Monarchs vow to bring Kent League football to Staplehurst

THE SMALL rural town of Staplehurst will be staging Kent League football in three years time, says Dennis Hughes, the newly appointed manager of ambitious club Staplehurst & Monarchs, writes Stephen McCartney.

The club have been reprieved from relegation from the Vandanel Kent County League Division One East, despite finishing rock bottom.

Qualified Hughes, who is 53, is moving from Portsmouth to Staplehurst this month, to accept the opportunity to guide the club through two divisions with back-to-back promotions.

A £390,000 grant from The Football Foundation has been awarded to improve facilities at Jubilee Field, Headcorn Road, Staplehurst, and the club are expected to move in next year.

“The new ground is being built as we speak in Staplehurst,” an excited Hughes told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“Everything’s being gutted, brad new facilities, changing rooms, bar facilities etc. We’re having a training area with three full sized pitches.

“We’ve got the grant to help the Parish and the local area to get local youngsters in soccer so there’s big plans for the club.

When asked when the club, which runs a first, reserve and an A team, will be moving in, Hughes replied: “We’re hoping to move in somewhere around January and February (2009). It’s been delayed purely due to the bad weather.

Floodlights are needed for clubs that wish to play Kent League football and there could be good news on that front.

Hughes said: “Floodlights will be on the training area because when we put planning permission in we didn’t put in plans for the first team pitch but that will be applied for in later stages.”

No-one knows what the future of the Kent League holds but Hughes believes Staplehurst will be playing at that level soon.

“The Kent League’s getting smaller and smaller purely because of the facilities,” he said.

“Our facilities will be second to none and the top teams will want to come down and play at our ground as everything will be brand new.

With a reprieve maintaining the club’s current status, Hughes insists the club is on it’s way up and wants to hit the ground running.

“They stayed in the first division by their skin of their teeth really,” Hughes admitted.

“If club’s can’t keep up with what ever they may be, fines or administration, or whatever and club’s fold up with financial situations, we’re lucky, we’ve got people in mind with sponsorship.

“It’s certainly the start of a new club on it’s way up.

“Two clubs amalgamated to make it one large one so it would be a pretty new club on the up. With two teams joining together and all the better for the local community (as we can) entice people to the club.

“There’s a lot of chimney pots around. Maidstone’s up the road, Ashford’s the other way, within a 15-20 minute drive. You can entice players from other clubs and they can look at the facilities and train.

“We’ve got a professional set up now, with myself, things look bright for the club.”

Qualified Hughes has a wealth of experience in the game, having started out in Arsenal’s youth team before playing for Leyton Orient, Brighton & Hove Albion and Halifax Town.

Locally, he has managed a whole host of Sussex sides, including Hastings, East Grinstead and Steyning.

Last season he was in Ireland with Limerick City and also coached the under 21 county team.

Hughes would like to hear from players who want to be apart of the club’s rise.  Please email him at dennishughes12@yahoo.ie mentioning that you read this article on www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

Meanwhile, the club are currently in negotiations with Ryman Premier League neighbours Maidstone United about arranging a pre-season friendly against their reserve/under 18 side.

Hughes’ side have confirmed their only home friendly, which will be played at The County Ground, Norman Road, West Malling, will be against Farnborough Old Boys Guild on 9^th August.

Staplehurst & Monarchs will travel to Maidstone League outfit Blue Eagles on 2^nd August, before travelling to Vandanel Kent County League sides Bridon Sports (16^th August) and Eltham Palace (23^rd August). More games are expected to be filled in.