IT HAS been mostly a disappointing season for senior football teams in News Shopper land with one exception.

VCD Athletic can rightly take the Team of the season' award after they appeared in two cup finals, won the Kent Senior Trophy, reached the last 16 of the FA Vase and finished in the Kent League top six for the seventh consecutive year.

Boss Martin Ford has pulled the strings of a remarkable season with no budget and he can be rightly proud of his men despite losing 4-0 in the Kent League Cup final to Maidstone.

He said: "After we had been smashed by Maidstone I was annoyed but only for a few seconds.

"Then I realised another 14 Kent League managers and many more across non-league football would swap places with me.

"We were truly awful against Maidstone but how can you take away what my players have achieved for zero pence?"

He added: "What we have achieved is a minor miracle."

Perhaps most impressive was the run in the FA Vase where VCD beat Oakwood, Saltdean, Cove, Colliers Wood, Arundel and Broxbourne to set up a fifth round match at favourites Cammell Laird.

A 1-0 reverse shattered the dream but VCD Athletic had done enough to earn praise from across the football community.

Heartache was replaced with celebration when Ford's men won the Kent Senior Trophy after a nail-biting penalty shoot-out against Tunbridge Wells.

Keeper Grant Wallis was the hero saving three spot-kicks.

Ford points to the club's financial management as the springboard from which undoubted success has come.

He said: "There are a lot of chairmen trying to work out how much is needed to win the Kent League.

"They all know, after Maidstone's efforts, money can win the title, but are they prepared to sacrifice their club in the hope managers can get it right for a season?

"At VCD we go about business in the right way, we will never put our club in any financial difficulties for the sake of a quick fix."

He added: "We are building for the future. I've never managed with a budget so I suppose I am one of a rare breed but to be honest, do I want all the added pressure?

"Don't get me wrong, all of us at VCD want to be playing at a higher level but when it will happen I do not know.

"What I do know is, whoever finishes above VCD next season will have a great chance of winning the title.

"You will be thinking "old big head is at it again" but would you bet against us?"

Ford has every right to be buoyant as VCD are returning to their Oakwood roots next season.

He said: "The ground is looking a picture and will be ready in plenty of time for the start of the season, so all in all how can I be down after the Maidstone game?"