflect not only his dedication to Chatham Town but also the special bond between the club, its players, and the community that follows them. Supporters like Simon remind us that football isn’t just about results on the pitch — it’s about the experiences, the connections, and the pride of standing side by side for the team you love.

⸻

Parks to Pitches (Editions 1-4) – all available now! 

Grab your copy here: https://tttonlf.square.site/