Lordswood

LORDSWOOD - CLUB HISTORY

Lordswood FC were formed in 1968 and played out their early years in Cliffe Woods playing in the Rochester and District League.

In the early 1970's the football club and cricket club formed the Lordswood Sports and Social Club, acquiring the land and building the foundations of the facilities that are present today. The clubhouse was built in 1977 and since then the Rugby club and Petanque club have also joined the Social club.

Lordswood FC won successive Divisions and Cups in the Rochester and District League before finally ending up in the Premier Division. The club then applied, and was successful, in gaining entry into the Kent County League in 1981/82.

The Lords soon made their mark at a higher standard of football and, within 5 years of joining, they again found themselves in the Senior Division. In June 1996, officials of Lordswood FC attended the Kent League AGM and made a successful application to join the Winstonlead Kent League (as it was known then).

Lordswood is situated in the Medway Towns where the club own their own ground and have continually improved their facilities over the years. The facilities include; Floodlights, a 123 seater stand, and hard standing/terracing around 3 sides of the ground. The Boardroom was opened by Andy Hessenthaler when he brought his Gillingham side for a friendly in July 2003. This game brought a record gate of 600, and although Lordswood lost 5-0, two weeks later Gillingham beat Preston by the same scoreline, and so are in good company.

Lordswood's highest league position is 4th which was achieved in 2015/16. They have reached the Semi-Final of the Kent Senior Trophy 3 times and the final once (losing 2-1 to Tunbridge Wells in 2012/13, and the League Cup semi-final once. They have entered the FA Cup every year since the 1999/00 season and FA Vase every year since the 1998/99 season. Reaching the 1st Qualifying Round of the FA Cup on two occasions, and reaching the 4th round proper of the FA Vase.

Lordswood's biggest win was against Erith Town with a 7-0 scoreline. The biggest defeat came against Folkestone Invicta away , 8-1.

Lordswood were Runners-Up in the Midweek League in 1998/99 when they lost 2-0 to St. Leonards, and the Reserve Team won the Floodlight Trophy in 2006/07.

The 2012/13 season was arguably Lordswood’s most successful ever, reaching the 4th round of the Carlsberg FA Vase (losing to the winners Spennymoor Town), and the semi-final of the Macron Premier Division Cup. Lordswood also finished runners-up of the Kent Senior Trophy narrowly losing 2-1 to Tunbridge Wells and finished a then club best 5th place in the league. The end of that season saw Jason Lillis depart to Whitstable Town along with a number of key players and the club was forced to rebuild once again.

Simon Halsey was Lillis' replacement and brought high hopes for the club to push on following his past exploits in the league with Herne Bay. However the promise failed to materialise and Halsey left without seeing a whole season out. Lillis returned to the club but left again less than a year later in March of the 2014/15 season.

James Collins came in to steady the ship at the end of the 2014/15 season and took the role permanently for the following season leading the Lords to their highest ever league finish of 4th. His achievement didn’t go unnoticed and he departed for Cray Valley.

Former player Richard Styles was appointed the club manager for the start of the 2016/17 season in his first managerial position and he struggled in his first term, with the club languishing at the wrong end of the table it took a turn of form in the last few months for the side to draw clear of the bottom to finish in 16th place. The following season saw a much improved performance, finishing a respectable 8th in the league and reaching the semi-finals of the SCEFL Challenge Cup (losing to eventual winners Whitstable Town on aggregate over 2 legs) and enjoying a run to the 3rd round proper of the FA Vase.

Hopes were therefore high for an improved season during 2018/19, however a number of inconsistent performances resulted in a somewhat disappointing 10th placed finish. Styles left the club in June to take up the vacant manager's post at Tunbridge Wells and a number of players from the Lordswood squad followed him.

Darren Anslow was appointed as the new manager for the 2019/20 season, bringing in Rob Gillman and Owen Price as his assistants. The season was cut abruptly short in March 2020 and consequently declared null and void when the Covid pandemic stopped all forms of sport for a number of months. Anslow subsequently departed the club due to work commitments and Neil Hunter was appointed his successor having arrived to assist Anslow at the beginning of 2020.

Hunter's start to life as manager was also cut short due to Covid with the 2020/21 season only managing to complete 11 league games before time was called. The 2021/22 season therefore had a real sense of hope following two frustrating seasons, however Hunter struggled with his time as manager and left his position just before Christmas 2021 with the club languishing in the relegation zone.

Former Lordswood player Richard Dimmock was appointed as the new manager with the sole task of keeping the club safe from relegation. Dimmock brought his management team of Mike Jones and another former Lordswood player, Jason Long, and they delivered safety on a nervy final game of the season.

After a 16th place finish last season Lordswood now go into the 2023/24 campaign full of hope of a successful year.