In many ways for Fulham’s Lily Stevens, the route to the FA Women’s National League Division One South East title feels like something of a paradox.
It is in the same breath both surreal and an achievement the Cottagers having been building to for a while.
Perhaps the biggest factor in that fantastical feeling is rooted in the fact they were newly promoted into the FA WNL this season and will now prepare to compete in the Southern Premier Division next year.
Even more remarkably, the title winners have achieved that feat by, so far, having gone unbeaten with two draws in their 20 games representing their only dropped points.
“It is really surreal because I feel like football is so unpredictable,” said Stevens.
“You never really think that you're going to go two seasons back-to-back winning the title and then doing it unbeaten as well. It's just such a surreal feeling.
“I don't think it really like has sunk in, to be honest.
“In tier five, we always tried to have the highest standards possible anyway, so that if we did get promoted, we would feel ready as a group to make that step up. That's exactly what we did.”
With two games left of the season, and a trophy lift to celebrate, attention now turns to maintaining that immaculate record.
A day out at Craven Cottage awaits where they will face Luton Town at 2pm on 12th April before hoisting the trophy in fitting fashion at the club’s main stadium.
For midfielder Stevens, it is the perfect opportunity to thank all those involved on a remarkable journey for the support and effort they’ve shown along the way.
“The opportunity on Sunday to lift the trophy at Craven Cottage is the most amazing thing because we can celebrate it with everyone who has supported us, not even this season, but over the last few seasons too,” said the 27-year-old.
“How it's played out, you couldn't write it. It's honestly worked out perfectly because it gives us that opportunity to celebrate at such an amazing stadium with our friends and family and with the fans.
“It's been such a long season and to have that moment to celebrate it with everyone is going to be special. We should all try and really enjoy the moment.”
But full enjoyment will surely only come if that moment follows another memorable win over a side against whom they managed a 1-0 win over in the reverse fixture.
An invincible season is now tantalisingly close as they bid to keep their record as immaculate as the white shirts they will don on Sunday.
But winning is something that the Whites have become accustomed to over the course of the season.
“I definitely think there is a confidence. We have a very clear plan and we know exactly what we're capable of,” explained Stevens.
“It's down to us as players to execute that on a match day because we know that if we can put into practise everything we work on in training, we put ourselves in a good position.
“We've just got into a rhythm of doing that, which has been amazing. [Going unbeaten] was never, ever mentioned within the group until these past couple of weeks.
“But now that we have won the league, we've made an effort to really recognise what an achievement it is and just be really proud of the hard work that everyone's put in over the last two years.”
Stevens knows all too well what now awaits higher up the tiers having previously represented Oxford United, who will likely be familiar opponents for the midfielder next season, in tier three.
Born in Reading, Stevens spent 11 years at the Reading Centre of Excellence from the age of seven before making the move to then Women’s Championship outfit Crystal Palace.
From there, she made the switch to The U’s, but after struggling with injuries in her final season decided to make a fresh start at Motspur Park in 2024.
And now, as a key cog of their ascent up the tiers, she is fully immersed in a club looking to reclaim its historic place in the women’s football pyramid, having once been the first women’s team to turn full-time professional in Europe back in 2000.
“Hopefully we can get the club back into the top leagues of women's football. That is the ultimate goal,” she said.
“We know the history and the players that have played for the club, so it is something that we are aware of.
“We all know that this step from three to four is a really big jump and something that we have to be prepared for.
“We know that it's going to be a huge challenge, but within the group, we work really hard and we know that on our day we can compete and we can grind those out.
"Hopefully, we just follow that same process in tier three and see how it goes.”