Lee Raby, Farnham's skipper and the driving-force behind the team, has left the club to join arch rivals Ash United.

Town manager Andy Nunn did not hide his disappointment after this latest setback. "It's a kick in the teeth. Lee is an important player to the squad and he will be hard to replace.

"He approached Ash after we played them in the league recently. He's told me he wants to win things, but he could have waited until the end of the season. After all, he won't be able to play cup matches for Ash."

Nunn, who has already seen two of his youth players go to Ash, remains philosophical about the more attractive financial inducements offered by other clubs.

"Obviously, money is a help and I wouldn't complain if someone suddenly put a lump into the club.

"But I'm not money orientated and we try to keep it local here. Players have to be committed to a club and I believe when they sign for a season they should see it out.

"We pay modest expenses, but we haven't got the money other clubs have – even in the Combined Counties. We just have to try and get by."

Wrecclesham boss hits out

Mark Taylor, manager of Wrecclesham Football Club, has had a swipe at what he calls the 'brown envelope syndrome' – the growing practice, even in local football, of clubs offering players money to move on.

"It's killing local football. Once it was all local boys playing in the teams, now increasingly we are having to go outside the area to find players.

"It seems the disease has taken hold locally," added Taylor who fears that more village clubs could disappear in the way that Churt, The Bourne and Grayshott have in recent years.

"Wrecclesham are lucky because we have good contacts, especially with the army, but we have lost several good young players in this way."

Wrecclesham are currently second in the Surrey Intermediate Premier Division One, but they have lost a key player in young striker Russell Smith who has accepted an offer to play Hampshire League football for Liss Athletic.

"It leaves a gap, but I will fill it," said Taylor who has other promising youngsters in his squad, including Gareth Griffiths and Craig Fanner.

He concedes that Staines Lammas will almost certainly win the league, but believes that Wrecclesham have a good chance of lifting the Challenge Cup.