Shh, don’t talk about it. Don’t even think about it. Keep your eyes forward, keep your mouth shut. One game at a time and all that stuff.

The first rule of Parkway’s 26/27 promotion to the National League South is:

You do not talk about Parkway’s 26/27 promotion to the National League South.

Obviously, those at the club are not getting ahead of themselves. The parade isn’t being planned just yet. Karl Curtis (The Messiah?) is keeping his cool. Taking it one day at a time. Just getting points on the board.

But as an outsider to the club, I can get as excited as I like. And, forgetting Saturday’s defeat to Bath City in the FA Trophy – who cares about the FA Trophy anyway? – 9 games unbeaten, with 8 wins on the bounce is giving me plenty to be excited about.

Curtis’ side is currently sitting pretty at the top of the Southern League Premier Division South, with 20 points from 9 games. That’s 6 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss.

And in those 9 games: 23 Yellow goals have been scored. Parkway are averaging over 3 goals a game at home.

If you’re in the mood for goals, Bolitho Park is the place to be.

Especially on that beautiful day: The Day That Bracknell Came to Town.

Let me set the scene for you.

It’s the 8th of August, 2026. The sun shines on the beautiful city of Plymouth. 591 men, women, and children line the Bolitho stands to watch Karl Curtis take charge of his first competitive game, following a pre-season that saw his side beat National League South club Torquay United. Fans are not too sure what to expect. It’s been a tough few seasons as a Parkway supporter. Relegation lies not too far from Yellow minds most years.

But this is a new era. A new man at the helm. Word goes round that he’s good. But how good?

Pretty good, actually, as it turns out.

7-0 good.

Braces from Toby Down and Rocky Neal, as well as contributions from Joel Sullivan, Carlo Garside, and Taylor Scarff get the Yellows’ season off to a flying start. Karl Curtis cements himself as a club legend, one game in. Parkway are top of the league. We don’t see this very often. Let’s enjoy it while we can.

And then shortly after, of course, the natural order is restored; a 1-1 draw with Bath, followed by a 3-2 loss to Chippenham three days later.

Back down to earth. We’d got ahead of ourselves, as we always do. And now we’d found our rightful place in this pyramid once again.

After the glory of day one, it now looked as though it was going to be more of the same old story: a mid-table floundering with the very real threat of relegation always looming in the background; Parkway’s Southern League career so far boasts 11th, 13th, 18th, and 10th placed finishes.

And by this time last year, Parkway had won 1 of 9 in all competitions. The year before that, 2 of 11. The only logical scenario was that this season was to be more of the same.

But then came Havant and Waterlooville.

And then came Evesham.

And then Poole.

And Gosport Borough, Elburton Villa, Sholing, and Frome. Twice.

And then came top of the league, and through the first two rounds of FA Cup qualifying.

And just like that, we doubters had been put to bed again. Bracknell wasn’t a freak result. It was a sign of things to come. Bath and Chippenham were the odd ones out.

After that, it was 8 straight wins, 19 goals scored, 4 conceded, and Parkway have shown they have what it takes.

You don’t get lucky 8 games in a row. Parkway have shown that they can mix it with the best in this division.

And so atop the Southern League Premier they sit. To keep this form going would mean playing next season against sides like Dagenham & Redbridge and Torquay United: sides with proper football league history.

It would mean being only one promotion from the national league, boasting sides such as Southend, Yeovil Town and Forest Green Rovers.

It would mean that Plymouth Parkway have cemented themselves as a serious second side in this city. A viable option. This time next year, it might not be taken for granted that Plymouth football fans are Plymouth Argyle fans.

And this is a side that, 8 years ago, were playing in the South West Peninsula League, and only 5 years ago were fighting their way out of the Western League.

And they are now staring down the barrel of becoming a National League South side, playing in front of 4000 at Torquay’s Plainmoor. Or 3000 at the Gallagher Stadium, home of Maidstone United who, just two years ago, knocked Premier League Ipswich out of the FA Cup.

So, yes, I personally will be getting ahead of myself. And yes, I will be following every step of the way. And yes, I will be breaking the rules of Plymouth Parkway’s 26/27 promotion to the National League South, and telling everybody about it.

I will be telling everybody that this is the year.

This is the year that Parkway – built of plumbers, plasterers, and policemen – gets ready to start playing with the big boys.