President's view

  From our club President, Albert Panting.

Saturday 19 March 2008.

Well what can I say after a fantastic weekend for the club saw the reserves beat Cray 1-0 to win the Kent League Division 1 title and the 1st team beat Beckenham to win the Kent County F A Senior Trophy.

This has been the third year in a row that a team managed by Steve O’Boyle has won the reserve division title, a superb achievement by anyone’s standards. Boyley has been with the Club now for many years starting as a junior, progressing on to seniors and then into management. Being a manager is a very difficult job apart from the footballing side. You have to be able to deal with many types of players and all the personalities that this brings. It is particularly harder with a reserve team as you aren’t always in control of what eleven players are chosen. You are governed by the requirements of the Club and the wants of the 1st team manager and this must be hard to cope with. But Steve has been able to overcome all these difficulties and produce a winning formula on a regular basis. I have known Steve for all the time that he has been with us and his temperament has made it difficult at times when dealing with sensitive issues. But he always disarms you with that warm smile of his and the bottom line is that he is a very passionate, honest and genuine person and has deserved the respect that he has within the Club. It will be a shame to see him leave us and he will be sorely missed, but always welcome here at the Mead. I hope that he will be successful in his quest for first team management and the Club wish him well for the future. Thanks very much Steve for all that you have given us down the years.

The next day saw us meet Beckenham in the final of the Kent Senior Trophy at Welling and what an encounter that turned out to be. There seems to always be something happening when the two sides meet and this match was no exception. As you all know the keeper was sent of in the 1st minute and not long after another player was dismissed. I must be honest that at that time I just wanted to go home as I expected the worst. But after the officials dealt with the expected blow up by Beckenham the match turned out to be quite entertaining considering the conditions. Our opponents played very well with two men short and could count themselves unlucky to not get something from the game, but as usual we dug in and fought for every ball and it was that determination that won through in the end. Well-done boys.

Next match at Bayliss Avenue

Tue 13th May2008

Kent Youth League

Thamesmead Town U18

Vs.

Erith & Belvedere U18

K.O. 7.45PM