The Turn of the Century
05 Sep 2008

The 1999/2000 season saw the 3rd team move to Division 7 of the West Kent Sunday League with the 1st and 2nd teams remaining in Divisions 1 and 4 respectively. With a much higher then average number of injuries to key players it proved a difficult time, with the managers constantly juggling their resources and settled sides an unachievable luxury. In the Cup competitions the Club fared rather better with the 1st team reaching the 4th round of the Sussex County Junior Cup before going out to one of the eventual finalists and the 2nd team getting to the semi-final of the West Kent Junior Cup only to be beaten in the dying seconds of extra time.

For the 2000/1 season there were a number of new signings and confidence was high but unfortunately the real winner was the weather, with very little football being played between the middle of October and the middle of March. However, with all cup competitions being cancelled – frustrating for the 1st team who had again reached the 4th round of the Sussex County Cup – the league programme was completed. All three teams finished in mid-table in their respective divisions although the 2nd team were promoted as a result of teams withdrawing from the division above. An amazing statistic was the “Goals For and Against” for each of the teams in their league programmes. The 1st and 3rd teams managed 42 goals for and 37 against, while the 2nd team managed 41 goals for and 37 against. To cap an enjoyable season, in spite of the weather, the 3rd team were awarded the leagues’ Sportsmanship Trophy, making it a hat-trick for Sportsmanship Awards for the Club – a unique record in the West Kent Sunday League.

For the 2001/2 season there were again a number of new faces in the Club, but sadly two “faithful” servants decided to hang up their Sunday boots and perhaps flatteringly, the Director of Football and Club Coach moved to a higher level at another local club. As a result the management of the teams did not really settle down until the turn of the year and then the results changed for the better. The 3rd team had a particularly good run with just one defeat in the last eight games and by the end of the season all three teams were safe from any relegation fears.

Doom and Gloom
10 Sep 2008

For 2002/3 the teams remained in Divisions 1, 3 & 7 of the West Kent Sunday League and, with a smaller than usual pool of players, a demanding season lay ahead. Further management changes were necessary with Lee Berriman stepping up to take charge of the 1st team, both Paul Howlett and Jon Stanbridge looking after the 2nd team and Simon Kiely and Reg Jones jointly managing the 3rd team. The problems of a “smaller than usual pool of players” were compounded when a series of injuries to key players left the Club unable to field three sides on a regular basis. Eventually the difficult and very sad decision was taken to withdraw the 3rd team from the league and see the season out with just two teams. On the field of play the 1st team managed to retain their place in Division 1, whilst the 2nd team) an amalgamation of 2nd and 3rd team players) were not surprisingly relegated from Division 3.

The 2003/4 season was, for the 1st team, a question of déjà vu. Once again their form up until Christmas was disappointing and then a strong finish ensured that there was no danger of relegation. The 2nd team settled well into Division 5 and produced some very encouraging performances, usually against the better teams in the division and they too comfortably retained their place for the following season.

2004/5 was once again a very tough season for the 1st team and in the end they just could not hang on to their Division 1 status and were relegated to Division 2. The 2nd team also found the going very difficult and they too ended up in a relegation spot in Division 5. A poor season and everyone was glad when it was over.

Bouncebackability
10 Sep 2008

Prior to the start if the 2005/6 season confusion reigned in the Club, with half of the previous seasons 1st team “retiring” and only sufficient players remaining to comfortably field just one team. However by mid August some senior players had banged a few heads together and things looked a lot brighter. Several players returned and a number of new signings meant the state of play looked a lot healthier. With the help of the League Committee the 2nd team was accepted as a late entry and the Club competed in Divisions 5 & 7. After this confused start, the season turned out well with the Club spirit being as high as in “the good old days” and the teams led by Lee Berriman (1st team) and Andrew Weir (2nd team) enjoying their football. In the end the 1st team were beaten to second place on goal difference, whilst the 2nd team became draw champions of the league, with nine of their matches ending level.

For the 2006/7 season both teams were promoted with the 1st team into Division 4 and the 2nd team in Division 6. With most of the previous season’s players re-signing and the Club spirit high there was a rare hope that silverware may be possible at the end of the season. And how that hope turned into reality with the Club achieving its’ best haul of silverware since it’s’ formation. The 1st team collected second place in Division 4, beaten to top spot by goal difference, whilst the 2nd team went one better and were champions of Division 6, seven points ahead of their nearest rival. In the Junior Cup the 1st team went out in the semi-final creating a League record in doing so, by losing 11-12 in a penalty shoot out. The Club’s Pat Noble also collected a League trophy as Best Linesman, whilst Mike Noble made it a double by collecting the League award for Secretary of the Year.

The 2007/8 season provided a little more silverware and proved to be a year of consolidation for both teams. The 1st team reached their first ever final in the Intermediate Cup, but lost narrowly, 1-0, whilst in Division 3 they finished comfortably in 4th place. The 2nd team enjoyed a season of mixed fortunes but ended in mid-table, a remarkable sixteen points ahead of the team below them. Their silverware came in the shape of the League Sportsmanship Trophy, much to the delight of the management, a well deserved award in a division that was tough in all senses of the word. To bring the season to an enjoyable conclusion Pat Noble, for the second year in succession collected the League’s Club Linesman of the Year Trophy. The League also awarded the Club, the Trophy, for Club of the Year.

Up, Up and Away
10 Sep 2008

2008/9 brought more silverware with the 1^st Team taking the Division Three title by a single point. This was their first league title having always previously been runners-up for every other promotion in their history. The 2^nd Team started badly and then put together a run of ten games with just one defeat and this saw them into third place in what was a really tough Division Five.

For 2009/10, having been promoted to Division Two, the 1^st Team struggled to find any consistency and when three teams withdrew they finished third from the foot of the table when a mid-table position would have been more realistic. The 2^nd Team found life even tougher and they finished a single place above the relegation zone in Division Four.

The 2010/11 season started surprisingly well with both teams recording encouraging results in the pre-season friendlies. But few could have foreseen what was to come as the season unfolded. Suffice to say that it was probably the Club’s best ever season with the 1^st Team completing the League and Cup double, comfortably winning Division Two and taking the Intermediate Cup with a goal in injury time. Not to be outdone the 2^nd Team put together an unbeaten run of seven games at the end of the season to capture the runners-up spot in Division Four.

In over twenty years of competitive football the Club has gained an enviable record for sportsmanship and loyalty from the playing members. Now on four occasions the Club have been awarded the League Sportsmanship Trophy. There is one player with over 400 appearances for the Club, closely followed by five players who have each made over 300 appearances and an thirteen other players who have each passed the 200 appearances mark. It should also be noted that the original senior management of the Club are also still very much involved.