COMMENT: Bring the Big Three back into the Kent Senior Cup

Thursday 10th March 2011

We all know that the Kent Senior Cup is a dying competition – now it’s the time for the big three clubs, Gillingham, Charlton Athletic and Millwall – who have all previously competed in the competition – take centre stage and make a welcomed return, writes Stephen McCartney.

Last night, Kent’s Ladies’ side were defeated 3-1 on penalties (after the game finished 2-2 after extra time) by their Hampshire counterparts in the final of the South East Counties Trophy at Whitstable Town’s Belmont Road ground.

Looking at their squad, team manager Mark Crawley, only used one player from a non-league football club in Kent – Tracey Duxbury, who plays for both West Ham and Ebbsfleet United. Out of his sixteen player squad, Mr Crawley selected players from Charlton Athletic (8), Gillingham (3), Millwall (1) and Ebbsfleet United (1) and bizarrely a player each from West Ham, Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur.

If the likes of Gillingham, Charlton Athletic and Millwall can provide players’ for a Ladies’ Cup Final for Kent, maybe the Football League trio can spice up a struggling Kent Senior Cup competition and lock horns with their non-league neighbours.

The County’s most prestigious Cup competition has suffered ever since the final was taken away from Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium – a big day out on a Bank Holiday Monday in May for players’ and supporters alike.

Now we have to put up with smaller attendances; weakened team selections and midweek Cup Finals at one of the finalists’ grounds.

The excitement of reaching a County Cup Final is to play it at a Football League stadium – other counties do it – why can’t we?

Dartford and Ramsgate are already through to the semi-finals of this season’s Competition – after knocking out Whitstable Town and Thamesmead Town respectively this week.

Cray Wanderers lock horns with holders Sittingbourne at Hayes Lane next Tuesday, before Bromley and Ebbsfleet United clash at the same venue on Thursday, 24 March.

Meanwhile, the semi-final draw has been made:

Cray Wanderers or Sittingbourne v Bromley or Ebbsfleet United

Ramsgate v Dartford

Visit the Kent County Football Association website: www.kentfa.com