Kent County Football Association

Kent County Football Association
Formation 1881
Purpose Football association
Headquarters Invicta House
Cobdown Park
London Road
Ditton
Location
Paul Dolan
Website kentfa.com

The Kent County Football Association, also simply known as the Kent F.A., is the governing body of football in the county of Kent, England, and was formed in 1881. The Kent FA run 20 County Cups at different levels of football for affiliated teams across Kent.

History

The Kent County FA was formed in October 1881 by two friends – M.P, Betts (Secretary) and G.W. Prall (Treasurer).

Over the next few years matters became more formalised. Mr A.G.O Kennedy was appointed secretary in 1888 and he made a great difference in creating a proper structure for football. He was taken ill in 1892 and died in December of that year.

From Mr. Kennedy’s base P.J. Leckie became secretary and served until 1986 and was succeeded by J Albert who served until 1905. During that time the Association made great strides forward reaching a total of 297 clubs and 41 leagues. In 1905 the gate receipts from the Kent Senior Cup Final amounted £233.

In 1905 J. Albert relinquished his position as Secretary through pressure of outside commitments. The Council later that year resolved that position of Secretary become a full-time post at maximum salary of £80 per annum for 3 years. It was also resolved that the Secretary must reside in Chatham. Frank Lockwood was appointed as the first full-time Secretary and served until his death in 1914. By that time the number of affiliated clubs had risen to 600.

After the First World War had ended, Captain J. Rigden assumed the role of Secretary and served until 1926 when he was replaced by much revered Stanley Brown.

Stanley became the longest serving Secretary occupying the position until 1964. It was Stanley’s foresight which enabled the Association to acquire 69 Maidstone Road, Chatham which remained the headquarters for 62 years until 2009 when the Association relocated to Cobdown, Ditton.

Brown retired in 1964 and was replaced by Dick Speake. He in turn reached retirement age in 1978 when Keith Masters had the "honour and privilege" of taking over the role of Secretary which became Chief Executive on Incorporation in November 2000.

The Association has grown into a moderate business employing almost 20 members of staff providing football for leagues, clubs, players, referees and anyone that wants to be involved or just loves the game.[1]

Organisation

The Kent County Football Association (KCFA) aims to establish safe and structured football opportunities for the benefit of all concerned irrespective of age, colour, gender and disability. The KCFA aim to provide the appropriate structures and systems to enable the association to control, manage, regulate and promote the game within the County.

The KCFA was formed in 1881 and has governed the game of football, under the aegis of The Football Association since that date. The Kent County Football Association became a Company Limited by Guarantee on November 1, 2000. Kent is the fifth largest County affiliated to The Football Association and is divided into four geographical divisions for administration purposes.

There are 66 KCFA Council Members and 48 of these are elected to serve within the area that they live.[2]

Affiliated Leagues

Small Sided Leagues

  • Ashford 5-A-Side Super League (1983)
  • Ashford Supersixes
  • Faversham and District Indoor 5-a-Side League
  • Kent Cricket Academy 5-a-Side League (2004)
  • Kicks Soccer Centre
  • Medway Park 5-a-Side League
  • Medway Towns Red Triangle 5-a-Side League
  • Pitch Invasion
  • Sittingbourne Indoors 5-a-Side League[2][3]

Disbanded or Amalgamated Leagues

Leagues that were affiliated to the Kent County FA but have disbanded or amalgamated with other leagues include:

Affiliated Member Clubs

Among the notable clubs that are (or at one time were) affiliated to the Kent County FA are:

In 1946 Gravesend United merged with Northfleet United to form Gravesend & Northfleet who are now known as Ebbsfleet United.

County Cup Competitions

The Kent County FA run 20 County Cup Competitions:

  • Kent Senior Cup
  • Kent Senior Trophy
  • Kent Intermediate Cup
  • Kent Intermediate Challenge Shield
  • Kent Junior Cups – Junior Cup A, Junior Cup B & Junior Cup C
  • Kent Sunday Cups – Sunday Premier Cup, Sunday Junior Cup, Sunday Junior Trophy
  • Kent Veteran's Cup
  • Youth Cup Under 18 – Boys
  • Youth Cup Under 16 – Boys
  • Youth Cup Under 15 – Boys
  • Youth Cup Under 14 – Boys
  • Youth Cup Under 13 – Boys
  • Women's Cup
  • Women's Plate
  • Girls Cup Under 16
  • Girls Cup Under 14

Source[4]

Charity Cup Competitions

  • Ashford Charity Trophy
  • Beckenham Hospital Invitation Charity Cup Comp.
  • Gordon Charity Cup
  • Gravesend Hospital Challenge Cup Competition
  • Hawkhurst Charity Cup
  • North Kent Sunday & KSFL Charity Shield (1962)
  • Sittingbourne & Milton Charity Cup
  • The Hospitals Charity Cup
  • Tunbridge Wells & District Charity Cups Competition
  • Weald Of Kent Charity Cup

Source[5]

Senior Cup

Main article: Kent Senior Cup

The Kent Senior Cup is a county cup competition involving senior teams affiliated to the Kent County Football Association.

List of recent Kent County Cup Winners

SeasonKent Senior Cup WinnersKent Senior Trophy WinnersKent Intermediate CupKent Intermediate Challenge Shield
2002–03Margate Maidstone United Deal Town Reserves Sheerness East
2003–04Margate Cray Wanderers Cray Wanderers Reserves Stansfeld (O & B) Club
2004–05Margate Thamesmead Town Dover Athletic Reserves Cray Valley Paper Mills
2005–06Bromley VCD Athletic Tonbridge Angels Reserves Hollands & Blair
2006–07Bromley Whitstable Town Deal Town Reserves Stansfeld (O & B) Club
2007–08Ebbsfleet United Thamesmead Town Tonbridge Angels Reserves Orpington
2008–09Welling United VCD Athletic Tonbridge Angels Reserves Hollands & Blair
2009–10Sittingbourne Faversham Town Dartford Reserves Phoenix Sports
2010–11Dartford Erith Town Deal Town Reserves Hollands & Blair

Source[5]

List of recent Kent County Junior Cup Winners

SeasonKent Junior Cup 'A'Kent Junior Cup 'B'Kent Junior Cup 'C'
2002–03180 Newington River Sports
2003–04Hollands & Blair Emerald Star Parkhurst Rangers
2004–05New Ash Green Phoenix Sports The George
2005–06The Rose Beaverwood Ravens
2006–07Tonbridge Invicta Sutton Athletic Yalding
2007–08Canterbury City Cannon 24 Charlton Community
2008–09Gillingham Green Charlton Athletic Community Folkestone Lantern
2009–10Swale United Insulators Ashford International S & S
2010–11Hollands & Blair Reserves Stockbury Athletic Woodnesborough

Source[5]

Directors and Officials

Directors

  • C.I. Boswell (President)
  • B.W. Bright (Chairman & Managing Director)
  • P.C.B Smith (Vice-Chairman)
  • P.M. Enright (Director of Finance)
  • Dr A.B. Penrose
  • A.D. Crosswell
  • B.B.S. Sangha
  • M.G.Tapp
  • R.D.G. Bradshaw[6]

Key Officials

  • Paul Dolan (Chief Executive)
  • Richard Judd (Football Services Manager)
  • Darryl Haden(Football Development Manager)[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Kent County FA – About Us". Kent County FA. Retrieved 2011-06-20.
  2. 1 2 3 "Building a brighter future for football in Kent – Kent Football Strategy 2008–12" (PDF). Kent County FA. Retrieved 2011-06-20.
  3. 1 2 "Kent County FA – Governance – League Contacts". Kent County FA. Retrieved 2011-06-20.
  4. ↑ "Kent County FA – Fixtures & Results – County Cups". Kent County FA. Retrieved 2011-06-20.
  5. 1 2 3 "Kent County Football Association Ltd – Official Handbook 2010–11" (PDF). Kent County FA. Retrieved 2011-06-20.
  6. ↑ "Kent County FA – About Us – Board of Directors". Kent County FA. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
  7. ↑ "Kent County FA – About Us – nt County FA Contacts". Kent County FA. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
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