The title race you didn't know about: Recapping a ‘crazy' final day in English football

New York Times

28-04-2025

Saturday April 26, was the final day of the Isthmian Premier League season, the seventh tier of English football.
Going into it, three teams were tied at the top on 84 points. One goal separated the top two on goal difference. Only one team could win the title and earn automatic promotion, leaving the other two to run the gauntlet of the play-offs.
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If you want a healthy slice of jeopardy with your football, this was the place for you.
With title races across Europe's elite struggling for excitement this season, the 24-team Pitching In Isthmian Premier League stands apart. A place in the National League South is at stake and the English Football League suddenly does not feel too far away.
Billericay Town, based in Essex, headed into Saturday's final day as league leaders on 84 points with a +39 goal difference. They were followed by West Sussex's Horsham FC, who had a +38 goal difference; just ahead of Kent's Dartford FC with +31.
Saturday. New Lodge. 3pm.
Our season comes down to one title-deciding game.#BTFC 🔹 pic.twitter.com/Bd6gezkofI
— Billericay Town FC (@BTFC) April 25, 2025
Nick Robinson, the league's chair, told The Athletic: 'This season has been fantastic. It is the closest we've had in all the divisions for many years. We used to have one or two clubs that were out in front. But now, this year in particular, we are really pleased. We've got Billericay, Horsham and Dartford who could all win the championship. It is really exciting.
'It is very rare to have it this close. We (the league's board) normally use April to plan our title presentations and choose the Saturdays to do it!'
According to Robinson, the tight title race has seen attendance at the three teams' stadiums average around 1,600 people in the month of April, and tickets were sold out across the board for Saturday's finale, with all games kicking off at 3pm.
Robinson said league staff went to Billericay's New Lodge stadium and, if results changed proceedings, were prepared to drive down to Dartford's Princes Park stadium to hand the league trophy and winners' medals to the right side. Horsham, however, is 71 miles away from Billericay so they would have to wait for their silverware.
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Freddie Humphry-Wakefield, a Horsham fan who also does live commentaries for the club, said before kick-off against Hashtag United: 'I feel very nervous. It's been a very intense season, and this final day just makes it all the more crazy. So the overall feeling is nervousness and excitement. I think it will be crazy today.'
So did Horsham, who had not been leaders of the division at any point this season, come out on top?
It doesn't take long for the action to begin…
3.11pm – Dartford 0-1 Carshalton — Billericay champions
3.13pm – Billericay 0-1 Cheshunt — Horsham champions
3.13pm – Horsham 0-1 Hashtag United — Billericay champions
3.15pm – Horsham 1-1 Hashtag United — Horsham champions
3.16pm – Billericay 0-2 Cheshunt
3.30pm – Horsham 2-1 Hashtag United
3.44pm – Billericay 1-2 Cheshunt
3:47pm – Dartford 0-2 Carshalton
Half-time: Horsham are champions.
4:12pm – Billericay 2-2 Cheshunt
4.18pm – Billericay 3-2 Cheshunt — Billericay champions
4:19pm – Horsham 3-1 Hashtag — Horsham and Billericay level on goal difference
4.30pm – Horsham 4-1 Hashtag — Horsham champions
4.32pm – Dartford 1-2 Carshalton
4.33pm – Horsham 5-1 Hashtag
4.47pm – Dartford 1- 3 Carshalton
4.58pm – Billericay 4-2 Cheshunt
5.03pm – Dartford 1-4 Carshalton
Horsham's game finishes first. There are 12 minutes of stoppage time at Billericay and then… Horsham are champions!
THE GREATEST DAY OF OUR LIVES!#HorshamFC #WeAreNationalLeague 💛💚 pic.twitter.com/ediI6HMxih
— Horsham F(C) (@HorshamFC) April 26, 2025
Billericay lose the title by just a single goal. They have to settle for second place, with Dartford in third. Both sides now having to quickly turn their attention to preparing for the play-offs next week, against Dover Athletic and Cray Valley Paper Mills as they look to secure their pathway to the National League next season.
'It is incredible, what a way to do it (win the league),' Horsham manager Dominic Di Paola said after the game.'On the final day with a shootout really. It was a great way to win the league.
'We knew that we would have to score at least four or five goals. We knew there was not really a margin for error today and we would have to keep attacking. The boys were magnificent today like they have been all season.'
'It has just proved not to be enough,' Billericay manager Gary McCann said after the full-time whistle. 'We have to tip our hats to Horsham. We didn't want to but you have to be gracious in defeat.'
Fancy reliving the action of yesterday's manic game to confirm us as champions?
Of course you do 😉 pic.twitter.com/K6qdoTDKlB
— Horsham F(C) (@HorshamFC) April 27, 2025
Humphry-Wakefield said that Horsham's title celebrations went late into the night. Players, coaching staff and fans all celebrated together on the pitch and in the club's bar after the game, singing, dancing and revelling in title glory.
'The celebrations were brilliant,' he said on Sunday morning. 'I think the coaching staff, players, and fans are still out! Incredible scenes.
'The game was an unbelievable six-goal thriller. Horsham could have scored 10 to be honest with you. A crazy, crazy game and almost as good as it gets for a title decider.'