THEY say good things happen to good people and, in local sporting circles, it’s hard to think of a better example than Brightlingsea Regent’s Terry Doherty.

The long-serving chairman is one of the most respected officials on the non-league circuit – for overseeing his club’s meteoric rise but also for being such a thoroughly decent, affable person.

Doherty took the reins in 2005, following the merger between Regent Park Rangers and Brightlingsea United.

Brightlingsea Regent were duly born – and it’s been one long success story ever since.

Just six years ago the club were an Essex and Suffolk Border League outfit.

However, after winning that competition, they have gone on to take the Thurlow Nunn League and now Ryman League by storm.

They have just won division north of the latter – which means they will be competing in the premier division, step three of the pyramid, in 2017/18.

It’s impossible not to be pleased for the ambitious club and not least Doherty, who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to provide the foundations for success.

“If someone had said to me we’d be playing at this level six years ago, I wouldn’t have believed them,” said the 51-year-old.

“Mind you, it still hasn’t sunk in yet.

“I haven’t had time to properly think about it and even though it’s the end of the season, there’s still so much to do.

“People think you get to this stage and it’s all over but the next two or three weeks are going to be manic.

“I’m always thinking ahead and you don’t really get time to sit back and say ‘wow’.

“I don’t think that will really happen until June time. (Manager) James (Webster) has done a brilliant job (since taking over for the 2009/2010 season), though.

“As soon as he got involved, I could see how ambitious he was and that rubbed off on me.

“It motivated me to try and develop things off the pitch, by doing things like improving the ground, and together we wanted to make the club the best it could be.

“To a man, the players have all been absolutely superb this season. I can’t speak highly enough of them and I’m immensely proud of the boys and management but also everyone else at the club. All the brilliant committee members and volunteers who do so much.

“We’ve got a lovely family of people here and all get on so well. We’re all fighting for the same cause and all enjoy being involved.

“We’ve all got the same philosophy and that’s been a big part of our success.

“I get a lot of pleasure from it and it’s been great in the last year to see new faces at the club – people who might not necessarily have come along before. It’s nice to welcome them, in addition to seeing all the familiar faces, some of whom have been watching the club for 30 years.”

It’s no exaggeration to say Brightlingsea is in Doherty’s blood.

Born and bred in the town, he has a lifelong connection with the club and fondly remembers watching his childhood heroes at North Road.

“When I was a boy the club used to have a big wooden stand on the far side of the ground,” he said.

“I don’t know what happened to it, whether it burnt down or fell into disrepair, but I can clearly remember playing underneath it.

“I only lived round the corner, in Regent Road.

“We used to play hide and seek and build dens there and I used to enjoy watching the football.

“I got the bug and if they had a big game coming up, I used to sit in my bedroom making posters to go around and stick to lampposts.

“I wanted to advertise the fact they were playing and get more people along to support the team.

“I’ve always loved the club and the people and know most of the supporters who come and watch us now.

“Mind you, there have been quite a few others this season who have stopped me in the street and said ‘well done’.

“I’ve said thanks very much and walked away. My son or whoever I’m with has asked who the person was and I’ve said ‘I honestly don’t know’. That’s lovely.”

While the players have clearly risen to fresh challenges, so too have the club’s committee and dedicated volunteers.

The club’s ground has improved to meet specific criteria and people have wanted to help and get involved, bringing a fresh enthusiasm and skill set to the table.

“It’s particularly satisfying to see the transformation of the ground,” he said.

“It makes me very proud but obviously it’s not just me.

“So many people have helped out and we couldn’t have achieved what we have without them.

“We’re a very tight unit and everyone knits in together.

“Our staff has increased and we still need more people now.

“You can never have enough and the more successful you are, the more you need.

“Not so long ago we had four or five people working here on a matchday. Now it’s more like 20.

“You have to let things evolve naturally and I don’t think it would work if we suddenly went out and decided we need 20 people.

“You have to be patient, take baby steps and hope you’ll get there in the end.

“Everything takes time and sometimes you want to do things quickly.

“But you physically can’t do everything all at once, let along financially.

“Sometimes you almost have to bite your lip, rain yourself in and do things bit by bit.”

So having scaled the heights and now be preparing for step three, does Doherty think the club have peaked and exhausted their potential? No chance.

He hopes they continue to prosper and sees no reason why the adventure should end now.

“Knowing James as I do, he’s not one to sit back and settle for ordinary. He doesn’t do ordinary,” said Doherty.

“He’s very ambitious, as are the rest of the management team, and I know they’ll be determined to push on and be the best they can be.

“One of the clubs we’ve always looked up to is Concord Rangers.

“They’ve done fantastically to become a Conference South club.

“They appear to have gone about things so well, on the pitch and off it, and when I look at their crowds they’re not too different to what we’ve been getting for the last four or five weeks.

“It certainly gets you thinking and who knows? It’s certainly possible.

“I suppose one worry is that because we’ve done so well this season, bigger clubs might come in for some of our players and offer them seriously good money.

“But that’s football and as a player, you only get one shot at it. Who could blame them if it was a good opportunity?

“I’d like to think the lads wouldn’t be tempted to another club in this league but we’d never stand in anyone’s way if, say, they were approached by a Conference or Conference South side.

“We’d shake hands with them and say ‘good luck’.

“I really hope they all stay, though, because we’re so looking forward to next season and I don’t think we’ve got any reason to fear the higher level.

“We’ve got over 100 points this year, scored lots of goals and been on a fantastic run since Christmas.

“I honestly think we can do alright and hopefully hold our own.

“What’s the worst that can happen? We have one season up there, don’t quite make it and get relegated.

“We’d end up where we are now – and where we are now is unbelievable.”

Regent’s average crowd last season was 171.

Doherty hopes more and more people will be enticed along next term – as well as getting involved commercially.

“We can’t wait to welcome some really big clubs to little old Brightlingsea,” he said.

“We’re going to need the town to get behind us – vocally but also in terms of things like sponsorship.

“We’ll need that desperately and any companies or businesses interested in helping us can contact our commercial directors, Gavin Aplin and Phil Calver, via BRFCCommercial@gmail.com “One of the things we’ve spoken about is naming rights for the stadium.

“That’s something we need to look at and try and get sorted out, to try and create funds to help James.

“We’ll explore every avenue we can to try and ensure our success continues.”