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Sunday League to Step 4: The Journey of Punjab United
- Punjab United
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
On the surface, it looks like just a normal grassroots story, promotion secured, a season of ups and downs, a team united. However to understand Punjab United, you have to look back much further than just one single campaign.
This is not just a story about reaching Step 4. This is a story about where it all began, the people who work tirelessly behind the scenes, and who this club was built for.
From its beginnings in Sunday league football to the change to Saturday football, The Jabs’ rise reflects something that is rarely seen within non-league football: the power of community spirit and inclusion of everyone working side by side.
Long before the thinking of becoming a Step 4 side, Punjab existed as something much more simpler. With the club being formed in 2003, it created links within the local community, making it a clear space for anyone to come together and play or watch football, with race, skin colour and religion having no effect with supporting the team.
The man who started it all, owner/manager Chipie Sian, spoke about the deprived area of Gravesend and how he wanted to make it a place for everyone. “Kings Farm in Gravesend was always known as a poor area but I wanted to do something different and make this a place that is inclusive towards everyone, regardless of race, religion and skin colour.”
At the core of the football club, it has carried over the 23 years of existence its Sikh and Punjabi heritage. This identity allowed the club to shape in its early years and gave it a sense of belonging and a purpose beyond the results on the pitch and instead also the good times off the pitch.
However from the beginning, there was always a wider vision. Punjab was never a club intended to be exclusive. It was a club built within its own roots and open to the whole community.
Their club motto, Pride, Passion, Punjab. The togetherness on and off the pitch is exactly what this club is all about.
Moving from Sunday league football into The National League System, the club knew that it was never going to be straightforward. Punjab started out in Kent County Premier Division in the 2016/17 season and in their first season were champions and were promoted to Step 6. The next season saw them get promoted again into Step 5 of the non-league pyramid.
However, this was a time of consolidation and nobody knew if they would be able to survive in the division. However, the longest serving player Will Johnson-Cole knew that Punjab were always good enough to get into Step 4. “This club has all the right people behind the scenes, the squad and fanbase to get promotion out of this division. It’s a tough league but with a team full of togetherness, we always knew we could do it.”
2025/2026 SCEFL Premier Campaign. The season that Punjab did it. Promotion from Step 5. In a season where the team had so many nearlies, it was a dream come true for Punjab fans. Kent Senior Trophy final, defeat. Isuzu FA Vase Semi-Final, defeat.
It could have been a bottlejob season for the team but Punjab had one more opportunity… SCEFL Premier Division Playoff Final. One obstacle stood in their way, Rusthall FC. Finals rarely follow a script and this final was just that…
Against Rusthall, the stakes were higher than ever before. Win and they would be the biggest Sikh-team in the country. Lose and they would be called Bottlejob FC as they would be known as the team that were so close but yet so far.
The game was tense, controlled by small margins. Chances were limited and every chance carried heavy weight on each players’ shoulders.
However the inevitable happened… A goal in the 101st minute by Ayodeji Owoeye sent Rusthall fans into raptures but silence surrounded the Punjab fans as they thought their season was over.
However, one chance was all that Punjab needed… And that chance they got. 117th minute. A free-kicked whipped like an ice-cream from Chris Edwards was punched faintly away from Rusthall keeper Serine Senneh… and it fell to the feet of El Capitano Wayne Bushell who from two yards out thundered the ball home with expressions of joy and happiness surrounding The Jockey Farm Stadium as Punjab had just saved their season but only one thing stood in their way…
The dreaded penalty shootout. A lottery stood in the way of The Jabs and whoever kept their cool would be promoted to Step 4.
First Mitch Beeney, Punjab’s GK. A few Punjab fans were surprised to see him taking the first pen but their minds would have changed after his pen. A thunderous strike into the top right corner set Punjab on their way.
Rusthall stepped up next and with God watching over, he blazed his shot over the bar. Advantage Punjab. However, Rusthall levelled the scoring with it being 3-3 and into sudden death.
Zak Bryon stepped up next and slotted his shot underneath Senneh into the bottom left corner and it was all down to Rusthall to score their pen. Miss and Punjab would be promoted to Step 4. He stepped up and…missed, Punjab have won 4-3 on pens and are promoted to Step 4.
Manager/Owner Chipie Sian was in tears to see his club promoted to Step 4. “It’s a dream come true to see the club that we set up together to get to this stage. From Sunday League to Step 4 in 23 years, it’s amazing to see the progression throughout the club!”
With promotion now, this isn’t the end of the story. This is just the beginning… Step 4 presents a new level of challenge. For the longest serving player, Will is determined to see how far this club can go. “This is not the end for this football club, who knows where this club could go but with the right people on and off the pitch, let's see where next season takes us.”
For the first time in their history, Punjab United will be playing in the Isthmian South East Division and will be looking to continue their journey.
As well as their incredible promotion, they were so close to earning a spot at Wembley Stadium as they just fell short at the final hurdle. The video below will showcase more about the run and the mixed emotions around the club at the time.
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