Canterbury City

Canterbury City - A History

n the early days it was Canterbury Waverley FC who competed in the Kent League between 1924-39 but we were reformed after the war, as Canterbury City FC in 1947 playing at Bretts Sports Ground in Wincheap. Matches were played in the Kent League, until 1959 when we had one season in the Metropolitan League at Kingsmead Stadium and gained promotion to the Southern League for 1960.

During the 1960s City twice reached the first round of the FA Cup. In 1964 we lost 0-6 at home to Torquay United before a Club record of 3001 and in 1968 were vey unlucky to lose away 0-1 to Swindon Town, who with goal scorer Don Rogers, later went on in the League Cup to beat Arsenal 3-1 in the memorable final.

City struggled in the Southern League through the 70s and 80s and with financial pressure mounting in the 90s and the sale of the Kingsmead Stadium by owners Canterbury City Council, the Club became homeless. We returned to the Kent League, but after two consecutive seasons of finishing bottom, the Club folded in 2001.

In 2007 the Club was revived and became the first Club in the country to be formed as a CIC (Community Interest Company). We won promotion from the Kent County League Division 2 East in our first season and secured promotion to the Premier Division in 2011 after an unbeaten run and winning the Les Leckie Cup. With no ground of our own, a nomadic life followed at different Clubs.

Under the management of Ben Smith/ Ade Gower/ Darren Beale, City’s 2015/16 season produced our best finish of 8th
since reforming. In 2019 we had our longest run in the FA Vase, losing in the two-legged semi-final by one goal, to Cray Valley PM and just one step away from a Wembley final.

Like many Clubs, the covid pandemic took its toll on any progression the Club was making and 2021-22 found the Club in financial difficulties once more. Rescued by a mystery donor and Keith Bird being appointed Team Manger in January 2022, the Club finished 16th in the SCEFL league and a decision was made to groundshare with Sittingbourne FC.

A new Board of Directors was appointed in June 2022 to face the uphill struggle of being further away from our support base and requiring alternative sponsorship funding. But we are still standing and look forward to returning to Canterbury one day, in our own stadium, where we will be able to provide facilities for future Youth, Women’s, Disability, Homeless and Walking Football teams for the benefit of the local community.