Phil Hudson steps down as K Sports' chairman: I’m increasingly proud of what I have achieved since I joined the club in 2012

PHIL HUDSON says he is stepping down as the chairman of K Sports Football Club at the end of the season after five years at the club.

The Paperboys were playing Kent County League football at Bearsted’s Honey Lane in Otham but have since been promoted into the Kent Invicta League, finishing their debut season in sixth-place, and are now in the top four in the revamped Southern Counties East Football League First Division today, seven points adrift of the league leaders Rusthall with a game in hand.

“I would like to formally announce that I will be stepping down as chairman of K Sports at the end of the season,” he said in a statement which was published on www.ksports-fc.co.uk.

“This is a decision I have not taking lightly.  The decision to step down is due to personal reasons and my family must come first.

“I’m increasingly proud of what I have achieved since I joined the club in 2012, winning the Kent FA media award was really proud moment and becoming chairman and moving the club to where it is today will stay with me forever.

“I have really enjoyed my time with the club, I never thought five years ago, that turning up to a meeting would lead me to becoming club chairman but I’m so glad it did.

“From a struggling first and reserve team to now a very strong community club which is the talk of Kent makes me again really proud.

“I will miss the people around the club immensely and I would like to thank everyone for all their help and support in moving the club where it is today.

“Taking over as chairman was a massive challenge as the club was in a bad situation, no money in the bank, the fixture secretary quit, we were going to get kicked out of the Kent County League as Honey Lane didn’t meet the FA standards even though Bearsted were in the higher League, but this didn’t matter we were still getting kicked out.

“Looking back this was the best thing that happened as it got my back up and I went into overdrive. People who know me will tell you I won’t settle for second best or put up with people who lie. After initially investing money in showers at Honey Lane I found out we could in fact move back to Cobdown and stay in the league without spending a penny, even though I was told we couldn’t and we would still be relegated. To the person who told me we couldn’t (I won’t name names) look where we are now! Even though Bearsted got four brand new showers the outcome for us has been well worth it!

“My next steps were to take the club to the next level. I set out a plan and that’s what’s led us to where we are today. Bringing in Paul Atkins was my next master stroke and he will be the man to move this great club on even further.

“I’m not going to do all my thank you’s yet as we have to finish this season.”

Mr Hudson paid tribute to first-team manager Kris Browning, who is doing an excellent job without a playing budget and they go into Saturday’s home game against Phoenix Sports on a 15-match unbeaten run and are unbeaten at home, which has now been transformed into an artificial pitch at their ground at Station Road, Ditton, Aylesford.

“Kris has done a remarkable job with very limited resources and every challenge that has been thrown at him he has taken on board and found a way to may it work,” said Mr Hudson.

“So the clubs progression on the pitch, where we currently sit in the league and the run we're currently on is of no surprise to me. He's developed a great squad of players along with his management team that all play their part. The togetherness they have is admirable and it's something that we have tried to install throughout the club. I wish them all the success in the future and I hope at the end of the season we have something to celebrate.

“I'd like to thank everyone who has been involved and helped bring the club forward. It has really meant a lot to me and without you we most certainly wouldn't be here now. I've made some great friends here and it's been a wonderful five years.”

Visit K Sports’ website: www.ksports-fc.co.uk