First Division Preview – 2024/25 Season
Our First Division gets underway this Saturday, and following a 105 day break, we can’t wait for it to get started!
18 teams enter the traps this time, with most aiming for one of the two promotion places on offer, whether that be as champions or play-off winners.
For this season we have a new League Sponsor in Presence & Co. and a new results service in Football Web Pages – we also have four new teams to the Division, one returning as former champions, so it’s a big welcome to the SCEFL First Division to Clapton Community, Halls AFC, Soul Tower Hamlets and Welling Town.
In our recent Prediction Poll it was Forest Hill Park that most SCEFL followers fancied to lift the silverware and following their recent acquisition by the SE Dons they are sure to be a team to watch out for this year. Elsewhere Sheppey Sports have completed their transformation from K Sports and Greenways are back for another year in the SCEFL – the Greens will be keen to have their future in their own hands this year!
Here we go though, Preview time, so here’s a look at what some of the key people from our clubs are saying about how their preparations have gone and what their hopes are for the 2024/25 Presence & Co. SCEFL First Division Season.
Bridon Ropes finished the last campaign very strongly, so well in fact that you have to think that had Manager Lee Roots had a full season and the preparations for it, then Ropes could have been one of the sides at the top end of the table competing for honours.
This year Lee does have a full pre-season to prepare his side for the rigours ahead, and it sounds like are ready to go…
“Our off season & pre-season preparations have gone extremely well for us as a club. We worked very hard just before the close of last season to secure & retain all the players we wanted to re-sign from last year’s squad. This allowed myself & my staff to build in the off season knowing exactly what we had, and knowing exactly what we would need to recruit player wise going ahead into the new season. The staff have been truly fantastic in their work & commitment, along with the players who have committed very well to all of the work.”
“As a club we found ourselves being in an extremely strong & unique position, where we ended last season as one of the in-form teams and where we have secured majority of last year’s playing squad that we wanted too, we really have recruited very diligently & our new player additions have already raised the group up to new levels in a very short space of time.”
“We feel we are certainly ready to kick off the brand-new season.”
Bridon Ropes host Sheppey Sports in the League this Saturday before games against Welling Town and Tooting Bec. With a good start how well can Bridon do this year?
“Seeing the fixtures is always a very exciting time for everyone involved at non-league football clubs. The fabric paper of the season now really does starts to feel real, & preparations can truly begin. Our league campaign kicks off at home against newly named Sheppey Sports, and we then have a home tie in the FA Vase where we face Step 5 opposition in Lydd Town.”
“Our aim, goals & targets for the season for us as a club this year – really is that the sky is the limit. We ended last season unbeaten & as one of the inform teams, currently I believe I am the only manager active within the division who has a previous promotion from the league on the CV. Also, I am possibly the most experienced manager within this division, which we feel & we hope will give us good advantages at times over our competitors. The league will have a lot of twists, turns & surprises as it does every year. Ultimately it is the teams who has been most consistent that will find themselves within the title & playoff promotion spots, and we feel that is well within our capabilities.”
Bridon Ropes seems to be the perfect fit for you!
“I would like to place on record how much I have enjoyed my time as manager of Bridon Ropes in my tenure so far. 9 months have gone by so fast & I am very much looking forward to our one-year anniversary in October. We have done some truly amazing work together to turn the clubs’ fortunes around on & off the pitch in such a short space of time, & the last 9 months have been the upmost enjoyable time I have ever had at a club as manager. Thank you to my Chairlady Theresa & thank you to all of the club committee members for their constant unwavering support & backing every single week.”
“I will now look deliver on my part of the job, on the pitch for the new season for everyone involved at Bridon Ropes Football Club.”
Thanks for your time Lee.
Canterbury City finished just outside the play offs last time and with that experience gained and much of the squad retained there is a level of expectation about Dan Lawrence’s side this season.
The City Manager set a tough pre-season schedule for his team and now through it, is hoping that their hard work pays off.
“Our main objectives coming out of last season was to make sure we kept the core of the playing squad that we finished with as we finished the season strongly. I have managed to make some great additions to the backroom staff to make sure we are as good as we can be off the field and have managed to secure some very exciting additions on the field which will hopefully help us improve on last season.”
“Preparations have gone well. We had a very successful trial day back in June which meant welcoming quite a few into the pre-season which has been really competitive. We set up preseason to be very game heavy to give us plenty of chances to look at players as well as fine tune how we want to set up this season. It’s been tough in terms of results but it’s all about making sure we are ready for August 3rd.”
City kick off the new campaign at home to Tooting Bec this Saturday before travelling to Greenways a week later. In the FA Vase a second round home tie against Banstead Athletic or Lordswood awaits.
“It’s nice to start the season off at home but in terms of who we play and when isn’t important as we have to play everyone twice and where you end up at the end of the season won’t be down to who we’re playing at what time of the season but more importantly how we apply ourselves. Again, I’m really pleased in the cups we have home draws. I have a good experience of the Vase and getting home draws in that run is important if you want to go far.”
Can Canterbury earn a top five place? Is that the aim?
“As per every manager I would assume it is to win every game. Unfortunately, we have 17 other teams with the same goal. We got a good experience of the league last year and have a good understanding of what it will take to finish at the top end of it and that must be our aim.”
“I feel the Division will be very similar to last year, you have an out and out favourite and then 7/8 teams that I fancy will be battling for the play-off spots.”
“I think previous years have shown that teams that do get promoted tend to do well in the league above and not too many come back down so it shows the strength of the league and I feel sometimes it’s looked down on a bit but credit to everyone, it’s a really competitive league with some great players and great people. We look forward to getting going.”
Thanks to Dan for those comments.
Clapton Community FC are one of the new guys joining the SCEFL and they join from the Eastern Counties League where they made it into the play-offs last year.
They have a very interesting story and have had very exciting preparations for this season as they describe here.
“The big moment of the summer for Clapton CFC was our trip to Madrid, where both our Women’s First Team and Men’s First Team played another fan-owned club, Independiente de Vallecas. A brilliant experience for supporters and players alike.”
“Over here, we have lost to higher tier opposition Cheshunt, Fisher and Woodford Town and lost to them, drew with fellow Step 6 side Harlow Town, and beat Step 7 sides Waltham Forest Borough and Camden & Islington United, so every game went true to form.”
Manager Geoff Ocran adds: “I’ve not really paid too much attention to pre-season results even though it’s always good for confidence as a whole to win games but it’s really about the required outcomes which takes priority rather than the score lines. We specifically went with higher tier opposition where possible to really assess where we are from a fitness and tactical perspective. It’s also a learning curve for the players in regards to the levels of sharpness which is often required and the difference why players in the pyramid play where they do.”
Clapton have a well-established squad which they have maintained and improved on.
“Last season’s squad is pretty much still with us, which is a big bonus, plus we’ve added 10 or so new faces.”
Geoff adds: “We have strengthened in all departments including a young keeper with lots of potential. They are a mixture of youth, experience, promoted development players and also players with experience of the SCEFL which is a good resource for intel and preparation.”
Greenways and Faversham Strike Force are the first league visitors to the Old Spotted Dog Ground while in the FA Vase they host Hoddesdon Town.
“We’re delighted to be back in the FA Vase for only the second time in our history. In the league, we have never played any of the teams in this division before (with the exception of Tower Hamlets, now Soul Tower Hamlets) so it’s a step into the complete unknown.”
Geoff adds: “We are in a similar situation to where we found ourselves last season – new league, new teams, new grounds. However, it’s nothing we haven’t encountered before so we’ll use the first half of the season to acclimatise and then take it from there.
Can you reveal an aim for the team this year? Do you know much about the league and how do you see it panning out?
“Last season, our first in Step 6 after promotion, we were widely tipped for relegation by those who know the Eastern Counties League. However, in the end we managed to make the play-offs before losing in the semis. This season is hard to predict too.”
Geoff says: “We just want to make a positive start to the season then reassess after 10 games. Naturally expectations will be higher than last season having established ourselves as a Step 6 team.”
Any final words before the season starts?
“Many teams will know we appealed against the lateral transfer into the SCEFL due to the extra mileage and travel time involved. Although the SCEFL was not our preferred destination, there is nonetheless plenty to be excited about joining the league. We are looking forward to making a positive impression on all teams, and welcoming you to London’s oldest senior football ground, the Old Spotted Dog.”
Thanks to all at Clapton Community and welcome to the SCEFL!
Last season was history making for Croydon FC, with a double Cup Final appearance yielding their first trophy in over a decade.
Liam Giles left the club with his head held high over the summer and now Antonio Gonnella is the man tasked with turning those good one off performances into consistent league points and getting the Trams back up to Step 5.
Antonio has made some eye-catching signings and mixed them with some of last years cup winners – as he explains here.
“We have strengthened our squad with several new signings while retaining a solid core from last season. New additions include Ryan Atkinson, who previously played at step 3 and for
Glebe FC. He is a creative and prolific goal scorer. Georgi Steeds, joining from Lewisham Boro and considered one of the most talented players in the league. Kameiko Pope-Campbell, with
experience winning this league, and Jacob Skelly, both from Elmstead, have also joined the team. Kevin Dance, a ball-playing midfielder from Chessington, is already becoming a fan favorite. Ed Mbango, the first of my targets, brings excellent work rate and attacking skills. Another noteworthy addition is David Gabor, who scored 22 goals for Chessington last season and has
already made an impact in preseason. Brandon Barrance, from the club’s U23s and at only 17, has made a huge impact in preseason along with young goalkeeper Oliver Stibinski.”
“The club is also pleased to retain a strong core from last season, including Lauris Chin, Jordan Anderson, Aaron Reber, Sam Hughes-Penny, David Green, Cam McGovern, Uli Fischer, Josh Brown, Pat McKay, Kieran Rufus and Richie White. These players have all shown excellent form in preseason, providing a solid foundation for the team.”
“We are excited about the blend of new talent and experienced players in our squad. The preseason performances have been promising, and we are looking forward to a successful season ahead. We encourage the players to go the extra mile for our fans who come out every week to support the team as we strive to achieve our goals this year.”
Croydon begin the season with home games against FC Elmstead and SC Thamesmead. With a good start they could be a team to watch out for this year.
“As for our early opponents, we are preparing for some tough matches. Each team in the league presents unique challenges, and we are focused on approaching each game with a solid strategy. It is essential to start the season strong, and we’re confident in our preparations and the abilities of our squad.”
“Our aim for the team this year is to be highly competitive and aim for the top positions in the league. We believe that with the new signings and the retained core of players, we have a strong chance to make a significant impact this season. The league will be challenging, but we are optimistic about our prospects.”
Thanks to Antonio for his time.
FC Elmstead were just two points and one place off a promotion place last season, a near miss that could take some time to get over.
Peter Nolan has moved on from his role as First Team Manager and that position has been taken up by Brehn Chidley and his management team.
Brehn talks about about his hopes for the season but first-up looks back over the past few weeks.
“Obviously there have been big changes this year with a new management team, being part of that is exciting and we are very much looking forward to it.
The squad is looking healthy which again is a positive considering it’s a rebuilding process. It’s a youthful squad sprinkled with some experience which hopefully will fair us well moving through the season.”
“Pre season for the best part has been positive. We managed to fit in 8 games 5 of which were against teams from the levels above and we faired pretty well in all of them so I am reasonably happy.”
Elmstead start with an away game before a series of home fixtures that includes an important match in the Vase.
“August will be a hard and hectic month! We have seven games starting with tough fixtures away to Croydon then home to Lewisham Borough. Some points on the board early would be great.”
“A big match for our club is the home tie vs Frimley Green in the FA Vase. It’s a fixture we’re really looking forward to and one that the club, its supporters and club sponsors can come together and have a very good day.”
“As ambition goes we are realistic. A cup run or two would be great and to be competitive in the league. In terms of league position who knows. One thing is for sure, we’ll give it our best shot.”
Thanks Brehn.
Faversham Strike Force failed to pressure for a play off place last season and despite the odd cup run it will probably go down as an below par year.
We did see the introduction of Stuart Benfield as Strike Force Manager halfway through though and here he looks back on that spell before talking about a positive pre-season.
“We had a mixed campaign last time out when I took the reigns over from Gary halfway through the season in my first stint as a Manager. We had success in the cups with a quarter final against Whitstable Town and a Semi Final vs Lewisham Borough but the league ended disappointingly for us finishing 13th and the last few games were very frustrating with injuries and suspension contributing the poor end of the season.”
“During the closed season I’m pleased to confirm that our coaching staff of Sheeps, Chris and Dennis have all agreed to stay on and we have added Craig Coles as head coach for the coming season. Craig brings a wealth of knowledge and new ideas to our back room staff.”
“Pre season has gone to plan and we are starting to get an understanding of how we want to play football as a group.”
“On the pitch we have added new faces to the squad and retained all the players we wanted to which puts us in a great position to start the season with.”
Strike Force begin in the league with a home game against Meridian VP, trip to Clapton then back home against Welling Town. They also have home advantage in the Vase.
“We are expecting a tough start as you don’t know what the opposition have done preseason. In this league you are always happy to have a home game to start with and we are looking to playing AFC Uckfield in the Vase and hoping the home advantage will help us get through the next round.”
“We will take it one game at a time and see how the season plays out but we will be aiming to be there or there abouts at the end the season.”
Best of luck Stuart!
One of the most eye-catching developments in non-league football in this area was the merger over the summer between our Division One stalwarts Forest Hill Park and Sunday League side SE Dons.
The ‘Dons’ will now focus solely on Saturday football with many players from that successful Sunday side now committing themselves to this new SCEFL venture.
The Lewisham based Club is aiming high and dreaming big including plans well underway for an official takeover and name change, although we may have to wait another season before everything is complete.
Forest Hill Park have shown their intent from the off with the recruitment of new First Team Manager Mark Dacey and with their every move documented on YouTube the potential at the club is clear to see.
Our SCEFL followers have put them in as league favourites in our Prediction Poll and despite some hurdles they have had to overcome in preseason, Dons founder Andrew McHugh is positive about the year ahead.
“Preparations have gone well. We’ve played 6 friendlies, won 3, lost 2 & drew 1 against a mixture of levels. Unfortunately we have picked up some injuries a long the way which have played there part in being unable to field a consistent squad. But that’s Football, we always find a way.”
“The squad is shaping up perfectly. We have a spine of players that have joined us from our Sunday League setup & the Gaffer has added with some young talent and a few experienced heads to mix the balance.”
With the Ladywell Arena still preparing our Olympic stars of the future Forest Hill Park find themselves away at Staplehurst Monarchs in their first game and then at Rochester United, Canterbury City and Greenways before a HUGE local derby against Lewisham Borough in early September.
“Looking at our early league fixtures, we wouldn’t want it any other way. Thrown straight into the deep end against some very tough sides. Staplehurst have just signed Luke Adams who played with us on Sundays, we called him the ‘Deep Kent Rooney’. We’re just hoping they get the retired version not prime Wazza.”
“Our aim this season is to win the league. We are extremely aware of how tough it is going to be, but if we wanted to remain comfortable we could have stayed in Sunday League Football. We defo aim to win it/be in amongst the Play Offs.”
“Lastly would like to clarify we are playing under Forest Hill Park, our content is very much SE Dons as that is who our audience recognise us as, but we have merged with FHP & will be playing under that name – although our Social Media is SE Dons.”
“SCEFL let’s be having ya!”
#ANYTHING
Thanks to Andrew for this time, and welcome to Saturdays!
We were not expecting Greenways to be with us again this year, but they are, and that late reprieve has meant a very busy last few weeks for all at the Greens.
A new ground, new players and new Manager, with Andy Pierce handed the reigns for Greenways surprise season ahead.
“We’ve had a very interesting off-season planning for life in the Kent County League and then getting the great news of a reprieve and being reinstated into the SCEFL. As well as this, having to find a new home has meant the last few months have been very busy off the pitch.”
“From a footballing perspective, preparations have gone well. Results have been a mixed bag as always in pre-season, but performances have been positive. The squad have put in a lot of work on and off the training pitch to make sure they are ready to go for the season.”
“We’ve been really active in recruitment and managed to bring in a number of players to bolster the squad ahead of the season starting. A real mix of experience with some great young players have blended really well with the players we kept on from last season.”
Greenways got to one of the new clubs on day one before hosting Canterbury City a week later.
“We are looking forward to our visit to the SCEFL newcomers, Clapton Community, in our first game and seeing what they will bring to the league. As always in this league we know every game will be tough so not expecting anything different from our early opponents. Everyone will be looking to get off to a strong start.”
“No doubt the league will be as tight as always, with many teams strengthening well through the summer so expecting a really good quality and tough league again this season.
Our main aim is to improve on last season and prove our doubters wrong.”
Thanks for your time Andy!
“Just want to wish all the teams the best of luck for the season and our thanks to everyone at the league for everything done so far and the continued great work throughout the season.
We can’t wait for another great season in the SCEFL.”
We have been expecting Halls AFC to join the SCEFL for a while now and after Kent County League success last season they are finally here!
We now get to see if they can cope with the step up to the National League System and to help with that transition Manager George Michaelas made sure their friendly fixtures were tough ones.
“Preseason has been a bit of mixed bag result wise – we won 3, and lost 3. The 2 wins against Step 5 sides we are obviously delighted with, but you can’t take much out of results in preseason.”
“We have managed to retain 14 of last seasons title winning team and have so far signed 9 new players that have strengthened our squad.”
“Our biggest disappointment is losing Sam Blunden, a very promising signing from Fleetdown with an ACL injury, and last seasons Coaches Player of the Year, Imri Sanford with a fractured foot.”
Halls season starts a week later than most when they visit Sheppey Sports, before home games against Greenways and Clapton Community at the Erith Stadium.
“Obviously we are new to this league and are very excited to pit ourselves at this higher level, so we know who ever we play is going to be a big challenge for us this season, but we are hoping to put up a good challenge and retain our status in this debut season.”
“We are looking forward to going to some really good grounds that this level of football promises and playing against top quality players…. And of course for me and my coaching staff to challenge ourselves at this higher level too and we are grateful for the backing from our club to be given the opportunity …..It’s exciting times for everyone at the club!”
Thanks and good luck George!
Lewisham Borough made it into the Play Offs last year before they lost out to the eventual winners.
Borough did end the season lifting the Division One Cup though – just rewards for a terrific campaign and Manager Lloyd Davis will be hoping for more of the same this year.
“Preperations for us has gone really well this pre season, we’ve worked had and had the opportunity to work new shapes and strategies etc. As for the results they’ve gone equally as well, winning the majority and learning from games where we’ve made mistakes.”
“This year we’ve retained some key individuals which we’re really proud of and also bought in a few new boys who I’m sure will add to us to help us push on this coming season.”
Lewisham kick off with 4 away games starting at FC Elmstead before hosting noisy neighbours Forest Hill Park on the 7th September.
“Not entirely sure what to expect with Elmstead apart from a lot of change as they’ve recently changed management. As for Meridian VP they always field a competitive side so I’ll be expecting the same. Oh and a great surface to play on!”
And an aim for the season?
“Our aim is to finish as high as possible bettering last year.”
“We welcome all the new teams to league and that we can’t wait to see our fans.”
Thanks Lloyd
Things didn’t go quite the way Meridian VP would have hoped in the league last year but they did live to fight another day and that day is approaching quickly.
Changes have been made with new faces taking up key positions at the club as Secretary Mick Cooper explains;
“There have been major changes at Meridian during the close season. Joint-manager Richard Dimmock parted ways with the club and Manager Dwinder Tamna brought in Tristan Cropley as Assistant Manager and First Team Coach, Jamie Hawkins as Assistant First Team Coach and Matthew Turner as Goalkeeper Coach. Meridian have only kept 9 of last season’s squad and believe we have brought in some great signings.”
“Our new management team are pleased with the way pre-season has gone. We came back early, probably one of the first teams to return to training – in fact it was the 6 June .”
“We came straight back in with 5 trial sessions and found 6-7 very impressive players. We then had 5 friendlies of a mix of levels. First up was Witham Town (Step 4) and we took an early lead through new signing Douane “Kozzie” West, but then two silly errors gave away two goals. Then we travelled to Brook House FC (Step 6” Combined Counties Lge ) where we raced into a two goal lead, both goals from Kozzie, then again we gave away two silly goals. Next up was a 2-1 win against Bermondsey Town (Step 7) Kozzie & OG were the scorers. Our last friendly was a very respectable 1-0 win against a hard-working Sporting Bengal Utd side (Step 4) Kozzie once again on the score sheet. The lads worked really well in this game and fully deserved to keep a clean sheet. We finished with a 2-1 loss to Barnehurst.”
The league starts for VP at Faversham this Saturday, while the Cup competitions bring in familiar opposition too.
“We have been drawn at Home to Lewisham Borough in the Isuzu FA Vase, Halls Athletic at Home in the Kent Senior Trophy and our first SCEFL Division One match is away to Faversham Strikeforce. We know these are very tough games but we are quietly confident that if we play to our strengths we should be ok.”
“Our aim this season is probably the same as most if not all clubs at the start of a new season – we intend on winning the league.”
“A playoff place is acceptable a top 9 finish is an achievement. According to the SCEFL prediction polls everyone expects us to finish in the bottom 3 again so I suppose finishing in the top 15 is an improvement. I genuinely believe we will be underestimated again and we are going to surprise and upset a lot of teams.”
“We look forward to offering every club our usual warm welcome to Meridian Sports Club during the 24/25 season.”
Thanks Mick!
Rochester United finished 4th last year, making the play offs, but losing out at the semi finals stage.
The experience gained from that should serve them well for this year and many expect the Spartans to be up and amongst it once more. They have had hurdles to overcome this pre-season though.
“Our pre-season has been a tough challenge this year, with players on holiday and then a flood to our facilities which culminated in games being cancelled. A huge credit must go to the lads for working hard and pushing forward around these scenarios. As a management team, we were delighted with large aspects of our matches against stiff opposition and have seen improvements in each game we played. The main concern is putting the foundations in place and showing our new recruits what is expected.”
“Everyone at the club was hugely disappointed in the way we lost the semi-final playoffs last season, but in retaining 80% of the squad, we are all raring to try and cross the finish line this season. Credit must go to Staplehurst Monarchs also for the way they set their stool in the semi-final match and they were unlucky not to win the final.”
Rochester host SC Thamesmead this Saturday before going to Tooting Bec the week after. In the Vase they visit Abbey Rangers.
“Our first league match at home to SC Thamesmead will be a tough introduction. Although we played them last season, they have had to rebuild their squad after the manager and a large proportion of players left. Only after the whistle blows at 3pm will we see what we are up against.”
“Everyone connected to the club on and off the field is looking forward to having a run in the FA Vase this season, but first we need to beat Abbey Rangers. It will be a tough match, but again, if we prepare properly then we can hopefully put our name in the hat for the next round.”
Some early league points will get the excitement levels rising at Rede Court Road and get the people of Rochester feeling that this could finally be their year.
“As always, it will be a long, hard season and we are all looking forward to the upcoming matches. With new teams coming into the league, it will be another huge challenge to achieve promotion via winning the league or via the play-offs. With varying playing budgets amongst the teams, it is sure to bring up some expected and unexpected results, but like every other team, we are all eyeing promotion.”
Good luck to all at Rochester United this year!
It has been a turbulent time at SC Thamesmead for managers over the past year or two, so they will be hoping for some stability now they have jointly appointed Alex White and Ryan Watts into the top role.
It has meant a busy summer for the duo who have had to host auditions for every place in their squad but they seem to have got their now, as Ryan explains.
“Alex White and myself go into the new campaign as joint managers at SCT. Both of us feel as if each other complement one another well and it is why the joint management tag works for us both.”
“After starting with no players from last season’s squad and going into the first game of the season with only one player from last season’s side featuring in pre season it has been a complete new build for us. This however was not unexpected and we have leaned on players we know from our time over the last 3 years in the league and players recommended to us to build our squad going into the 24/25 season. We do feel going into the new season we could be a couple of weeks behind established sides but it only makes us more determined to get stuck into the challenge ahead.”
“With all of this, pre season friendlies have not been about results it has been about identifying players we want to form our squad going into the start of the new season. We have had challenging friendlies playing against step 4, step 5 and KCL opposition which has helped hugely for fitness and identifying what we need to build our squad quickly. We do feel with what we have put together we have got a good balance but Saturday and beyond will be a test of that.”
What are the league aims for Thamesmead, who go to Rochester United on day one, before visiting Croydon then hosting Clapton Community?
“Our ambitions for the season are like every manager in the league, win as many games as possible and finish as high as we can. With the squad we have assembled and what we believe are our strengths as a management team we hope there are more highs than lows. We start off with a tough run of fixtures against 3 sides all looking for play off spots come the end of the season which is followed by a Vase game against Step 5 opposition from the SCL. However that excites us as management and players too as it means we have an opportunity to take on big challenges from the off.”
“Finally we would both like to thank Lee and the rest of the committee for appointing us both as joint managers. To get an opportunity at this fantastic club with its facilities and support network we feel privileged. We will work extremely hard to repay their faith and give them and the supports a side on the pitch to feel proud of.”
Best of luck to Alex and Ryan this year!
The rebrand has been completed, K Sports are no more and Sheppey Sports will take their place in the SCEFL First Division.
Ben Brennan, Vice Chairman, Club Secretary and Coach at Sheppey Sports fills us in on the goings on at Holm Park.
“We’ve had a good Pre Season here at Sheppey Sports FC, a lot of work off of the pitch with the move and rebranding thankfully hasn’t got in the way of on field preparations. We’ve won 6 of our 7 Friendlies and while alot of people won’t pay too much attention to the results, it’s been great for the boys confidence and the dressing room atmosphere so overall we’re happy, but still of course have a lot of work to do both on and off of the pitch as the season progresses.”
“We’ve retained 11 of the squad that finished the season with us and brought up 5 players so far from the successful Sheppey United U23’s Side who were looking to get a proper run in men’s football. We were delighted to have the likes of Jez Hammond, Josh Froggatt, George Acland & Joe Ganiwa to name a few commit to us, as all have great experience at this level and the level above. We’ve also brought in a few other players with experience in our division who are local to us after the move who were having to travel quite a distance and were hoping that can help us form a bond between us and the local footballing community.”
Sheppey visit Bridon Ropes on day one of the league season before home games with Halls AFC and Lewisham Borough.
“We’re starting our Campaign the same way we did last season, back at Meridian Sports Club on a fantastic pitch that Tony Provan deserves so much credit for. We look forward to taking advantage of that surface early doors. Other than that I’m of the mind set that it doesn’t matter too much when you play sides as you need to be consistent throughout to be successful. It will be interesting to see how teams cope coming down to Holm Park on a 4G Surface with a large majority playing on grass at home this season. The same goes for us when we travel.”
“We were happy to have a Home Draw in the Vase and should we be successful it would be the same in the second round. We don’t know too much about Reigate Priory FC other than that they came 3rd at Step 7 last season and got promoted. But we have to expect all sides to turn up to Holm Park next season and treat it like a cup final. It’s one of the best grounds at Step 4 let’s alone Step 6 and we expect teams to play up to that.”
Can that excellent ground play host to a team challenging for promotion this year?
“I think we need to take into account that this will be a season of transition for us with the move and rebranding, but already we feel more at home here then we did at Cobdown last season. That will play a huge part in us being successful as it breeds a good atmosphere for the players, staff and supporters. Our first target will be to beat last years points tally and if we can do that early doors, look at pushing for a play off place.”
“The league overall is going to be really competitive, if you’re not at the races you could lose to anyone and I think it’s almost impossible to predict.”
“It will be a good year for the division though with Clapton Community FC and SE Dons/Forest Hill Park FC and their huge fan bases giving us all great publicity, I think all clubs are in to benefit off of that and you’ll see many clubs go to these sides and again, treat it like a cup final due to the exposure they will have. A lot of people expect both to be favourites for the title but other clubs will definitely be looking to spoil that.”
A final word from Sheppey Sports
“We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who’s supported us through the move and re branding. The staff who have come on board Azza Gray, Scott Penfold, Hannah Clewes, Brandon Loveridge & Malc Fell who have all bought into the club and our ambitions here. They will all play a huge part in the season ahead.”
Thanks Ben.
One of the new sides coming in to the SCEFL this year are Soul Tower Hamlets – although we have seen them before in a previous guise.
Tower Hamlets have previous SCEFL experience from their time spent at Phoenix Sports but since then they have merged with Soul FC and the new blend is here for the year.
Soul THFC will play their games at the Mile End Stadium but it is at Welling Town on Saturday that they will first turn out before they go to Meridian VP and then host Canterbury.
The FA Vase means a tough trip to Rusthall, where they will hope the lack of knowledge on them will do them well. It could indeed be the secret to any success in the First Division so overlook them at your peril as we just don’t know what to expect.
It was so near but so far for Staplehurst Monarchs last season, with a 3rd placed finish leading to a play-off final that they only lost by a single goal.
Paul Atkins leads the team again this year and although he hasn’t shouted their business from the rooftops, he has been busy bringing together a squad to challenge once more.
“Pre-season has not been too bad, it could always be better but if you asked everyone this question and they told you the truth I’m sure they would all say the same thing.”
“We looked at what we needed to improve on from last year and will be stronger. We have been very quiet on social media but that’s the way I like to do things.
“I have 20 -22 man squad and the lads I have bought in have strengthened us. All played the league higher some have even played two leagues higher.”
“We have had loads away on holiday though, so haven’t had the full squad together for most of the friendlies but we had the same last season and managed to finished 3rd. We are fit though and we have a few more games so we should be ready for the first match on the 10th of August.”
League games at home to Forest Hill Park and Croydon precede a Vase game at Forest Row FC.
“Don’t know a lot about Forest Row but I’m sure they will give us a good game. We respect every team we play. Don’t forget we are a little village club and the underdogs in every game we play. We are looking forward to playing in this cup again though, it will be a great day out!”
“This is going to be a hard season for us as I have seen the predictions on Twitter say that we would be 11th lol! I will take 5th.”
“We lost in the playoff finals 1-0 and we were the better side with Larkfield scoring an own goal and only having one shot on target. That’s football, and we move forward. Let’s hope we can get it over the line this year.”
“Overall though I’m looking forward to this season, just because I like to prove to all these people who think we can’t do it again!”
Thanks and good luck Paul!
It was a safe season for Tooting Bec last time around. They hovered in mid-table for much of the year, couldn’t threaten the top places and were never in danger from those below.
There has been a lot of change at the club over the summer so it’s hard to work out what to expect from them this time.
Chairman Steffan Wells tries to make things clearer.
“It’s been crazy since we found out Matt Hancock & Gavin Bolger were stepping down after 3 fantastic years at the helm. We can’t thank them enough for their efforts. We then had our 20 year anniversary party and the job to find the new management team. We welcome James, Matt, Paul & Dwight as well as Alex as our new physio.”
“Mixed into all that we changed the club structure bringing in Ryan O’Sullivan as part owner so as Chairman I’ll be glad when the football starts and pre-season is done!”
“The new ownership has allowed us to improve our training schedule, pay a physio and also help lads with some travel costs. We also have lots more in the pipeline for this season and beyond so the club is in very healthy place.”
“There have been big changes to the squad, having no budget means we have to rely on character as much as talent when bringing lads in so it’s been a very well thought out process as we felt the changing room needed a lift.”
“We are really happy with those we’ve kept and those that we’ve brought in and we feel we’ve the right mix now, although, we always have an eye on improving as the season starts and we find out the true level of the squad in what’s a ridiculously tough division.”
The longest away trip awaits on day one of the league while the Cup competitions look particularly tough.
“Newhaven are pretty much a Step 4 outfit so we look forward to welcoming them in the Vase and testing our new squad. In the league I think we have 3 of the favourites first 3 games so we’ll have a good idea of the level we need to get to and if we can pick up a few points from those games then that would be a great start – or else we’ll have plenty to learn from for the rest of the season!”
A year of transition for Tooting Bec then, so who wins it?
“In the league I feel the clubs that have traditionally struggled have strengthened a lot, especially Forest Hill Park (SE Dons). For us results will always be important but feel what we are doing off the pitch will take some time to show dividends on the pitch so maybe we’ll see a traditionally slow start from the Bec and we hope to finish strong!”
“I think it’s an impossible division to call this year but If I had to pick a top 5 I’d go Forest Hill Park, Canterbury City, Rochester United , Bridon Ropes & Sheppey Sports.”
Thanks to Steffan for his time.
Five years after Welling Town were last in this Division they are back again and just like last time they will be looking for the quickest way to get back out of it.
The former Champions will call the Erith Stadium home this year and there have been big squad changes too, as Chairman Kevin Oakes explains.
“After six weeks of pre-season we’re looking forward to the league business starting after a total rebuild following last seasons disappointments on and off the field.”
“Bringing a new group of players and management together, as you would expect, means pre-season has been about learning as much as possible about the new faces as quickly as we can, and results have therefore been hit and miss, but we’ve worked hard to ensure we have a nice balance of experience and exciting young players with huge potential. Most importantly of all, positive attitudes and people willing and able to work hard for themselves and their teammates. The lads have been a joy to work with pre-season and have done everything asked of them and I know they are as excited for the start as I am so we’re all looking forward to Saturday.”
Welling welcome Soul Tower Hamlets to Erith on day one before hosting Bridon Ropes seven days later.
“The early fixtures bring most of our games at home, and with byes in the early rounds of the cups, gives us a great opportunity to put early points on the board and set something for the other teams to have to chase. That will be the aim, as we look to fight for a promotion place come the end of the season. It won’t be easy, this league is much tougher than it was last time we were in it, but we did well then I seem to remember, and we’ll be looking to surprise a few and challenge at the right end of the table for the first time in a while.”
“Never underestimate us.”
#UpTheBoots”
Thanks to Kevin!
The time for talking is over this Saturday, when the time for points takes over. The recent addition of play-offs to Step 6 has meant that our past few seasons have gone right down to the final day and in this coming campaign we are sure to be getting more of the same again.
We thank all contributors for their time for this preview and wish them and their teams the best of luck over the coming 9 months.
But now it’s GO time – play hard, play fair, and may the best team win!
All clubs were asked for content for this preview.
FIRST DIVISION PREDICTION POLL
