Slade Green unveil Ford as their new boss

Ford needs no introduction to followers of Kent League football, having managed VCD Athletic for a fourteen year period.

He cited “personal reasons” behind his shock departure from the Crayford based club, back in April 2007, and has been out of football ever since.

“I left for personal reasons,” Ford told www.kentishfootball.co.uk at the time. “It’s not a football issue."

Ford was officially appointed Slade Green’s new manager last Friday, 2^nd January, and was unveiled to the club’s current playing squad earlier today.

His first game in charge of Slade Green will be a tough trip to leaders Hythe Town in the Bulmers Cider Kent League Cup Quarter-Final First Leg tie at Reachfields Stadium on Saturday.

Hythe Town, who lead the Kent League table by two points, go into the game on the back of five straight league wins, having scored 15 goals in the process.

Ford spent eight years as an apprentice and junior at Charlton Athletic, before moving onto clubs such as Maidstone United, Gravesend & Northfleet, Sittingbourne and Tonbridge.

However, his break into management came in 1993 when he was appointed as boss of VCD Athletic.

Four years later he led Vickers to the Kent County League championship by winning the title by a record 15 points, gaining promotion to the Kent League in the process.

He has twice gone close to winning the Kent League title, finishing as a runner-up in 2003, losing on goal difference to Maidstone United, and resigned eight games before the end of the 2006-07 season, when the club lost the title to Whitstable Town in the final week of the season.

Whitstable Town’s reward for winning the Kent League for the very first time in their history was promotion into the Ryman League and this season is their second at that level.

However, it would be fair to say that Ford’s best moments have come in cup competitions.

In 1999, Ford guided VCD to the Kent League Cup Final, narrowly losing out to Deal Town. However, just 12 months later, he again reached the Kent League Cup Final, beating Faversham Town.

A third successive final followed in season 2000-01, when his side were beaten 10-9 on penalties by Whitstable Town in the Kent Senior Trophy Final at Sittingbourne’s Central Park Stadium.

However, he made amends in 2006, winning the competition at Park View Road in Welling, beating Tunbridge Wells on penalties after the game finished 1-1 after extra time, with Danny Penny scoring for Vickers.

Nationally, Ford has also made his mark having spearheaded VCD to the last 16 of the FA Vase three years in succession, in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Ford arrives at The Small Glen with the club currently sitting in 13^th place in the Kent League table, with Norton Sports, Beckenham Town, Lordswood and Sporting Bengal United below them.

The Green have picked up five wins and three draws from 16 league games, the halfway point of their season.

Pair Terry Malin and Phil Miles, who managed the club for five seasons between 2001-2006, returned to the club to steady the ship, after Matt Longhurst left the club to take up a coaching role at Ryman League Division One North strugglers Chatham Town, at the end of November.

The club said in tonight’s statement that Ford was the ideal choice to replace Longhurst, as he has vast experience of Kent League football.

“In April 2007, Martin ended his long association with VCD and now some two years later he feels that this is the right time to make his return to the Kent League,” said the statement.

“We would like to thank both Terry Malin and Phil Miles for stepping in at such short notice as interim managers following the resignation of Matt Longhurst.

“We feel that Martin’s vast managerial experience and knowledge of Kent League football will stand us in good stead.

“He has a fine track record in grooming young players and is the ideal choice to combine both youthful and experienced players together in a Slade Green side.

“With the exception of Tommy Sampson, he has emerged as the most successful manager in Kent League football.

“We would like to wish Martin the very best of luck in his new position and welcome him back to the Kent League.”

Visit Hythe Town’s website:  www.hythetownfc.co.uk

Visit Slade Green’s website: www.clubwebsite.co.uk/sladegreenfc/

Hythe Town v Slade Green
Bulmers Cider Kent League Cup Quarter-Final First Leg
Saturday 10^th January 2009
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Reachfields Stadium, Fort Road, Hythe, Kent