Clubs invited to new League meeting

Friday 08th May 2009

FOOTBALL CLUBS across the county are being urged to attend a meeting on Wednesday night that could change the face of non-league football in the region, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Kent County Football Association, in association with the Bulmers Cider Kent League and Vandanel Kent County League, has been working towards forming a new Step 6 League.

The League will provide a vital link between the two leagues and enable more clubs to climb the non-league pyramid.

Mike Appleby, the FA's Leagues Manager, will outline the benefits of the league, its place in the non-league set-up and its advantages.

The meeting, which will take place at Lordswood Football Club, is open to all clubs who play in Saturday League football across the region - including the Rochester & District League, Maidstone & District League and South London Alliance, who have already indicated to the County Association that they wish to find out more.

In addition, a number of clubs in the Vandanel Kent County League have already indicated that they want to progress - with an initial six sides applying for promotion during the current campaign.

Kent League chairman Denise Richmond, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight, welcomed the move.

"We've long-pressed for the introduction of a Step 6 league that will really benefit football in Kent and the surrounding area," she said.

"It will be an invaluable stepping stone for clubs that want to progress through the leagues and get their facilities in order to play a higher standard of football.

"If clubs made the step up they would have access to greater levels of funding, be part of the non-league pyramid and improve their own facilities.

"Any Step 6 league would have lower ground grading than the Bulmers Cider Kent League so clubs would be able to progress step by step.

"A number of clubs have made the step up as far as the Bulmers Cider Kent League in recent seasons, including Holmesdale and Norton Sports, and not looked out of place.

"With so many teams across the county progressing to the Ryman League and beyond in the last decade, we really need to encourage as many teams as possible to move forward.

"A Step 6 league is the way to do that and we're hoping as many of the clubs that have expressed their interest, attend the meeting."

The meeting gets underway at 7.30pm at Lordswood Football Club in North Dane Way, Lordswood.

For further information please contact Denise Richmond on 020 8378 5042.

Meanwhile, www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering our first ever game at Rusthall tomorrow, when the Rustics' welcome Bearsted to Jockey Farm in the premier division of the Vandanel Kent County League.

Here is a list of tomorrow's Vandanel Kent County League fixtures:

Premier Division:

Coney Hall v Bromley Green

Fleet Leisure v Lewisham Borough

Rusthall v Bearsted

Sheerness East v Orpington

Snodland v Cray Valley (PM)

Stansfeld Oxford & Bermondsey Club v Hollands & Blair (1:45pm)

Division One East

Canterbury City v University of Kent

Division One West

Crockenhill v Tudor Sports

Farnborough Old Boys Guild v Belvedere

Sutton Athletic v Tonbridge Invicta

Westerham v Bridon Ropes

Division Two East

Lanes End v Swale United

(to be played at Swale United)

Larkfield & New Hythe Wanderers v Premier

Platt United v Woodstock Park

Saga Sports & Social v Bredhurst Juniors

Tenterden Town v Pembury

Division Two West

Erith 147 v Charlton Athletic Community

Old Bexleians v Chislehurst

Wickham Park v Fleetdown United

(to be played at Bromleians Sports)

Games expected to kick-off at 2:45pm - but please check with clubs as information on the League is very limited.

Visit the Bulmers Cider Kent League website: www.kentleague.com

Visit the Vandanel Kent County League website: www.kentcountyfootballleague.co.uk