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On March 27th, 2016, Hashtag United's first game was posted on Youtube. Few would have imagined that just over two years later, they'd be ready to enter the non-league ladder. They've made the improbable happen and aren't showing any signs of slowing down.
Hashtag's humble start
An amateur team having the opportunity to play at Upton Park and then hosting a tournament at Wembley Stadium, isn't something seen every day. But this isn't exactly an ordinary team.
In 2016, after a few test games, brothers Seb and Spencer Carmichael-Brown officially created Hashtag United. The team mainly comprised childhood friends who would compete against teams of a similar level on Sunday mornings. But, they would also record the games and put it online.
Already a popular YouTuber, once Spencer began posting the games on his channel, they slowly gained a strong, trusted following.
There are numerous 'YouTube sides', some of which may even have had more followers when Hashtag United started. But their quality was evident from the start. Unlike other such teams, Spencer's club has is now part of the English football league system and play in the Eastern Counties League Division One South.
Though a few of the original members left, many have stayed the course and remain, in some way, a part of the club.
A unique fanbase
A fan channel, a crowd of 28,000 people and online viewings of over 100,000 on average is quite impressive for a club like this. Hashtag United have a bigger following than some Premier League clubs even.
In the lower leagues of English football, it isn't common for people outside the local town or county to support the club. But the opposite is true for this team. The have supporters from all over due to their social media presence.
Hashtag United fans watch matches on Youtube, but unlike other clubs of the same size, fans also get a pre-match talk, a half-time chat and access to post-match scenes from the dressing room.
This allows fans to have a much closer look at the club they support. They've done well enough to even have dedicated season-ticket holders, including the owners of the YouTube channel 'Hashtag Superfans'. So now, not only do they have a fan channel, but also 'Hashtag Ultrus,' as Spencer branded them.
