It's official. Hashtag United will play in the Isthmian League Premier Division next season after they secured promotion with a convincing 6-0 win over Great Wakering Rovers.
Jay Devereux's side secured their place in the seventh tier of English football on Saturday afternoon thanks to goals from Alex Teniola, Pedro Carvalho, Greg Halford, Alex Teniola, Jermaine Francis and Max Cornhill.
The Tags, who recently went on a 21-game winning streak in the Isthmian League North, have been on a remarkable journey of late.
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Founded in 2016 by YouTube content creator Spencer Owen, the club was initially set up as a group of friends playing a charity match to honour a childhood friend.
Soon, the likes of Faisal 'Manjdog' Manji, Dan Brown and Ryan Adams would play in friendlies and exhibition matches across the UK and beyond, with highlights from those games being broadcast on YouTube to millions.
Spencer, his brother Seb and others involved with the club then decided to move Hashtag into the world of non-league football in 2018.
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And now, with three promotions in the bank, the Hashtag men's team will soon play in the Isthmian League Premier League division with a side featuring former Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Sunderland defender Greg Halford.
They also have former Chesterfield and Yeovil centre-back Nathan Smith in their ranks, a player who won two caps for Jamaica, as well as highly-rated forward Jermaine Francis.
To put their rise into perspective, the club will be one division behind Scunthorpe United in the football pyramid next season – a club that were playing Championship football in 2010.
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When asked about their recent success, manager Jay Devereux opened up on their strengths.
"A little bit of everything," he told the BBC. "We've got depth and character, we pride ourselves on how hard we work and it's just that mentality of 'next man up'.
"There have been changes within the last few months - changes that are forced or you make changes - and there's no way we'd have won the amount of games we've won with the same XI, it's impossible.
"That 'next man up' mentality, that togetherness, that spirit, everybody being in it together - that is what's made us do OK."
As well as their men's team, Hashtag have a women's team who compete in the FA Women's National League, as well as over 40 youth teams playing at Forest Glade FC.
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We can't wait to watch them compete in the seventh tier next season.
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/spenfc - Twitter/@hashtagutdTopics: YouTube, Non-League, EFL Championship
