History

Hashtag can certainly claim to be the most famous club in the Isthmian League, if not the whole of non-league. Boasting 230,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter), 506,000 followers on Instagram and 645,000 YouTube subscribers. Their impressive highlights videos from the two meetings with Invicta last season racked up over 300,000 views between them.

Founded by YouTuber Spencer Carmichael-Brown, Hashtag United was created in 2016 as a team full of friends playing a charity match to honour a childhood friend. For the next 2 years Spencer & the team participated in exhibition matches, facing pro football staff teams, fellow creators, brand teams, non-league & Sunday sides, building the brand and online following.

In early 2017, the Hashtag Academy was created. A series that whittled down thousands of applicants to just one player through a variety of challenges until the final player was offered the chance to play for the club. The first ever series was won by 16 year old Scott Pollock who was signed by Northampton Town a year later.

Scott was scouted after impressing in the 3rd Wembley Cup final in 2017; a one-off game that pitted YouTubers up against each other alongside retired footballers such as Steven Gerrard, Robbie Fowler, David James, and Emile Heskey. This was the first edition of the Wembley Cup that Hashtag United featured in, with “Spencer FC” having won the 2015 and 2016 editions.

After lifting the Wembley Cup in both 2017 and 2018, Hashtag applied for entry into the National League System, with the FA placing them into the Eastern Senior League Division One South for the 2018/19 season. The club appointed their first ever manager, Jay Devereux, who Spencer knew from his time creating content at East Thurrock United. Without a ground of their own, Hashtag found themselves a first home at Haringey Borough’s Coles Park. 

Their first ever season was a success as they finished as champions to secure promotion to the Essex Senior League and a second successive promotion was on the cards until the COVID19 pandemic struck and cut the 2019/20 season short with Hashtag sitting in 2nd place. 

The following season Hashtag’s first ever FA Cup appearance saw them reach the 2nd Qualifying Round with a run that included the longest penalty shootout in FA Cup history (13-12) before they were eventually knocked out by Braintree Town. That season would too end early, but Hashtag were promoted to the Isthmian North Division via a points per game system across the previous 2 seasons. 

Hashtag again knocked on the door of promotion in their first season at step 4 as they finished in the playoffs, but the 2022/23 season would then see them take the league title with a total of 98 points after a 21-match winning run.

A first season in the Isthmian Premier Division saw Hashtag finish in 13th place, taking 4 points from Invicta in the process. The sides played out a goalless draw in their first ever meeting in August 2023 before Hashtag won 3-1 at the Cheriton Road in December.

Having moved on from their original home at Haringey Borough, Hashtag spent a season at Tilbury before moved to Bowers & Pistea’s Len Salmon Stadium. This summer they made the move to Aveley’s Parkside Stadium, joining their Women’s side who had moved their the previous summer from Canvey Island. 

Recent Form

Now in their second season in the Isthmian League Premier Division, Hashtag find themselves 16th with 9 points from 8 matches. Hashtag have won 3 of their 8 league fixtures so far, with 2 of those coming away from home at Canvey Island & Chesthunt.

Last 6

31/08 – Stotfold (H) – Won 2-0 (FA Cup)
07/09 – Hastings United (H) – Won 4-0
14/09 – Hornchurch (A) – Lost 2-1 (FA Cup)
21/09 – Cheshunt (A) – Won 4-3
01/10 – Carshalton Athletic (H) – Lost 1-0
05/10 – Hitchin Town (H) – Won 1-0 (FA Trophy)

Recent Meetings

The clubs have only previously met on 2 occasions since The Tags’ promotion to the Isthmian Premier Division last summer. Invicta picked up at point on the road in a 0-0 draw at the Len Salmon Stadium in August 2023 before Hashtag visited the Alcaline Stadium for the very first time in December, scoring two late goals in a 3-1 win. Tom Derry scored Invicta’s goal in that December clash, making him the only Invicta player to have scored against Hashtag.

Last 2

26/08/23 – Hashtag 0-0 Invicta (Isthmian Premier Division)
30/12/23 – Invicta 1-3 Hashtag (Isthmian Premier Division)

The Manager

It’s not often you come across a club that has only had one manager in their entire history, but Jay Devereux is the only man to ever lead Hashtag United. Appointed in 2018 when The Tags entered the NLS at step 6, Jay has led the club to 3 promotions in that time. He also led them to last season’s Velocity Cup Final where they lost to Chatham Town at Aveley.

Key Man

It’s not easy to pick Hashtag United’s key man for Saturday’s clash. Somalian international Sakariya Hassan, Pedro Carvalho and Luke May-Parrott who all scored at Cheriton Road in December are still at the club. Goalkeeper Jack Giddens signed this summer from Bishop’s Stortford and was a constant thorn in Invicta’s side during his time there. Sam Higgins needs no introduction as one of the most prolific goalscorers across the Isthmian League during his time with Hornchurch. Misha Djemaili is the current top scorer with 6, backed up by Love Island start Toby Aromolaran with 4 and captain Max Corhill with 3.

But if we are going to pick the one man to watch out for, Hashtag have made the addition of teenage forward Harrison Day on loan from Dagenham & Redbridge this week. Harrison netted 25 times for Concord Rangers in the Isthmian Premier Division last season, unable to prevent their relegation to the Isthmian North, his form earning him his move to Dagenham. He initially joined Billericay Town on loan but has now made the switch to Parkside, and having scored home and away for Concord against Invicta last season he is one to keep an eye on.