“We were 90 minutes from promotion” - Hanks reflects on heartbreak, hope and ambition

After the heartbreak of play-off final defeat, Gloucester City midfielder Joe Hanks — the supporters’ player of the season — reflects on a ‘gutting’ loss to AFC Totton in a chat with Alfie Richmond and shares his belief that the club can go one better next year.

In the semi-finals, Gloucester overcame Walton & Hersham and found themselves just 90 minutes away from promotion into the National League South — only to fall to a narrow 1–0 defeat against AFC Totton. Hanks described everyone’s initial reactions as ‘disappointing’ and ‘deflating’.

“When you look back on the day, the fans that turned up, the atmosphere and sort of everything else, I just really felt like we were going to go there and do the job.

To come so close and obviously to lose 1-0 in the final, it was difficult to take,” said Hanks.

The Tigers finished fourth in the Southern League Premier South, following last season’s relegation back into the division. Hanks opened up on the harsh reality of trying to bounce straight back up, and just how tough that task proved to be:

“I think at the start of the season, obviously everyone’s aim was to get promotion. The sort of minimum was to get into the play-offs, and obviously we achieved that.

I think we started really well, and maybe thought we might be pushing more for automatics, and then after Christmas, we sort of hit a tricky spot and realised that it was probably going to be the play-offs,” he said.

“But we were 90 minutes away from being promoted. So when you reflect on it, it’s not been too bad,” Hanks added.

Hanks played a pivotal role in Gloucester’s season, scoring 26 goals in all competitions – including one in the play-off semi-final and the midfielder turned striker during the season spoke about the importance of influencing games in the final third, something he prides himself on:

“I’ve always wanted to try and get higher up the pitch. So personally, it was great to get as many goals — especially some big, important goals — late on in games.

I don’t think many people would’ve had me down to score as many goals as I did at the start of the season,” he went on to say.

“I’ve always been capable when put higher up the pitch so hopefully that’s where I’ll carry on playing.”

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Having played a similar role while at Chippenham Town, Hanks explained he has always enjoyed operating in a more advanced position. He said: “Obviously you’ve got to do the other side of the game as well, but what I always want to do is affect things at the top end — and if I can score and we win then everyone’s happy.”

Throughout the season, Hanks has praised the support of the fans when speaking to Severn Sport, and with the dust now settled on the season, Hanks reiterated the crucial role the supporters played in some of the comebacks made throughout the season:

“I think it was at Taunton we were 3-0 down, Walton 4-0, and obviously Walton 2-0 in the semi-final, I think everyone else probably wrote us off, and maybe even the fans did at times! But as soon as we got that one goal we always had that belief to keep going and going again,” Hanks said.

“They’ve stuck with us — in the play-off final they were packed out behind the goal — it was great. It was just gutting that we weren’t able to celebrate with them,” added the City Player of the Season.

After a year back in the division, Gloucester and Hanks are confident that the season has been a valuable learning experience and one that can drive them forward next year:

“Now we’ve been there for a year and settled, we know what to expect,” said Hanks.

“To start well is so important. Now that we’ve been there and done it, hopefully this time we can learn from where we went wrong, and try to get it over the line. That’s what all Gloucester City fans want, isn’t it? — that experience with promotion.”

As Dafydd Williams takes over managerial duties at Gloucester City, Hanks touched on the goals that have been set and the direction the club hopes to take next season:

“He (Williams) is very tactical, very keen. He wants to do well for not only us, but of course himself as he’s been here before,” admitted Hanks.

Williams is no stranger to the TigerTurf Stadium, having previously been City’s assistant to Lee Mansell during his time in charge of the Tigers and he “knows what it means to be at Gloucester, play for Gloucester, and manage Gloucester,” said Hanks. “I’m really looking forward to working together, and we’ve all got the same aim.”

Hanks has been confirmed as one of the players staying for the 2025/26 campaign — news that will no doubt please supporters and ahead of the post-season break, his message to the fans is clear.

“We’ll give it a right go again this season. Hopefully we can be talking this time next year [and saying] that we’ve been promoted.”

Gloucester City begin their pre-season schedule at the start of July, before hosting the 2025 Severn Sport Shield at the TigerTurf Stadium (8-12 July).