Bearsted

Bearsted FC - A History

Bearsted FC was founded in 1895 and is one of the oldest clubs in Kent. Originally playing on Bearsted Green the club moved to Honey Lane, Otham in 1998 to enable the club to compete in the Premier Division of the Kent County League.

We are one of the oldest clubs in the County of Kent. Some early history of the club can be found in the book "A history of Bearsted and Thurnham". The club was reformed after the Second World War and continued its participation in the Maidstone and District Saturday Football League running first and reserve sides. It was in the mid 1970's that the Club emerged as one of the leading local Maidstone teams. After applying to join the Maidstone League`s Premier Division the Club finished runners up for three consecutive seasons and then champions for three successive seasons.

At the same time the youth section of the Club started when we took under our wing a young boys club, Bearsted Hornets, who ran U12 and U14 sides. In 1982 the Club was elected into the Kent County League. Since then the Club has won almost every league and cup competition run by that League.

The Club celebrated its Centenary in 1995 , the occasion being marked by a Dinner at the Great Danes Hotel. Commemorative Certificates were presented by both the Football Association and the Kent County Football Association. The toast to the Club was made by Bob "The Cat" Bevan the well known football raconteur. For its first 100 years the Club played on the Green at Bearsted. However the higher standard of football in which the Club plays requires better facilities. So in 1998/9 we moved to our present ground at Otham. Since then the Club has invested heavily in improving the excellent facilities there.

In the 1999/00 season we reached the semi final of the Kent Senior Cup (defeating three Kent League sides on the way) before losing to Deal Town who later went on to Wembley to win the FA Vase. In the same season the Times reported on our League achievement in going unbeaten until the first weekend in May. In the season 2002/3 the Kent County League represented England in a EUFA tournament , its representative side being managed by Bearsted's first team manager and coach and with 5 Bearsted players representing England. The Club is very proud of the individuals who have represented their country.

The Club were proudly awarded FA Charter Status in 2005.

Since reaching the finals of the Kent Senior Cup in the 2006/2007 Season, where we were narrowly defeated by Whitstable Town 1-0 from the Kent League, the First Team have had a run of lean years, having won the Kent County Premier League trophy in successive years in 2001/02, 2002/03 Seasons.

The Bears were invited to join the newly formed Step 6 Kent Invicta League for the start of the 2011/2012 Season, with the prize for the Champions being promotion to the Kent League.

The next chapter of the clubs history began in March 2011 when planning permission was finally granted on appeal for a 114-seater stand and floodlights for our Honey Lane ground.

The ground improvements were achieved in time for the 2015 - 2016 season with the icing on the cake, becoming the League Champions of The Kent Invicta League in the same season. In doing so we gained promotion to the Premier Division of The Southern Counties East Football League - formally the old Kent Invicta League.

A truly great achievement by everyone associated with Bearsted Football Club.

For the last few Seasons Bearsted have finished in a position of safety within The SCEFL Premier Division.

The 2016-17 Campaign saw the side end in 12th place and 2017-18 saw a 14th placed finish as did the following year.

In the 2019/20 Season the Bears were heading for a Top 7 finish after a high-scoring campaign. However along came Coronovirus and football was wiped out, the same again the next year.

In 2021/22 a solid 11th place was earned and that was followed by 13th in 2022/23.