GALLERY
23rd March
This weekend Jane Hobart was at Bayliss Avenue, Thamesmead to watch her team Welling Town Reserves play Equinoccial in the Division Three West game. It appears to have been quite a good game, going by the final result which was 4-2 to the home side. Goals for Welling came from Luke Berwick, Grant Brown, Michael Cody and substitute Patrick Ward.
League Photographer, Julie Hoare went to Kings Hill Sports park. There she caught some of the first half of the Veteran Division One match between Larkfield Vets and Anchorian (Rovers) Veterans. The game was hampered by the continuously going out of play down the hill and a young dog who could quite literally run rings around the players. Plenty of time was added on for this match but the score ended 2-1 to Larkfield.
She then went down the hill to watch the Premier division match between Kings Hill and Borden Village. This game on paper should have been a good battle between two good sides. Borden scored first with a goal from Jordan Pearce but Kings Hill equalised within a couple of minutes. From then on Kings Hill took over the match and finished the game off by winning 4-1. A disappointing match for the neutral observer and also points lost in the championship race for Borden Village .
Pictures from al these games can be found on the March Gallery page or by clicking here
FREE CLUBS
The following Clubs are without scheduled matches on Saturday 23rd March.
Premier Division: Borden Village, Metrogas & Staplehurst Monarchs Utd
Division One Central & East : Hollands & Blair Res, Lydd Town Res, Ramsgate Res, Rochester City, Wateringbury
Division One West: Halls AFC & Stansfeld O&B Reserves
Division Two East: Bearsted Res, Margate Sports Res, Snodland Town Res, Tonbridge Invicta
Division Two West : Fleetdown Utd Reserves, Metrogas Reserves & Orpington
Division Three Central & East: Deal Town Rangers, Larkfield & New Hythe Wanderers, New Romney Res, Rochester City Res
Division Three West: AFC Lewisham, Equinocial, South East Athletic Reserves & Welling Town Reserves
ANDREW GIDLEY’S WEEKLY ROUNDUP
Saturday 16th March
Les Leckie Cup
Division Three Central & East top-two Sturry and Rochester City Reserves. will contest the first of the league’s three end-of-season finals at Chatham Town FC next Tuesday(26th)
Dan Smith scored twice as Sturry beat Southborough 3-2- all the goals coming in the second half.
Smith and Nathan NcNally twice put Sturry in front, but they were pegged back both times with goals by Phil Hutchinson and Rob Lawrence before Smith’s second settled the tie.
City needed extra-time to win 4-2 at Rusthall Reserves
The teams ended 2-2 after 90 minutes before goals by Louis Pashley and Jack Burnham saw City through.
Caleb Luckhurst and an own-goal were the other scorers.
Adam James and Frank NDouga, were Rusthall’s marksmen, as they missed out on a place in a third final.
Premier Division
Another week – and it’s still neck and neck in the race to win the title.
Dan Ashton and Josh Brown (21 for the season), netted for Staplehurst Monarchs in the 2-1 win at Metrogas FC, while Brad Webb’s double – early in both halves – earned Borden their seventh successive win 2-0 at home to Peckham Town.
All four of Monarchs remaining games are at home, beginning with the visit of New Romney this weekend, while Borden’s three match run-in – all away – continues at Kings Hill.
Faversham Strike Force’s bid for a top-four finish continued – 2-1 winners at Farnborough Old Boys Guild – their first defeat in 2019. Radoslav Davidov scored both.
Otford United claimed a third successive win 3-0 at Kings Hill with goals by Luke Backaby, Tom Cobb and Tim Isles.
Wind was the dominant factor in all games on Saturday highlighted by New Romney goalkeeper Paul Egan’s tweet following the 1-1 draw against Hawkinge. Billy Weir Somerville and Niall Jackson netted in the first half for the respective sides.
“Terrible conditions, never seen so much movement in the ball….still unbeaten runs continues.” said Egan
Talking of keepers, congratulations to Tommy Hobson of Peckham Town on his inclusion in the England Deaf Squad in their 3-1 win over the Army FA Reserves at Aldershot on Sunday.
The game was in preparation for the European Championships which take place in Crete in June.
Hobson tweeted: “Privilege to play with England. “I thought I had a good 45 minutes to show they were right to recall me.”
The squad are self-funding and have topped the £20,000 mark in their quest to raise £30,000 for the trip.
Division one
Ide Hill moved back top of the West Division after their 2-0 win at Long Lane.
Top scorer Craig Jackson scored twice in the opening 10 minutes, the first from the penalty spot, making it 16 for the season, with Mike McKay named Man-of-the-Match after a fine display at the other end, on a difficult afternoon for goalkeepers across the county.
Darren Wynne is another County League striker enjoying a prolific season – scoring four in South East Athletic FC’s 9-0 win at AFC Mottingham – 22 for the season – with Bao Tri Tran’s hat-trick moving him into double figures for the season.
Richard Aidoo hit his 15th of the campaign in Club Langley’s 1-1 draw at Welling Park – Connor Cooper netted for the home side.
Charlie Dale’s early second half strike was his first of the season for Holland & Blair Reserves in their 1-1 draw against Burgess Hodgson. Player-Manager Matt Lightfoot took his tally to 16 for the Canterbury visitors in the only C&E game played.
Division Two
Red Velvet FC are enjoying a great season throughout the club – the 4-1 win at Crayford Arrows securing their place in Division 1 next season.
It was another Taylor-made victory thanks to 35-goal Harry’s latest hat-trick.
The club tweeted: “Another great day for the first team – promotion was confirmed (unless only one team is going up then we have got to win it.) “Five promotions, five cup finals in five years.”
Tony Fenech scored twice in Sporting Thamesmead Reserves’ 3-3 home draw against Belvedere.
Bearsted Reserves are already preparing for next season. They are seeking a new coach to join the management team, as well as more players in all positions to train and trial immediately.
Anyone interested should e-mail Joshua: jfoxwellmorgan@gmail.com.
Division Three
Travis Austin scored twice as Deal Town Rangers beat University of Kent 5-2 in the Central & East
The students played with only 10-men but were on terms at half time with the score 2-2.
Larkfield and New Hythe Wanderers have also got one eye on the future.
The club have made great strides in promoting and marketing the club but are now looking to rebuild on the pitch.
“We are looking to appoint new coaches to assist their present manager (level 2 or higher ideally) although level 1 would be considered depending on experience.”
West front-runners Danson Sports failed to score for the second successive week – drawing 0-0 at home to Long Lane Reserves.
Veteran division
Division 2 leaders Insulators Vets topped the 50-goal mark, beating AFC Unity 8-0 – Lewis Howard scoring twice.
FIXTURES APRIL & MAY 2019
We are now issuing the final League and Cup fixture list for 2018-2019 season, the list covers matches to be played between 6th April through to 18th May.
The fixture list can be downloaded by clicking here
LEAGUE COMMITTEE VACANCIES
The Kent County Football League would like to invite applications for the position of League General Secretary.
The successful applicant it is hoped, could work alongside the current Secretary until the end of the season being ready to take over in full at the League AGM in June.
Use of Whole Game System and Full-Time would be of great benefit, as they are the primary tools in the League. Full record keeping and being the first port of call on most matters are the main requisites for this post.
The successful applicant would join a very successful team that works well together and has very high standards that have been built up over many successful years.
The League would also like to expand its committee and add a Charter Standard Co-ordinator to oversee the League’s Charter Standard business and also a Ground Grading Co-ordinator to collate and maintain the League’s ground grading policy.
For an informal chat or to make a full application for any of these positions, please contact Gavin Hoare , League General Secretary.
REFEREES ONLINE APPLICATION 2019-2020
The online application form for Match Officials for the 2019-20 season is now open.
Please click here to complete and submit.
MANAGER OF THE MONTH
The February Aford Awards Manager of the Month awards were presented on Saturday (Saturday, 9th March).
Cyril Windiate made the Premier Division presentation to Gary Axford, his second award this season. His Faversham Strike Force team were undefeated in the month recording home wins against Kings Hill and Fleetdown United, third game was a draw with Tudor Sports.
The Western Section award was made to first time winner Yousif Shimirty of Danson Sports. New to the League this season the team are currently one of four teams leading
the division separated only by goal difference. They were unbeaten in February with League wins against AFC Lewisham and South East Athletic Reserves, together with a win against Drummond Athletic in the NRG Gym West Kent Challenge Shield.
In the Eastern Section there were insufficient matches, therefore no award will be presented.
To receive the award teams must have a disciplinary record for the month within the League’s Code of Conduct. For full details and full list of the season’s winners click here.
RUNNING THE LONDON MARATHON
The Kent County League has for several years supported and raised awareness of mental health issues, particularly in young men. Working with Kent County Council and MIND we have provided Mental Health First Aid Courses for our clubs and we support the KCC “Release the Pressure” campaign.
To further show our backing in this area we are delighted to highlight the fundraising efforts of Belvedere FC player Leon McLeod who has first hand experience of the issues.
Leon, a British Transport Police Officer, was involved in the police response to the London Bridge and Borough terror attack. He was awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal for bravery following the June 2017 incident. He was commended for helping the many innocent people caught up in the attack, including his colleague PC Wayne Marques.
The experience had a profound effect on Leon and he acknowledges he was slow to seek help but he doesn’t want to see others in a similar position so he will be running the London Marathon in aid of PTSD999 who help all emergency services workers, staff and their families in dealing with some of the traumas that arise from dealing with some of the things they do on a daily basis.
He said “I personally have struggled at times since that night in 2017 and want to do what I can to support colleagues from all services and raise awareness of some of the symptoms of mental health. At the end of the day we’re all human.”
Leon has set himself a target of £10,000 and to donate to this worthy cause please click here
If you’re feeling under pressure call for Tackling Mental Health! helpline on 0800 107 0160 to get free advice from expert therapists and counsellors.
The following dates have been agreed for the Semi Final Fixtures of the Hospitals Charity Cup (Senior Division)
Erith & Belvedere v Forest Hill Park – Tuesday March 5 (Kick off 7:45pm)
Stansfeld v Sutton Athletic – Tuesday March 12 (Kick off 7:45pm)
The Junior Division Final will be;
Halls AFC v Sporting Club Thamesmead Reserves
The date and venue will be confirmed shortly
KENT FA PITCH IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME
The FA Pitch Improvement Programme (PIP) will deliver improvements to more than 200 grass pitches across Kent over the next three years.
Kent FA is committed to improving pitches and supporting ground staff across Kent.
With this in mind they are introducing a monthly blog aimed to provide an insight into the world of Groundsmanship, while providing tips and advice to help pitches across the County flourish.
The blog is written by multi award winner and K Sports Head Groundsman, Scott Byers.
The latest edition is now available, to view the blog click here.
If you would be interested in the Pitch Improvement Programme email Lee Suter at the Kent FA by clicking here.
REFEREES ONLINE APPLICATION 2018-2019
The online application form for Match Officials for the 2018-19 season is now open.
Please click here to complete and submit.
SITUATIONS VACANT & FRIENDLIES WANTED
Do you need new players or volunteers? After some pre-season matches? The latest vacancies and requests are listed below. For full details click here
MANAGER AVAILABLE – with Kent County League Experience
GREENWAY ACES FIRST TEAM -Looking to strengthen their side
ROCHESTER CITY – Looking for new players
TONBRIDGE INVICTA – New First Team Manager required
PLAYER SEEKING CLUB – 27 Year Old attacker midfield or striker looking for a new club
TONBRIDGE INVICTA FC NEED YOU! – Looking to rebuild
PLAYER SEEKING CLUB – Centre Back/Centre Defensive Midfielder, looking to get back into the game.
JANUARY 2019 – MANAGER AVAILABLE – Previous Kent County League experience
PLAYER SEEKING CLUB – 19 Year Old Right Back
AFC LEWISHAM – Are looking for experienced strikers and a goalkeeper
TWO PLAYERS SEEKING CLUB – A goalkeeper and a midfielder looking to get back into football
PLAYER SEEKING CLUB – 29 years old looking to play left or right back
PLAYER SEEKING CLUB – 21 year old with a passion for football
DIARY DATES
Tuesday, 26th March 2019 – Eastern Section Les Leckie Cup Final – Venue : Chatham Town FC – Kick Off 7:30pm
Tuesday, 7th May 2019 – NRG Gym West Kent Challenge Shield Final – Venue: Sevenoaks Town FC – Kick-Off 7:30pm
Tuesday, 14th May 2019 – Bill Manklow Inter-Regional Challenge Cup – Venue: Rochester United FC – Kick Off 7:30pm
Saturday, 1st June 2019 – Kent County Football League Annual Presentation night at the Mercure Hotel, Maidstone, Kent ME17 1RE
Monday, 17th June 2019 – Kent County Football League Annual General Meeting at The Appleyard, Avenue of Remembrance, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 4DE
