Carter backs Telford to progress

AFC Telford players leave the pitch at Southend with heads held high

AFC Telford chairman Lee Carter is backing the club to continue progressing despite their defeat in their FA Cup replay against Southend.

"The Cup is nice, but we've built this club on a good solid league tradition," Carter told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"Four years ago we had no football club, and it makes me very humble to think I'm chairman of a club that's done itself such credit.

"But our job now is to continue to build this strong community club."

Carter was disappointed with the defeat by full-timers Southend but insisted on looking forward, with promotion for the Bucks back to where they left off with the old Telford club.

"The last time we left Essex in 2004 we'd lost to Canvey Island in the FA Trophy semi-final and we had no club," he added.

"If we had a list of 20 things we wanted to do when we then started AFC Telford, playing at a professional club like Southend would have been high up there.

"It's great to see Telford back on the top stage, and I'd like to thank my management team, the players and the supporters for everything they've done."