dramatic improvement in results. As well as a best-ever finish of 5th in the league, the club won the League Cup in 2000, beating Viking Greenford 4–2 in the final. The following season was also a relatively successful one, with a placing of 7th in the table and another appearance in the League Cup final, beaten 3–0 by double-winners Cove. 2002–2005: The Tony Gale takeover Although 2002–03 proved a disappointment as the club finished in a lowly 18th spot, the appointment of Spencer Collins as manager in November 2002 sparked positive changes. As a team capable of much better things slowly began to take shape, ex-West Ham United player Tony Gale was installed as director of football. After more team-building in 2003–04, and a big jump up the table to finish in 7th spot, the club took the Combined Counties Football League by storm the year after, finishing 26 points clear at the top of the table. After initially failing an FA ground inspection, the club launched a successful appeal and achieved their dream of promotion to the Isthmian League Division One for 2005–06. 2005–2014: Starting life in the Isthmian League The club finished 15th in their maiden season in the Isthmian League, while regularly finishing in the bottom half in subsequent seasons. In 2009–10 the club achieved its best run in the FA Cup reaching the Third Qualifying Round, before losing to Staines Town. The club appointed Neil Shipperley manager in the summer of 2010 and finished in 12th place, their highest ever league finish at the time. During early 2011 the club opened a new clubhouse and new changing facilities, with Mick Sullivan returning in October following the resignation of Shipperley. After being sacked a year later, Danny Carroll took over as manager. With a reprieve saving the Stags in the 2012–13 season, the club appointed ex-Kingstonian assistant manager Mark Hams as manager, along with his brother Neil as assistant. The duo rejuvenated the squad and guided Walton to their highest ever league finish of 9th. However, after nine defeats in as many league games, the Hams brothers left their positions at the club in September 2014. 2014–2018: Established in the Isthmian League Tony Gale and Anthony Gale were drafted in as caretaker managers, and immediately picked up the club's first win of the season, securing a 1–0 victory in a trip to Redhill. In November 2014, defenders