FOR Chalfont St Peter's starlets, it is quality not quantity that counts when they run out in front of a smattering of supporters each Saturday at 3pm.
Rarely do they get many more than 50 fans lining The Playing Fields come kick-off, but among the crowd this season have been scouts from six professional clubs.
Peterborough, Swindon and Dagenham and Redbridge are all regular visitors, while three other clubs up to Championship level are also monitoring the progress of the young Saints.
Manager Danny Edwards said: "It's fantastic for the club. Scouts come down to watch one player and go away with another name on the list every time."
It's hardly surprising. Saints are sweeping aside all comers this season and in the next few months could get arm-heavy lifting silverware.
After beating Biggleswade United 3-0 on Saturday they sit top of the South Midlands Spartan League Premier Division, and on Tuesday night a 1-0 victory over Kingsbury London Tigers booked their place in the final of the Challenge Trophy.
They are also in the semi-final of the Premier Trophy and Berks and Bucks Trophy and the quarter-final of the High Wycombe Senior Cup.
Edwards said: "To win them all would be an unbelievable achievement, but it's asking an awful lot."
It would mean playing a whopping 68 games. They have already played 47 this season, but Edwards says fatigue is not a factor.
He said: "These kids just seem to be able to play and play. They are so fit and young and they run for fun.
"We don't have to do any fitness work at training which means we can focus entirely on patterns of play and the technical side of things.
"I think they're more mentally tired than physically and it really comes down to how much they want it.
"On Tuesday it would have been very easy for them to think we're focussing on the league' and not give it everything. But because they're such a young team they want to win every cup tie and play in every cup final."
John Carroll headed the late winner against Kingsbury to book a final against either Holmer Green or Beaconsfield's conquerors Brimsdown Rovers.
Edwards said: "When I first came to the club, Chalfont didn't have a great footballing reputation.
"Teams would come here and take the points away with them.
"It was a very, very young team then even on Saturday only one player was over 20 but in the last few years I've seen them turn from boys into men.
"We've been there or thereabouts, but this season we're not making the mistakes we used to and we haven't lost at home since last February.
"It's just fantastic for everyone at the club. There are good players all over the park and good players that can come in all over the park.
"It's definitely the best squad I've had here and I'm really proud of them."
The Chalfont St Peter bandwagon moves on to Welwyn Garden City tomorrow.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article